As we proceed navigating COVID-19, many people are grappling with the long-term results of the sickness and easy methods to defend themselves and their communities. Dr. Eric Griggs, a New Orleans-based public well being advocate and trusted voice in well being schooling, neighborhood medication doctor, and the fast previous president of 100 Black Males of America Well being & Wellness, spoke with the Amsterdam Information for a Q&A concerning the standing of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Griggs has a concentrate on discovering optimistic, efficient methods to debate long-term results of COVID and why precautionary measures like vaccinations are nonetheless important within the struggle towards it. Recognized for his motto “Get checked. Get match. Get transferring,” he has been on the forefront of well being schooling all through the pandemic. He emphasised that whereas fast restoration from COVID-19 is necessary, the long-term penalties are nonetheless a actuality for a lot of.
This dialog has been edited and condensed for readability.
AmNews: May you speak concerning the work you do concerning COVID and well being communication?
Dr. Eric Griggs (Griggs): Through the COVID pandemic, we labored with the Division of Well being and Human Service on all ranges. As soon as COVID hit, we hit the streets and we did every thing we may. We began a podcast referred to as NoiseFilter. We’ve carried out 13 Animations, [some of which] handle Lengthy COVID. It was no extra evident than through the pandemic that we have been additionally at a disaster in well being communication. On the finish of the day, all of the science is nice, however in case you can’t talk it to folks, then you definitely’re in hassle.
AmNews: May you inform our readers extra about NoiseFilter and the work you’ve carried out in educating the general public?
Griggs: [At the beginning of] COVID, we have been attempting to warn folks about what was coming … this sickness shouldn’t be fairly flu-like. NoiseFilter was a each day podcast. It began off for healthcare staff, however the youngsters actually liked it, so we made child variations.
How do you respectfully educate a populace of educated folks? I work with a gaggle referred to as STEM Nola, began by Dr. Calvin Mackie. Over the course of the pandemic, we had weekly episodes on-line. There was an episode about wholesome lungs and unhealthy lungs.
I had a student-run neighborhood heart. We labored immediately with metropolis governments to get folks vaccinated.
If you wish to change a family, change the youngsters. All of the dynamics change. Children are the longer term and so they change the world.
AmNews: One of many myths that comes up usually is that solely people with underlying well being points get Lengthy COVID. May you communicate to this?
Griggs: Typically folks suppose one virus is one other. The distinction between COVID and different viruses is that COVID, though it has a respiratory portal of entry, impacts your entire cardiovascular system. [I’ve seen] the distinction between the chest cavity of somebody with COVID and with out.
Whether or not you could have a pre-existing situation or not, COVID [can get] in, and whether or not or not you could have main signs, COVID [can cause] harm to your blood vessels. As a consequence of that harm, your blood vessels need to go in every single place to produce the cells with blood. The harm causes irritation and the irritation needs to be repaired.
Think about a highschool the place you could have the junior varsity and the varsity soccer workforce let free with no supervision within the buffet-style cafeteria of a faculty. They might eat the meals till somebody received in there to revive order, and the college has to proceed working. The partitions must be patched and repaired, somebody must prepare dinner the meals and assist the scholars. and issues would start to perform, however it could take awhile to get that cafeteria again to the order it was in earlier than.
It’s the identical factor with Lengthy COVID, relying in your underlying situation. We wish to defend these [people] particularly — we would like folks to get vaccinated. We’re doing that regionally with 100 Black Males of Larger New Orleans — we would like everybody to get vaccinated for RSV, COVID, and the flu.
AmNews: Is there anything you wish to inform readers about COVID, Lengthy COVID, and the place we’re heading?
We’re working with the 100 Black Males of America, our native chapter right here in New Orleans, and thru with the Division of Well being and Human Companies about decreasing the chance. We wish folks, significantly those that are susceptible, to get vaccinated. Once more, COVID is
nonetheless harmful. The harm that may be carried out to your physique will be catastrophic in case you’re not cautious, so we would like folks to get vaccinated. Don’t neglect to clean your arms, in case you’re sick, keep dwelling. Let’s simply keep cautious [and] get vaccinated.
