determines if one will develop those antibodies . The more severe the case , the more likely it is to produce larger numbers of circulating IgG antibodies . In some cases that Dr . Tailor has seen , patients with a mild case of COVID-19 may not even show an IgG ; how long these antibodies persist in the blood , and whether they would work to prevent a re-infection , is also very uncertain from case research .
Vaccinations , not herd immunity , she says are the key to getting our society healthy and immune to this virus . There are currently several trials in progress across the nation ( Dr . Tailor suggests using the New York Times vaccine tracker for more information on those trials ). While many vaccine trials are underway , it is all going to take more time .
Once vaccines are available , Dr . Tailor says that it is likely they will be released in phases .
Phase 1 : Health care workers
Phase 2 : Essential workers , teachers , child care providers , food workers
Phase 3 : Those individuals with medical conditions that put them at high risk for infection
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Phase 4 : Those individuals who are not in the above categories
While waiting for a vaccine , we must continue to work on prevention above all else . The most important factors continue to be hand hygiene , physical distancing and wearing masks . Two essential reminders from Dr . Tailor regarding mask-wearing are 1 .) The mask needs to be worn around the nose and mouth--not just one or the other and 2 .) You should wash or replace your mask daily . She stresses that this virus is not letting down and we must “ maintain modifications ” that were implemented months ago such as wearing masks , keeping physical distance , ordering carryout and limiting time outside the home as much as possible .
“ This virus does not care what you look like . It doesn ’ t care how old you are . It just wants a host ,” Dr . Tailor warns . “ And if it gets an opportunity to get a host , it will take it .”
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The next meeting of the Senior Physicians Committee will be on Tuesday , Dec . 8 at noon via Zoom and will feature a discussion on telehealth from Dr . Mary Barry , an internist retired from Norton Healthcare . For more information or to RSVP , please reach out to Donna Jones at donna . jones @ glms . org . All members are invited to attend .
Kathryn Vance is the Communication Specialist at the Greater Louisville Medical Society .
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