HomeMy WebLinkAbout120522 FW_ Followup_ Dr_ Berry's Updates
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From: Hal Enerson
Sent: Monday, December 5, 2022 10:56:42 AM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada)
To: Greg Brotherton
Cc: Heidi Eisenhour; Kate Dean; Allison Berry
Subject: Followup: Dr. Berry's Updates
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I am writing to offer some input foiiowing your discussions at today's Commissioners meeting regarding the frequency of Dr Berry's public health updates.
Commissioner Brotherton, you expressed some concern that the update had become"performative" in some ways. I would not characterize the dissemination of this critical community health
info in such a way. However, I agree that much of the previous format was repetitive in nature. However, much of that aspect of the update is no longer necessary, due to the change
in reporting methods.
I urge you to consider re-establishing a concise weekly update from Dr. Berry on hospitalizations, deaths, community clusters, ascertainment rates, new developments in vaccine efficacy
& research, overall impacts on our health infrastructure, and general trends elsewhere in the state. Her weekly response to community dialog through public questions from KPTZ listeners
is also invaluable.
In addition to the COVID information, she can also provide us timely updates on RSV, influenza, mpox and (hopefully not anytime soon) polio impacts. As such, turning this into a general
public health update would seem appropriate, especially through the winter and spring.
These updates also serve an important function in light of the shift in media attention to the pandemic. For instance, the Peninsula Daily News has eliminated it's Coronavirus section
and has not even (so far) reported on the recent deaths and hospitalizations in the two county area. The weekly updates also served to keep these critical public health issues in the
local media focus. That factor is missing now.
Since both Dr. Berry and KPTZ have expressed a willingness to provide the updates, I urge you to take them up on the offer. I believe a weekly update would continue to best serve the
community. However, even a twice a month format would certainly be an improvement.
Thank you for considering my comments.
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Hal Enerson
henerson@fastmail.org