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Dr. Taison Bell

23 Jul, 6 tweets, 4 min read

Cases from the #DeltaVariant are increasing in every state. So should you start wearing a mask indoors again if you're fully vaccinated? I have, and for most people I think the answer is yes. But this is especially true for folks who live in areas with low vaccination rates. 🧵

Delta is no joke. Compared to the original strain, 1000x more of it sits in your nose/throat and it peaks earlier. It's hard to believe. It is one of the most infectious respiratory viruses we have ever seen. Period.
virological.org/t/viral-infect…

With something so infectious your risk of infection goes up with any higher risk activity you do. But at each level of risk, your chances of getting infected are higher if you are unvaccinated. If you are in a community with low vaccination rates, this risk is even more amplified

For any decision you have to weigh the risks and benefits. Despite living in a community with good vaccination rates, the risk is higher now because it's a different virus. Compared to the minor inconvenience of a mask, it makes sense to just wear the damn thing again.

In addition, the communities surrounding my own have low rates of vaccination. So I'll likely come into contact with many unvaxed people who have differing views on mitigation measures. I also have young kids at home who aren't eligible yet. I don't want them to get sick either.

@KatherineJWu

So I'm back in team #MaskUp and I encourage you to join me. If you're vaccinated, great! Your risk of severe #COVID19 is very low. But wouldn't you rather still NOT get sick? If you aren't vaxed, now is the time. @KatherineJWu sums this all up perfectly. theatlantic.com/health/archive…

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Dr. Taison Bell

@TaisonBell

22 Jul

@k_scottbell

I’ve debated all day whether to post this, but the world deserves to know that 9 years ago to this day my first child, Julian, was stillborn. While @k_scottbell and I knew him through his kicks and tumbles, he was born at full term and never took a breath. We don’t know why.
🧵

There are no words to describe losing a child, so I won’t try. The emotional shock and depression was profound and it’s hard to even access that emotional space this far out. But it taught me how to set my priorities, and I’m a better parent, husband, and physician because of it.

@MtAuburnHosp

I’m forever grateful for the staff at @MtAuburnHosp, where Julian was born. They advised us to create an identity for him. We swaddled him, kissed him and took pictures. We held him in our arms until the warmth passed on from his mother began to fade. These are precious memories.

Read 7 tweets

Dr. Taison Bell

@TaisonBell

18 Oct 20

@alexgibneyfilm

After a MICU stretch I finally saw #TotallyUnderControl. One line that stuck with me is there are times when politicians need to get out of the way. @alexgibneyfilm shows that a key failure of the WH was the inability to cede control and let the experts manage the pandemic.

The film does a very good job of taking the frustrations voiced by so many people and bringing them into a laser focus on the root causes. It should serve as a record of how our response went wrong and how to avoid the same mistakes for the next pandemic.

@RickABright

The film highlights the importance of public servants. People like @RickABright & @DrNancyM_CDC should be commended for the stand they took. At their personal/professional expense, they put the needs of the country first to tell the truth & speak out. They are heroes in my book.

Read 4 tweets

Dr. Taison Bell

@TaisonBell

8 May 20

Yes. #RunningwhileBlack should not be a death sentence. Maybe it’s a good moment to share some insight into being black and male. I haven’t run alone for years out of this concern; but there are other things black men do to decrease their chances of being killed 1/

One night I was on call in the ICU and had to come in for a dire emergency. I hopped in my car and started to floor it. But then realized I was a black man, alone in a speeding car, late at night. It’s a setup for badness. I slowed down for my safety. 2/

Also speaking of cars, this is a “don’t shoot me” sticker. Every car I’ve ever owned has had some sort of sticker like this. It’s not a desire to advertise my cred, but an effort to assign me #human value when it may not be assumed if I’m pulled over. 3/

Read 11 tweets

Dr. Taison Bell

@TaisonBell

24 Apr 20

I put a photo thread together to describe the themes that emerged during a 34 hours-long stent in the hospital I just completed. 1/

@MGHMedicine

Loneliness.
During my residency at @MGHMedicine I started a habit of taking a break by walking the halls late at night when on call. My hospital is noticeably more empty at night in the non-patient care areas. I enjoy the casual encounters that take place here. It was lonely. 2/

“I don’t know.”
The loneliness in the hallways reflects the isolation you feel as an attending managing #COVID19 pts. Past medschool, I’ve never spent so much time saying, “I don’t know.” We’re still learning about this disease. It feels like you’re in a black box at times. 3/

Read 10 tweets

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