Page 17 - Layout 1

2020 MEDICAL YEAR
IN REVIEW

term sequalae of COVID due
to these developing social de-
terminants of health. What
we as a community learned is
the need to fortify around so-
cial determinants of health in
San Antonio during “normal”
times (yes, we will get there
someday) to protect against
the push over the cliff in an-
other crisis.

9. Civil Discord and
Pandemics
Public health experts were
not surprised by the civil dis-
cord during the pandemic.
History has taught us this is a
common finding, though the
impetus was unique and
heartbreaking for our country.
What was surprising was the
personal nature of the attacks on our Pandemic leaders. Racism was get the vaccine, such as health care workers in long term care facilities
declared a public health crisis in San Antonio during the COVID-19 and first responders. We know there will be people who cannot or
pandemic. We know generational disproportionate negative treat- will not be able to get immunized. We also know there is a risk of
ment of people of color has resulted in tremendous hardships that im- other shortages such as supplies. Treatments will continue to improve
pact the health of the community. COVID was another example of and more will be known about risk factors for severe illness. I am op-
a crisis with inequity in health outcomes often based on race. Hispan- timistic we will overcome this pandemic, but we are still too early to
ics were more likely to die of COVID in San Antonio than their peers. tell the long term sequalae of infection and overall health costs. The
And though it is also true that Hispanics have a higher rate of diabetes solution is not singular but a combination of all the lessons we have
and other co-morbidities in the city, the question should remain on learned so far and those yet to come.
our minds: why? As public health professionals, COVID has taught The way forward and out of the pandemic is to remain steadfast in
us all the factors that led to a lack of equity in health are once again our commitment to the health of our community in large and small
driving health disparities. It is incumbent on all fields of science, ways. I am a strong believer that public health is not the responsibility
health, business and social justice to look at racism as its own health of a city department, but instead it rests on the shoulders of all of living
driver and commit to finding solutions. in San Antonio.
One of the questions raised during the civil discord was if demon-
strations led to more cases of COVID in San Antonio. There were no
clear links between peaceful protests occurring outside in masked and Sandra Guerra, MD, MPH is the Interim Deputy Public
socially distant events and known transmission of COVID. Health Director of the San Antonio Metropolitan Health Dis-
trict and is a member of the Bexar County Medical Society.
10. There is no silver bullet
The COVID-19 pandemic will end slowly over time. Many are
hoping a vaccine will be the solution. What we know is there is no
singular silver bullet to stop the pandemic. In previous pandemics,
vaccines slowed the spread, but a widely available, safe and effective
vaccine is months away. At first, certain groups will be prioritized to

Visit us at www.bcms.org 17