Former Senator of Oklahoma James Inhofe resigned last year after suffering long term effect of COVID. He fought COVID mandates and funding for special programs. He, like so many politicians, fought tooth and nail against efforts to build a robust program to protect society.
Mr. Inhofe, who represented Oklahoma for decades in both, the House of Representatives and the Senate, told The Tulsa World that he left the Senate because of the lingering effects from contracting Covid-19.
“Five or six others have suffered (of long COVID), but I’m the only one who admits it,” he said. Tim Kaine, the Democratic senator from Virginia, also said last year that he suffered lingering effects of COVID-19.
Another case was Washington State Senator Doug Ericksen, who lead opposition to Washingtons state’s COVID-19 emergency orders and vaccine mandates; he died after a covid infection.
It is suspected that many COVID deniers have contracted COVID. And while there are no accurate statistics on those who might be suffering long term effects, it is estimated that almost 50% of those that contract covid will face them.
It is interesting that right wing media does not talk about these cases and the importance of the public ensuring that they all become vaccinated.
These long-term effects can last 1 to 6 months or longer, and there is no cure in sight. The investigators at Penn State noted several trends among survivors, such as: loss of general well-being; more than half of all patients reported weight loss, fatigue, fever or pain.
Loss of mobility: roughly one in five survivors experienced a decrease in mobility. Neurologic concerns: nearly one in four survivors experienced difficulties concentrating. Mental health disorders: nearly one in three patients were diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorders.
Lung abnormalities: six in ten survivors had chest imaging abnormality and more than a quarter of patients had difficulty breathing. Cardiovascular issues: chest pain and palpitations were among the commonly reported conditions. Skin conditions: nearly one in five patients experienced hair loss or rashes. Digestive issues: Stomach pain, lack of appetite, diarrhea and vomiting were among the commonly reported conditions.
A major concern is that the government has not responded adequately with the proper medical, psychological and financial assistance that those suffering long term effects need.
Statistics show that at least 262,908,216 people or 79% of the population have received at least one anti-COVID dose. Overall, 224,113,439 people or 68% of the population are considered fully vaccinated. Additionally, 108,806,974 people or 33% of the population have received a booster dose. And most of the Blue States have a higher vaccination rate than the traditional or so-called Red States.
While being vaccinated does not ensure that you will never get COVID, it does give one a better chance of surviving it and having less harsh effects. Our push should be to ensure that we do all possible to get everyone vaccinated and save more lives.
