Central Peninsula | Fall 2021

Rick Davis, CEO Central Peninsula Hospital Photo by Charmaine Walton Choose to receive the COVID-19 vaccine — for your health By the time you read this letter (written in late August 2021), I hope our current wave of COVID-19 is over or that we are on a downward trend. We experienced a resurgence of the Delta variant of the coronavirus in early July, and it hit our community hard. By August, Central Peninsula Hospital was inundated with multiple COVID-19 hospitalizations and, unfortunately, some deaths. We have seen the hospitalization of younger patients and many hospitalizations of multiple family members. Regardless of where the numbers are today, I know that many people on the Kenai Peninsula remain unvaccinated—mostly by choice. I recognize that people have this choice, and I respect it, even though I don’t agree with it. Many have expressed concern about receiving a vaccine that is still under an Emergency Use Authorization. Fortunately, the Pfizer vaccine was given full approval in August, and that barrier no longer exists. Moderna applied for full approval in June, so hopefully by the time you read this, they too will have obtained full federal approval. I am hopeful that people will now take a second look at getting vaccinated, for the health of our entire community. Getting vaccinated is the best tool medicine has available to combat this virus. Recent evidence has shown that a booster shot (third shot) eight months after a person has received their second dose of the vaccine provides even better protection against the coronavirus. I got a booster shot, and I encourage others to do so as well. Our experience here at Central Peninsula Hospital is that those rare folks who are vac- cinated but still contract the virus are much less likely to be hospitalized than those who are unvaccinated and contract the virus. During the month of July (most recent data), the State of Alaska Section of Epidemiology team found that unvaccinated people made up 80% of all COVID-19 hospitalizations in Alaska. Clearly the vaccine is helping people stay healthy and out of the hospital. Ask someone who’s been there—being on a ventilator is no fun, so please, if you haven’t done so yet, get vaccinated. Do it for yourself, your family and your community. A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO 2 Central Peninsula Hospital