Pen letter from hospitals to unvaccinated Tennessiens

NASHVILLE, Tennessee (WTVF) – The heads of 10 hospitals and health systems in Middle Tennessee have written a letter to unvaccinated Tennessees as cases and hospitalizations continue to rise amid the spread of the Delta variant.

The letter, which was released on Friday, says health systems “are coming together with one unified voice to ask, beg you, to get vaccinated against COVID-19.”

“We have seen first-hand the unnecessary suffering this horrible disease inflicts on the human body. We have had many patients in our intensive care units, with machines keeping them alive, who wish they had received the vaccine, but at this point it is just too late. They and their families live in regret. Our caregivers are increasingly saddened and frustrated that simple measures that could significantly reduce the loss of life are not adopted, ”the letter reads in part.

The letter says more than 90% of people hospitalized with COVID are unvaccinated and that “almost all of these patients could be safe at home with their friends and family right now if they had chosen to be vaccinated. vaccinate ”.

Tennessee Health Commissioner Dr Lisa Piercey provided an update on COVID on Monday and said that in the first 15 days of August there were 1,023 hospitalizations – more than any other month total pandemic. Piercey said many factors, including staffing issues, led to hospital capacity issues, adding that hospitals were already full before the July outbreak.

The vast majority of COVID-related hospitalizations continue to be among the unvaccinated. Piercey said the unvaccinated accounted for 88% of hospitalizations and 94% of deaths from May to July.

Currently, 2,572 people are hospitalized for COVID in Tennessee. Of these, 767 are in intensive care and 474 are on ventilators.

READ THE FULL LETTER BELOW:

August 20, 2021

Dear residents of Middle Tennessee,

The past 18 months have been difficult for all of us. There has been a lot of sacrifice, loss, anguish and broken hearts around COVID-19. We are all ready to put the pandemic behind us, but unfortunately we are unable to move forward. Rather than lowering COVID-19 rates as the vaccine has become more readily available, we are moving in the opposite direction. A year ago, we did not have a solution to end the pandemic. Now the key is readily available in our hands, but we need everyone’s help to solve this problem. The answer lies in vaccines.

As the health systems of Middle Tennessee, we come together with one voice to ask, beg you, to get vaccinated against COVID-19. We have seen first-hand the unnecessary suffering that this horrible disease inflicts on the human body. We have had many patients in our intensive care units, with machines keeping them alive, who wish they had received the vaccine, but at this point it is just too late. They and their families live in regret. Our caregivers are increasingly saddened and frustrated that simple measures that could significantly reduce the loss of life are not taken.

Our clinical leaders strongly support the vaccine. They’ve studied the science behind it, and it’s safe and effective. The likelihood of becoming seriously ill, being hospitalized, or even dying from COVID-19 is significantly reduced if you are fully vaccinated. The vast majority of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are not vaccinated.

If you are hesitant to receive the vaccine, we encourage you to seek advice and discuss your concerns with the medical community. Please visit your doctor’s office to discuss your questions. This will allow you to make an informed decision based on the information you receive. It is important to consult with the experts to dispel the myths surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine.

As healthcare systems, our goal is to be there when you need us – whatever kind of care you need. Sadly, COVID-19 hospitalizations in Middle Tennessee are escalating at a rate that threatens to overwhelm the healthcare system and compromise our ability to do so. We all need to do our part to prevent this from happening.

In our health systems, more than 90% of people hospitalized with COVID-19 are not vaccinated. Almost all of these patients could be safe at home with their friends and family right now if they had chosen to be vaccinated.

The most important thing we can do to prevent COVID-19, and possibly end this pandemic, is to get vaccinated. If you are fully immunized, please protect yourself, your loved ones and the community. If not, we strongly encourage you to get vaccinated. We need your help to save lives and finally put this pandemic behind us.

Truly,

Middle Tennessee Hospital Systems

Tim P. Adams

President and CEO, Ascension Saint Thomas

Paul Korth CEO, Cookeville Regional Medical Center

Lisa Casteel CEO, Henry County Medical Center

Alan Watson CEO, Maury Regional Health

Dr James EK Hildreth President and CEO, Meharry Medical College

Randy Davis President and CEO, NorthCrest Medical Center

Susan Peach CEO, Sumner Regional Medical Center

Mitch Edgeworth President, TriStar Health

Phillip J. Mazzuca

CEO, Williamson Medical Center

Dr C. Wright Pinson Deputy CEO and Director of Health System, Vanderbilt Health