CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – The number of people getting the COVID-19 vaccine has slowed in Montgomery County. This is happening even as the Delta variant of the disease – which is more contagious and deadly – is surging in parts of the country that have low vaccination rates.
It seems the biggest obstacle now to vaccination is hesitancy among those who are are concerned about vaccine side effects, who don’t think COVID-19 is serious, or both.
So we decided to ask the people who can actually address those concerns: Your doctors.
Together, Premier Medical Group, Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville and Blanchfield Army Community Hospital represent the vast majority of medical professionals in Montgomery County.
We asked each to have a couple of representatives answer these questions: Are you vaccinated against COVID-19? Why? What helped you overcome any doubts? Do you encourage others to get vaccinated, and why? Here’s what they had to say:
Dr. Mike Helwig, chief of Campbell Army Airfield Medical Home and former COVID clinic chief at BACH: “I got the vaccine to protect me and the people I care about. COVID-19 vaccine skepticism is common and understandable. The rollout was very fast, but the technology was being developed for over a decade. Science demonstrates that vaccination is safe and effective at preventing infection with the virus and spreading the virus. We saw hundreds of patients in the past 18 months, and we understand the toll it can take on people. Long-term health complications from contracting COVID-19 are much more severe than the possible side effects from vaccination. It is particularly important now that the Delta variant is rapidly spreading in our country. Virtually all the people being hospitalized or dying from COVID are not vaccinated. Vaccination is the most important thing we can do to protect our communities and families from another wave from this more dangerous form of the COVID virus. The key is to get both doses and encourage the people you love to do the same.”
Dr. Denise Milam, Internist at Premier: “I was vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as I was eligible. I wanted to not only protect myself but all those who depend on me – family, friends, patients and my community. I was very happy when effective, safe vaccines were developed for this deadly, highly contagious disease (I studied the available medical research and listened to expert opinion which assured me of this). I made sure that those I loved most – my children, spouse and father – were vaccinated too. I ask every patient about their COVID-19 vaccination status and encourage/assist those who haven’t had it to feel comfortable with taking the vaccine.”
Dr. Ronald Atwater, General Surgeon, Tennova Medical Group: Atwater said he got the vaccine after seeing people suffer without it. “Seeing how sick some people get from COVID-19, the side effects – if any – from the vaccine pale in comparison to the illness. I’ve placed more breathing tubes into patients this past year than all my years of being a surgeon. Getting vaccinated is our ticket out! To eliminate the masks, to gather in large groups safely, and to return to a safe environment, I encourage everyone to get the vaccine.”
Col. Vince Myers, BACH commander: Myers said he was vaccinated early to help protect those he serves. “Getting vaccinated was not a question of whether or not I was getting the vaccine but when I was eligible to get it. I knew this was the primary means to safely fight COVID. Getting vaccinated helps our families, communities, and schools return to a sense of normalcy. It also protects the people around me including my own family and friends. Public health agencies state that the more people who get vaccinated, the faster we can reach herd immunity and limit the spread of the virus. I encourage everyone who is eligible to get the vaccine to do so now.”
Dr. Michael Engel, Medical Director for Premier: “I am vaccinated against COVID-19 and I highly recommend the vaccine for all of my friends, family and patients over the age of 12. This vaccine has been found to be the most effective tool we have against this potentially devastating disease. It has shown to be effective against COVID-19 and the variants of concern. The safety has been carefully scrutinized with over 334 million doses given in the US alone. Even people who do not consider themselves at high risk for complications of COVID-19 should get vaccinated as a way to protect others who did not get the vaccine or who have a weakened immune system. With the Delta variant on the rise, anyone who has been waiting should get the vaccine now. We cannot stop fighting this disease now. We all have given up too much over the past year.”
Nina Jackson, RN, Chief Quality Officer, Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville: Jackson said she got the vaccine after doing her own research. “I overcame any doubts I had about getting the COVID vaccine by researching and reviewing the information from the primary source and following the recommendations of the CDC. I encourage everyone to get the vaccine, especially the African American community, due to the fact that the effects of COVID-19 pandemic are disproportionately affecting African Americans in the United States. I also encourage it for a personal reason. I lost my father due to the COVID-19, and I wouldn’t want another family to experience the pain that my family and I had to endure.”
Lt. Col. Domenick Nardi, chief of BACH Primary Care and pediatrician: “I chose to be vaccinated because so many of the deadly or crippling diseases of the last 200 years have disappeared because of vaccines. As a pediatrician, I routinely educate parents on the protection of vaccines for the individual and for herd immunity. Herd immunity allows us to protect not only the vaccinated but those who cannot be vaccinated due to their young age or disqualifying health condition. The Pfizer vaccine is approved as safe and effective for children 12 and older. From the beginning of the development process, COVID-19 vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history expressly because of the urgency with which they were developed. They continue to be meticulously monitored in their distribution and delivery as we speak to ensure continued safety. Before the vaccine, we saw patients of all ages and types at home sick for days to weeks or admitted to the hospital with moderate to critical symptoms. Since the vaccine was made available, I am not tracking a single vaccinated patient admitted to our hospital for COVID symptoms. Every seriously ill individual we are seeing is unvaccinated. Even those who have only had one dose and are awaiting their second dose who have presented with COVID have consistently had only mild symptoms. I highly recommend everyone talk to your doctors about protecting yourself and others.”
For more
If you still have concerns, discuss with your doctor whether you should get the COVID-19 vaccine.
COVID-19 vaccines are offered free at clinics and pharmacies across Montgomery County. The Health Department administers the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, which is a two-part vaccination, every weekday through July 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Moore Magnet Elementary School, 1350 Madison St. No appointment is needed, but to schedule one, or for more information, go to https://vaccinate.tn.gov/