How to Pandemic

Advice from Two Community Health Professionals

​Whether you are an obsessed Pandemic Watcher like Charles or just want to know how to stay un-infected until the vaccines arrive, this episode is for you.  

We bring you interviews with two people who have unique knowledge about the Covid pandemic. Find out what’s going on with vaccine trials, what numbers to look for, and how to make your plan to stay safe through what will undoubtedly be a long, tough winter.  Despite the grim statistics and stories of anti-mask pushback, our conversations this week left us feeling hopeful knowing science is on the case and that human creativity, resilience, and love will, indeed, triumph.

This week we talk with our favorite epidemiologist Christine Stewart, a professor at UC Davis, who helps us make sense of the vaccine trials & rollout. She also explains how her family gets its social and emotional needs met while staying safe and virus-free.

It turns out that Christine is not only a distinguished scientist, she’s a brave research subject. Christine was one of thousands of volunteers in the Stage 3 vaccine trials. You’ll get to hear about her experience with the Moderna vaccine and why I’m really excited to get a sore arm and a fever.

We also talk with our local Health Department’s Information Officer, Terri Farneti, who makes us appreciate the courage and commitment all the hard-working people in our health infrastructures have demonstrated in the face of a massive health crisis combined with incontheivable blowback.

Do a Science:

•  Decide NOW how you are going to change your behavior and habits as cases increase or decrease in your area. Avoid decision fatigue or emotionally contingent decisions by crafting a good plan now. See the Resources section for a link to our Pandemic Behavior Matrix that you can modify for yourself and your family. 

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Music Credits: A Hawaiian in Paris by Pierre Grill

SHOW NOTES
Key Takeaways: 

• Create safer communities by supporting institutions and science based decision-making
• Stay informed so you can make good decisions for yourself. See the resources section for links to good data
• Find ways to meet your emotional and social needs that still keep you safe. Be ready to re-think or alter your usual habits or traditions. 
• Resist the urge to re-tweet or re-post suspect public health information. Make sure you are not being manipulated through outrage or click-bait. 
• When overwhelmed, find small ways to help out. ​

References:

•  HERE.together Episode References
  • Episode 22 - How to Think About a Pandemic with Christine Stewart
  • Epi 55 - How to Not Know with Pete Pierson 
• AZ Department of Health Covid Dashboard
• Yavapai County Health Department
• Christine Stewart’s full bio and research page
• CDC: Vaccine roll out plans from each state
• National Academy of Sciences Vaccine Allocation Framework
• Dunning-Krueger Effect

 
Resources: 

• Link to View-only Pandemic Behavior Matrix
  • Go to File-> Download as to create your own editable copy
• Dear Pandemic Facebook Page
• Dear Pandemic on Twitter 
• Covid 101 Facebook Page
• Covid 101 on Twitter
• 100 Ways to Have Fun in Quarantine/lockdown