Thread by @ASlavitt

COVID Update: The loss of Colin Powell to complications from COVID provides an overpowering lesson: get vaccinated. 3 million people with compromised immune systems depend on you. 1/

Most importantly, my condolences to Alma and General Powell’s family. Even the loss of such a public person is a deeply personal one.

We don’t just have 700,000 losses. We have a deeply personal death 700,000 times.

Less famously, this is still happening 2000 times a day. 2/

Amidst our overall reaction to this national loss is surprise from some that a fully vaccinated person could die from COVID.

Vaccinated people can die of COVID if their immune system isn’t strong enough to benefit fully from a vaccine. This is why we all need to protect them.3/

A vaccine reduces the risk of dying dramatically (by 12:1), but that is lessened a little for the elderly (6:1 reduction for people over 80) & even more if people have an immune system that isn’t working properly. 4/

Colin Powell was 84 years old and was battling multiple myeloma— cancer of the white blood cells which create antibodies & immunity.

General Powell was in the same position as millions & millions of Americans— fully dependent on the rest of us not to spread COVID. 5/

Delta is the fastest spreading respiratory illness in recorded history. It spreads in 2 days— faster than a test can detect it. If you’re unvaccinated, it can spread to 7 people in that time.

But what do you do if like Colin Powell, vaccination doesn’t offer full protection? 6/

If you can’t be fully protected yourself, you need to rely on everyone around you to get vaccinated.

That’s not just people with medical conditions & older people, but kids & many hourly workers. Unvaccinated people are a threat to them all. 6/

Some like General Powell do everything they can to protect themselves & others but all of it can be negated by people who refuse to do a thing. 7/

This is why businesses, schools, medical facilities & other establishments are increasingly requiring people to be vaccinated or tested if they are going to be around others. 8/

If COVID were like heart disease, no one would create laws prohibiting people from eating fattening foods or requiring them to get blood pressure screenings.

But today is a vivid example that WE DEPEND ON EACH OTHER to stay healthy. 9/

Each loss from COVID is a personal & sad story of a life cut short. So many of these losses can be prevented. But we can’t just rely on self-sufficiency. We depend on those around us caring. /end