distribution. In the United States, about 10% of the population has been vaccinated, which is around 30 million people. It’s the first time in history we are doing a national vaccine program for the entire population,” Polo explained. Moving to a Q&A session, the online chat room was flooded with questions. One attendee asked if people will have a choice in which vaccine they get, and if one is better than another. Polo explained that early on, it’s unlikely you’ll have a choice which vaccine you receive. “When provider systems are given vaccines, they get one or the other, not both. When we’re past the acute phase, it’s possible there might be a choice. For now, if you are offered any of the vaccines, take it. Don’t wait. Because the quicker we have more people vaccinated, the more quickly we can control the pandemic,” said Polo.
the virus, and to what degree you’ll shed the virus if you are infected,” said Grebosky. Many people are concerned about potential side effects from the vaccine. According to Polo, there’s currently no evidence which suggests the COVID vaccine affects fertility in men or women; nor has that been found to be the case with any vaccines. “Symptoms people are experiencing from the vaccines are acute, and they show your immune system is responding and the vaccine is working,” he added. However, Grebosky added these vaccines are not intended for children because they have not been studied in those age groups yet. The next question asked if you will need the vaccine if you already had COVID. “Yes,” said Grebosky. “People’s immune system response varies, and we see a more reliable response after receiving the vaccine.” As different strains have been found, there was a question that current vaccines may not be effective against mutated forms of the virus. “Most viruses mutate,” said Polo, but COVID is mutating about 4x slower than flu. He explained right now there’s no guarantee we may or may not need an annual COVID shot. “As we learn more, it’s likely pharmaceuticals will create refined boosters to capture mutations.” Overall, the world has learned a lot and changed significantly over the past 11 months. “There’s been a lot more engagement in healthcare by individuals, employers, and the community at large. But it’s important we continue to help each other and wear masks, wash our hands, maintain distance and practice good hygiene,” said Polo. n
BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, gave his thoughts on what the situation Dr. Jamie Grebosky, Senior Vice President & Chief Medical Officer of Asante
may look like in the future. “The pandemic has created
many challenges, but also new opportunities,” Polo said. He explained that the pandemic has reinforced the importance of having a primary care doctor. “People are more likely to follow medical advice and engage in preventative care when they have a primary care doctor,” Polo noted. The pandemic has also sped up the demand for telehealth services, said Polo. “We noticed a 4,000% increase in telehealth services for all types of care. In the long run, this will create a delivery system more tailored to what patients want and need, as well as a more convenient and cost effective way to get care.” To no one’s surprise, behavioral health issues have increased during the pandemic. According to Polo, about 40% of all American adults said that by June, they were experiencing some emotional stress due to pandemic. However, there are reasons to be optimistic. “We have the vaccines and are finally starting to ramp up
Dr. Jim Polo, Executive Medical Director of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon
Someone asked if masks are recommended after receiving the vaccine. “Yes, you’ll still likely have to wear a mask. We don’t know if after you get vaccinated you can still spread
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February 2021 | The Business Review
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