HJAR Sep/Oct 2021

10 SEP / OCT 2021 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS the U.S., we have also seen a rapid increase in the cases in Arkansas and other sur- rounding states, but expressively, the Delta variant is rapidly spreading in other states as well now. This variant is muchmore infectious than the original Wuhan variant that circulated in the U.S. and in Arkansas. In addition, it results in more severe disease in people and at a younger age. Our hospitals are full, and it has become a very concerning situation for our state in Arkansas as well as other states because of the increase in the hospi- talizations that the Delta variant is causing. Dianne Hartley, Editor When we set this inter- view, we were all hoping that we were on the back side of the COVID-19 pandemic. A lot has changed in a few weeks. Would you please give us an update from your perspec- tive on where we are in the pandemic from a global, U.S. and statewide level? Jennifer Dillaha, MD On a global level, we are seeing the spread of new and more danger- ous variants, particularly the Delta variant. It’s led to an increase in deaths around the world. We have seen way more deaths, glob- ally, this year than we ever saw last year. In Editor As far as hospitals go, how are they set up on PPE equipment at this point? Dillaha Right now, hospitals have what they need in terms of the material supplies to take care of patients. PPE is adequate; physical beds, physical ventilators are ade- quate. What hospitals are struggling right now with is the staffing to take care of the surge of patients that are needing admission to their hospital. At the time of this interview, Delta has dawned. The COVID-19 pandemic we once thought and hoped was put to bed has resurfaced as a more contagious variant — and fingers are pointing. The vaccinated are getting COVID-19, some blaming it on the unvaccinated. At this point, 16% of the world, 50% of the U.S. and 32% of Arkansans are fully vaccinated, with some counties as low as 10%. The unvaccinated are being pressured from governmental and healthcare leaders to get the vaccine — ignorant, obstinate, untrusting, naive, misled, misinformed, stupid, hesitant, anti-science, shameful are now words thrown out to those refusing. Journalists are being pressured to write pro- vaccine articles, and social media outlets are being called out by the U.S. president as providing misinformation that is killing Americans. Ignorant? Maybe. Most, especially women of childbearing age, would put themselves in a corner of “wait and see”; a lot of folks are wondering if they are already immune; some folks just don’t trust the government; some have an earned mistrust of the medical system. We sat down with Jennifer Dillaha, MD, chief medical officer at the Arkansas Department of Health, and played “devil’s advocate,” bringing up some questions many patients and colleagues have felt strongly about, in an effort to understand this SARS-CoV-2 virus and the “solution,” if there is one, and to do our part in “dispelling the misinformation.”