NoVax DjoCovid

Novak Djokovic, world No. 1 and one of the greatest tennis players of all time and who is vying for the men's record for the most Major tournaments won, won't earn his twenty-first title in Melbourne this year. The controversy last week about Australia allowing Djokovic into the country prior to the tournament start on a "medical exemption" (because he refuses to be COVID-vaccinated) was all over the news and social media. 

I happen to like watching Djokovic play tennis (live and on TV), and have rooted for him in past tournaments (definitely against Rafa Nadal; when he plays Federer, I root for Federer). He has a strong all-court game, incredible fitness, and mental toughness.  I have respected him as an athlete.

However, in recent years, his attitude (striking a ball in anger, which hit a ball person, leading to defaulting in the U.S. Open in 2020), arrogance, and now obstinate anti-vaccination views have forever tainted his legacy, in my opinion (and that of many other avid tennis fans).  My sister has aptly named him "NoVax DjoCovid.”

I am pro-vaccine mandates for participation in public events and in places of employment. Almost no one in my medical opinion should be exempt from COVID vaccination, as the risks of being unvaccinated to an individual, workplace, health care system, and society far outweigh any theoretical risks of a free, safe, and effective vaccine that would make it medically contraindicated (I know of one patient who reported an anaphylactic reaction to her first Moderna, which would qualify), even if one has supposedly "been infected" before (which apparently Djokovic has, twice, although it’s hard to know for sure about the second instance. My patient also currently has COVID). A country and a tournament, like the Olympics, have the total right to set their rules to allow only vaccinated athletes to participate, without special celebrity exceptions, even for the King of the Hard Court. Athletes are free to choose to play by the rules or to not participate (/not travel). While I agree that the Australian state of Victoria and the national government surely could have coordinated and communicated better, making it clear they'd refuse to honor Djokovic's "medical" exemption from being COVID vaccinated before he ever boarded a plane headed Down Under, I fully support their ultimate decision (after his appeal) to cancel his Visa to enter their borders and country (as they do for all other unvaccinated people, consistent with their policy and some of the tightest COVID restrictions in the world during the pandemic as well as a very strict immigration policy in general).

To me, it's mind-blowing that someone could be so obstinately anti-vaccine to potentially give up a Grand Slam trophy and an all-time tennis record (having won the tournament a record nine times and top seeded, he was the heavy favorite). However, "personal liberty" and individual choices have consequences.  I wonder how the rest of his career unfolds from here (or if he just grits his teeth and gets vaxxed).

The controversy has created some great memes, mostly shared by my cousin, Parthan.

I'm excited to see who brings home the men's trophy this year in the void left by Djokovic's absence. He will be a vaccinated, reasonable human being and a deserving champion (The women’s champion will also be deserving, immune, and who will have not caused any hysterics or drama taking away from enjoyment of the sport of tennis).

Dropping like flies: tough times in health care

 

Last week, one of the doctors who has been on maternity leave from our OB practice for four months, who was supposed to come back this week, informed us that, due to Omicron and exposure risks, she did not feel comfortable returning and postponed her return date until a few more weeks from now.  I support maternity leave fully and do think we could do much better for mothers (and fathers) in our country with leave (although California is quite generous with family leave).  However, I don't support people deciding, last minute, that a small group of OB providers who have been working tirelessly up to twice weekly for months on end and hanging on until her return (with one person retiring from birth work last week as planned in anticipation of the return), should have to scramble, rearranging our own lives and clinic schedules to do more work because of her anxiety and irrational low risk tolerance when it comes to occupational COVID exposure in a world with milder disease severity, vaccinations, and adequate PPE. I am actually shocked that, with two unvaccinated kids (until Iver recently got his two shots), we have not had COVID take down our family despite being at this for almost two years (maybe God knew that, due to short OB provider staffing, He better keep our family COVID-free lest there be no one to deliver babies here). I am sick of taking twice-weekly overnight call as my own emotional state and family have suffered, and tired of having my own boundaries infringed upon by others’ when we don’t have other human options. We'll see if she comes back or postpones her return further. As now the lead clinician for our prenatal clinic, it will be my problem to solve. 

Another colleague put in her notice at our FP clinic with her last day three months away with the other doctor retiring in March. That will leave me as the only doctor at my clinic site, among several APCs (NPs and PAs).  I hope we'll see another physician join us soon, but people are burned out, especially in primary care. We’re tired of trying to prevent disease when patients often don’t seem to listen, or care. 

Today. I had a patient (COVID-unvaccinated, by the way) spend a good portion of his office visit (until I tried to tactfully cut him off) complaining to me about how our broken health care system and preoccupation with COVID has prevented him from getting outpatient imaging and call-backs in a timely manner from the hospital. I could only shake my head and try to empathize with how frustrating it is to be a patient in a low-resource area with staffing challenges that are only getting worse, during a pandemic. However, I simultaneously wondered, "Does he have any idea what it's like to be an overworked doctor in primary care trying to care of increasingly sick patients who disregard our advice, with fewer staff members and less support, amidst a COVID surge?” (Note: He still refused the vaccine).

These are certainly tough times to be a health care worker.

I may be the next one to put in my notice, or to not show up to work next week...

Boys on the Town

(Elk en route to Del Norte County)

I had a moderately busy call weekend this past weekend. Kelvin took the kids to a few favorite local spots while I was working. We are of the opinion that it's okay to go out and do outdoorsy (or masked) things, even in light of Omicron. Life must go on and kids need fun kids to do outside of the house. 

Cafe Mokka Finnish Hot Tubs in Arcata

Park time!

(new birthday bike)

Kelvin tried to convince me that this was a "naked mole rat" they saw in a field.

On Tuesday, Kelvin took Iver to a Harlem Globetrotters event at HSU arena, along with friends Shannon/Brian (and buddy Hudson).  Many of our friends from work were also there with their kids!

 

Iver even came away with a prized ball! 

It was a "school night" but this was such a fun event for him (Niall was a bit bummed at not going; maybe next time), especially alongside friends. I'm loving feeling like "regular life" and activities are going on (even with masks). 

Manila Mini Golf

Iver was invited to a classmate/friend's seventh birthday party last week, which was held at the only mini-golf place in Humboldt County, Lighthouse Plaza Miniature Golf in Manila.  He was new to the game but had a blast, and we returned on Sunday afternoon for some family golf (our friend Courtney and her daughter, Evelyn, also joined us for a bit).  It's probably been eleven or more years since I played any mini-golf (I recall going somewhere in Sacramento during residency), and, while we'd seen this place driving to the dunes, we'd never been there as a family! 

Kelvin, Iver and I took it pretty seriously...

... while Niall was a complete imp, stealing balls and blocking the holes while we tried to putt! 

He did enjoy climbing on the various structures, like the bat boat, bear house, and more. 

While the course could use a touch-up (I think the sea air and fog isn't great for the integrity of the structures) and we had to avoid one hole because of dog poop smeared around the middle of it, it was a relatively (had we been able to successfully keep Niall off the greens) fun place to pass an hour and a half.  Kelvin was the winner, with 47 strokes for the course (I came in close at 48), and the ever-competitive Iver is determined to beat his score next time!

Superheroes

The kids in this house are obsessed with superheroes!  Niall has expanded his superhero love beyond Spiderman to include Batman and Superman. His current favorite book, which he's asked to read over and over after we borrowed it from the library, is a DC Superheroes Storybook Collection. While Kelvin sometimes watches the adult superhero movies when they come out, I admit that this is an area in which I have nearly no knowledge or interest. 

Iver has taken to drawing some of the superheroes (and villains), which is impressive, as always!

Joker & Batman

I've been pretty busy on call this weekend but the kids have been enjoying the sunny weather, outdoor time (just avoiding the beach during the Tsunami warning on Saturday), and a three-day weekend thanks to this hero. 

May we all celebrate great heroes in our life daily! 

Annual fill-up

There has never been a better time to have an electric (well, hybrid) car. I drive my Honda Clarity to/from clinic and the hospital using the charge, and only fill gas about once per year (usually in January), just to ensure that the tank is cleared out. It takes me several weeks of around-town driving to burn the existing gas in the car (which I start doing in late December).

With gas costing approximately five dollars a gallon in California, it's lovely to only have to make one trip there per year. My grand total of gas for the year was $29.06.

Happy birthday, Grandma!