No Vax Could Cost You an ICU Bed in Texas

 

I heard last night that 96% of Intensive Care beds in Texas are occupied by COVID-19 patients, with only 300 available statewide. Some huge percentage (like 95%) of those are occupied by people who refused to get a vaccine proven safe and effective 367 million times in the U.S.

Is that fair? What if a vaccinated person has some non-COVID health emergency, or a vaccinated person has a serious breakthrough infection? Should they have to compete for ICU beds with people who didn't bother to protect themselves, often for political reasons?

No, it's not fair. That's why I'm happy to see that Dallas hospitals are considering adding vaccination status to the things it considers in triage decisions. 

This would only go into effect if the hospitals become overwhelmed and have zero ICU beds available. Vaccination status would only be one factor, but it would be a factor. 

An important principle of triage is that you allocate care resources to patients that are most likely to be saved by those resources. Vaccination significantly improves ones chances of survival. So it makes a lot of sense.

This news just came out in the last half-day. I'm waiting for the howls of protest from the anti-vaxxers, who think everyone else should protect them from the consequences of their stupid and selfish behavior. I expect an executive order banning this from Texas's COVIDiot governor any time now.

Some commentators are saying this would discriminate against disadvantaged populations who traditionally have poorer access to healthcare. But I think in this case it's bunk. 

The shots are free and available at almost every drugstore. Texas has a mobile vaccination program, as does Arizona, to reach more isolated populations.  There is no excuse for not getting jabbed for anyone who doesn't have some medical prohibition.

"Hello motor on intensive care unit" by Paul Giron is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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