According to the CDC, diabetes and kidney disease are among the top ten causes of death for Ohioans.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – “I’m excited,” said Traci Washington with a laugh.
Traci Washington has had type 2 diabetes for about 10 years.
“I’m ready to take the shot and take the chance,” she said. “In two days I’ll go to the Schottenstein Center and get my first vaccine,” said Albert Dulaney, a dialysis patient.
Washington and Dulaney are two of many eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine in Ohio now. Dulaney said this is a big deal because he worries if he gets COVID-19 he could die.
He said two of his friends had died from COVID-19 and that they were relatively healthy.
Dr. Uday Nori, a nephrologist at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, helps people with chronic kidney disease. He explained the dates to support Dulaney’s concern.
“Studies over the past 12 months have shown that if someone is hospitalized with COVID-19 infection, the symptoms are severe enough to require hospitalization and if they had chronic kidney disease initially Risk of death is 30%, “he said.
๐๐๐๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ข๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐
Starting today: Phase 1D
โก Type 2 diabetes and end-stage kidney disease pic.twitter.com/Zt4gVDUocB
– Governor Mike DeWine (@GovMikeDeWine) March 11, 2021
Dulaney said there was more to it than just protecting his own life.
“I hope people take the vaccine,” he said. “Right now I feel great. I’m on dialysis and by the grace of God I feel great. But then I don’t want to get this from someone else, and I don’t want to be the person someone else is doing.” Receive the virus. “
And for Washington, she said she was ready for a sense of normalcy like so many of us are.
“I won’t feel so restricted when I get the shot,” she said.
According to the CDC, diabetes and kidney disease are among the top ten causes of death for Ohioans.
The timing of the start of Phase 1D Thursday when people with chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes could get the vaccine was an interesting coincidence. It was also World Kidney Day. Incidentally, diabetes is a leading risk factor for developing kidney disease.
“I lost two friends to COVID-19 who were relatively healthy.” This is Al Dulaney and his daughter. Al is on dialysis and is now eligible for the vaccine. For him, it’s about saving his life and the life of others. # 10TV pic.twitter.com/CJa1SXU9xJ
– Lindsey Mills (@ LindseyMills7) March 12, 2021
Dr. Nori said kidney disease awareness is urgent. He explained that while many people know about cancer or heart attacks, kidney failure is something that people don’t know too much about. And unfortunately, on many occasions, he said that people may not even know they have a problem with their kidneys until another health problem arises.
Although chronic kidney disease patients make up only 1% of the total Medicare population, they consume 7% of the service budget, making it the single most expensive disease for taxpayers.
