A recent study published in JAMA discusses how Covid-19 affects the brain. In addition to losing one’s sense of smell (which is an effect on the nerve that enables you to smell), there are cognitive and attention deficits like “brain fog,” new-onset anxiety, depression, psychosis, seizures, and even suicidal behavior. These issues may occur in 20-70% of patients post COVID-19, and persist for months after the respiratory symptoms resolve.

I know there is concern about the vaccine but here’s my “simple girl” analysis:

• COVID-19 is very infectious. We will all either get vaccinated or get infected (this is NOT going away – new strains are on the rise).
• While most people survive an infection, the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain are very scary.
• You are a lot more likely to have long-term problems from a COVID-19 infection than from the vaccine.

According to information I’m getting, we need at least 420,000 people in Montgomery County, Texas to get fully vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to achieve herd immunity in my area. About 150,000 have been vaccinated so far. My hospital, CHI St. Luke’s in The Woodlands, TX (SLWH) is doing its part. SLWH has given close to 50,000 doses of vaccine thus far, and is committed to getting as many people vaccinated as possible.

If you live in Montgomery County, Texas and you are 16 years of age or older – you can get vaccinated at the Woodforest Bank Stadium. Please follow this link and click on the chat bot in the right lower corner of the screen.

Protect your brain from COVID-19: get vaccinated.

–Caroline

Caroline Fife, M.D.

Dr. Fife is a world renowned wound care physician dedicated to improving patient outcomes through quality driven care. Please visit my blog at CarolineFifeMD.com and my Youtube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/carolinefifemd/videos