COVID denialism allows other infectious diseases to spread. We must make public health a priority.

View OpEd: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2024/03/13/covid-19-denialism-threat-to-public-health/72942668007/

References:

1. Schultz E. As measles vaccination rates drop, doctors concerned over rise in cases. Lex 18 News. Mar. 1, 2024. https://www.lex18.com/news/as-measles-vaccination-rates-drop-doctors-concerned-over-rise-in-cases

2. Measles Data and Statistics. CDC. April 16, 2024. Accessed on Mar. 14, 2024 from https://www.cdc.gov/measles/downloads/measlesdataandstatsslideset.pdf

3. Wiseman K. Possible measles exposure reported at Kentucky airport. Risk is low; here's what to look for. Courier Journal. Feb. 6, 2024. https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2024/02/06/measles-reported-cincinnati-northern-kentucky-airport-cvg-what-to-know-about-measles/72491999007/

4. Goodman B. CDC drops 5-day isolation guidance for Covid-19, moving away from key strategy to quell infections. CNN. Mar. 7, 2024. https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/cdc-drops-5-day-isolation-guidance-for-covid-19-moving-away-from-key-strategy-to-quell-infections/ar-BB1jbUUC

5. DeCuir J, Payne AB, Self WH, et al. Interim Effectiveness of Updated 2023-2024 (Monovalent XBB.1.5) COVID-19 Vaccines Against COVID-19-Associated Emergency Department and Urgent Care Encounters and Hospitalization Among Immunocompetent Adults Aged ≥18 Years - VISION and IVY Networks, September 2023-January 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2024;73(8):180-188. Published 2024 Feb 29. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7308a5 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38421945/

6. Xie Y, Choi T, Al-Aly Z. Long-term outcomes following hospital admission for COVID-19 versus seasonal influenza: a cohort study. Lancet Infect Dis. 2024;24(3):239-255. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(23)00684-9 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38104583/

7. Coronavirus in the U.S.: Latest Map and Case Count. The New York Times. Updated March 23, 2014. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/covid-cases.html

8. To: Interested Parites. IMPACT RESEARCH. Feb. 24, 2022. Accessed on Mar. 14, 2024 from https://docs.house.gov/meetings/VC/VC00/20220302/114453/HHRG-117-VC00-20220302-SD009.pdf

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10. CDC updates and simplifies respiratory virus recommendations. CDC. News Release. Mar. 1, 2024 https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html

11. CDC March 1, 2024 webinar Regarding New SARS-CoV-2 Isolation Recommendations: Video link. https://youtu.be/oILoQvZl21U

(3:45): "And this is important new information amongst those who were hospitalized this past season. Over 95% had not received an updated COVID vaccine this season. Let me repeat that. So important of the folks who went to the hospital this past year, 95% of them did not have an updated COVID 19 vaccine."

(2:50): "We're in a different place, both in the level of protect and people have against these diseases and the tools we have available. We have effective immunizations against all three of those major viruses"