>> NICK: ARE PLANS BEING HATCHED BEHIND THE SCENES FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF MASK MANDATES AND BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS?

>> AT THE MOMENT, WE'RE IN A CRISIS.

>> WE'RE NOT IN CRISIS MODE.

>> OUR NUMBERS ARE INCREASING.

THEY'VE BEEN INCREASING NOW FOR A WEEK OR 10 DAYS.

>> DELTA, DELTA, DELTA.

>> OBVIOUSLY NONE OF US HAS A CRYSTAL BALL.

>> NICK: WITH HOSPITALS FILLING UP, NEW ALARM BELLS RUNG OVER THE VIRUS, THIS HALF HOUR WE PUSH ASIDE OUR REGULAR ROUNDTABLE TO BRING YOU THE HEAVY HITTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS, BOB AND MARLEY SCORELY, THE COURTNEY S. TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST, JOHN H. MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA NA, COTRUSTEES, AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

THANK YOU.

>> NICK: HELLO, AND WELCOME.

I'M NICK HAINES.

I LOVE THE REPORTERS WHO JOIN US EACH WEEK ON THIS PROGRAM, BUT THEY WILL BE THE FIRST TO TELL YOU THEY ARE NOT MEDICAL EXPERTS.

YES, THEY MAY ENJOY WATCHING HOSPITAL DRAMAS ON TV, BUT WE HAVE ONE GUEST, IN FACT, WHO STRUGGLES TO REMOVE THE TRIPS ON THE BACK OF A BAND-AID.

SO THIS WEEK, AROUND THE COZY CONFINES OF OUR VIRTUAL TABLE, WE HAVE THE MEN AND WOMEN IN CHARGE OF OVERSEEING OUR VACCINE PROGRAM.

JULIANN VAN LEW IS DIRECTOR OF HEALTH IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, PART OF OUR METRO WITH THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATES, WHICH MIGHT HELP EXPLAIN WHY THEY LAUNCHED A SPIN TO WIN CAMPAIGN TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOT.

ARE THOSE INCENTIVES WORKING?

WE'LL FIND OUT.

ALSO WITH US IS DR. SANMI AREOLA, DIRECTOR OF HEALTH IN JOHNSON COUNTY, A JOB HE STARTED LAST MARCH JUST AS THE PANDEMIC BEGAN.

HOW'S THAT FOR TIMING?

SPEAKING OF TIMING, KANSAS CITY HEALTH DIRECTOR REX ARCHER IS WITH US.

HE'S ABOUT TO RETIRE AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS ON THE JOB.

DR. ARCHER, THOUGH, WITH ALL OF THESE WARNING SIGNS NOW ABOUT COVID AND DELTA VARIANTS, ARE YOU HATCHING A PLAN BEHIND THE SCENES AND MEETING WITH THE MAYOR AND THE CITY COUNCIL TO IMPOSE LOOKING AT NEW VACCINE -- NEW RESTRICTIONS ON MASKS, NEW RESTRICTIONS ON BUSINESSES?

>> WE ARE WATCHING THIS DELTA VARIANT VERY, VERY CLOSELY, AND IT IS VERY CONCERNING.

AND AS YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD, THERE ARE OTHER JURISDICTIONS, CHICAGO, ET CETERA, THAT ARE ALREADY SAYING, UNVACCINATED FOLKS THAT COME FROM MISSOURI AND ARKANSAS, YOU'VE GOT TO QUARANTINE.

YOU CAN'T JUST COME IN AND SPREAD THE DISEASE.

SO WE'VE GOT SOME CONCERNS.

BUT WE'RE PART OF A METRO AREA WHERE ALMOST NONE OF OUR RESIDENTS IN ANY OF OUR AREAS LIVE, WORK, PLAY, PRAY, SHOP, JUST IN THEIR JURISDICTIONS, SO IF WE PUT SOMETHING FORWARD IN ONE JURISDICTION, IT'S GOING TO HAVE MINIMAL EFFECT UNLESS WE ALL DO IT.

>> YOU, JULIAN ARE IN A COUNTY WITH SOME OF THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATES.

ARE YOU MEETING ABOUT IMPOSING NEW RESTRICTIONS?

>> WE REALLY ARE NOT AT THIS TIME.

LIKE REX SAID, WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS RIGHT NOW OF MONITORING THIS VERY CAREFULLY.

WE ARE NOT RIGHT NOW LOOKING AT I REIMPOSING ANY RESTRICTIONS.

>> NICK: I'M ASSUMING IN JOHNSON COUNTY, DR. AREOLA, WHERE YOU HAVE MORE THAN 70% OF PEOPLE IN SOME ZIP CODES ALREADY VACCINATED, THERE WOULD BE NO NEED TO IMPOSE ANYTHING NEW, RIGHT?

>> IN THE REGION, WE DON'T HAVE WALLS AROUND THE COUNTIES OR CITIES.

WE HAVE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN JOHNSON COUNTY AND WORK IN OTHER SURROUNDING COUNTIES AND VICE VERSA, AND SO WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THIS COLLECTIVELY.

WE KNOW THAT WHEN THE CDC SAID THOSE THAT ARE VACCINATED COULD RESUME ACTIVITIES LIKE THEY WERE PRIOR BEING VACCINATED, WE KNEW THAT OTHERS THAT ARE NOT VACCINATED WERE GOING TO DO THE SAME THING.

AND SO WE EXPECTED OUR CASES TO RISE.

DELTA HAS EXAGGERATED THAT RISE, AND THE CONCERN IS HIGHER FOR US AS PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

FOR THOSE THAT ARE YET TO BE VACCINATED, WEAR MASKS.

ALL OF THOSE ARE IMPORTANT NOT JUST IN JOHNSON COUNTY BUT ACROSS THE REGION.

>> NICK: I SEE, FOR INSTANCE, DR. ARCHER, I WAS JUST LOOKING AT THE STATE OF MISSOURI'S DASHBOARD, AND THEY SAY THERE ARE NOW CURRENTLY 1,284 PEOPLE HOSPITALIZED IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF MISSOURI.

YET, IF YOU GO TO THE WEEK OF CHRISTMAS, DECEMBER 22nd, THERE WERE OVER 2800 PATIENTS HOSPITALIZED, MORE THAN DOUBLE.

SO WHILE THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN UPTICK, ISN'T THIS STILL, THOUGH, ONLY A FRACTION OF THE CASES WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST DURING THIS PANDEMIC?

>> THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE TO HAVE THIS MANY PEOPLE FROM A PREVENTIBLE DISEASE THAT WOULD NOT BE IN THE HOSPITAL IF THEY WERE VACCINATED, TAKING VALUABLE AND COSTLY HEALTH CARE TIME FROM OTHERS.

AND IT'S AFFECTING OUR ECONOMY, YOU KNOW, WHEN FOLKS ARE CANCELING EVENTS IN THE STATE OF MISSOURI RIGHT NOW BECAUSE OF OUR OUT OF CONTROL EPIDEMIC BECAUSE PEOPLE WON'T TAKE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, YEAH, WE'VE GOT A CONCERN.

>> NICK: THE BIG PUSH, OF COURSE, IS GETTING MORE PEOPLE TO GET THE VACCINE, CERTAINLY IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, AS I MENTIONED, WHICH HAS SOME OF THE LOWEST VACCINATION RATES, IN THE LOW 30s RIGHT NOW.

DID YOU SEE THEY'RE RAISING THE STAKES THIS WEEK, THROWING CASH AND GIFT CARDS AT WYANDOTTE COUNTY RESIDENTS IN WHAT THEY'RE CALLING THE SPIN TO WIN CAMPAIGN.

STEP RIGHT UP AND GET THE SHOT AND WIN A PRIZE, A CHANCE TO WIN 500-DOLLAR GIFT CARDS AND OTHER PRICES.

HAS ANYBODY SHOWN UP, JULIAN, TO THE VACCINATION SPIN TO WIN EVENT THIS WEEK AND SAID, I WOULD NEVER HAVE COME IF YOU WEREN'T OFFERING ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO WIN A GIFT CARD?

>> WELL, IT'S DIFFICULT TO POINT AT ANY ONE PARTICULAR FACTOR AND DEFINITIVELY SAY WHY SOMEONE IS COMING OR NOT COMING.

SOME PEOPLE JUST NEED THAT EXTRA NUDGE TO GET THERE, AND SO THIS IS NOT A BE ALL, END ALL.

THIS IS NOT A SILVER BULLET, THIS IS ONE PIECE OF THE PUZZLE, NUDGING PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT FINAL DECISION TO GET IN THEIR CAR AND SHOW UP.

WE CAN'T SAY DEFINITIVELY, BUT OUR VACCINATION RATES WERE DECLINING FAIRLY RAPIDLY, AND WHEN WE BEGAN THE INCENTIVE PROGRAM, THAT DECLINE LEVELED OFF SIGNIFICANTLY.

YESTERDAY WAS OUR SECOND PHASE OF THE PROGRAM AND WE HAD A SIGNIFICANT UPTICK.

>> ARE PRIVATE COMPANIES DONATING ALL OF THESE GIFT CARDS OR IS THIS COMING FROM YOUR COVID CASH?

THIS IS PHILANTHROPIC MONEY PAYING FOR THESE INCENTIVES.

>> NICK: DR. AREOLA, I HAVEN'T SEEN YOU SPINNING ANY WHEELS.

IS THAT BECAUSE YOU DON'T SEE THESE PROGRAMS WORK OR THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED IN JOHNSON COUNTY?

>> FOR US, EVERY OPTION IS ON THE TABLE.

THE GOAL REMAINS THE SAME, TO GET THE VACCINE INTO THE ARMS OF AS MANY AS POSSIBLE.

WE HAVE BEEN TO CHURCHES, THE ISLAMIC CENTER.

WE'VE REACHED OUT TO SEVERAL APARTMENT COMPLEXES ESPECIALLY IN PARTS OF THE COUNTY WHERE THE VACCINATION RATE IS NOT AS HIGH AS WE WANT.

THE BIGGEST CONCERN RIGHT NOW FOR US IS CAN WE GET THE NUMBERS UP FOR OUR SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN AS SCHOOLS START, AND WE'RE GOING TO BE WORKING ON MEETING WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS LATER TODAY.

EVERYTHING IS ON THE TABLE.

WE'RE USING MULTIPLE APPROACHES, EVEN THOUGH IT APPEARS THAT NUMBERS ARE HIGHER, IT'S NOT WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE.

THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO.

>> NICK: BUT YOU KNOW, WE'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ABOUT THIS 70% MARK FOR VACCINATIONS.

IF MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT WEARING MASKS ANYMORE, NO BUSINESS RESTRICTIONS, WHAT DOES THE 70% MEAN ANY LONGER?

I SEE, FOR INSTANCE, IN WYANDOTTE COUNTY, JULIAN, THAT YOU HAVE PROJECTIONS THERE IT'S GOING TO TAKE 15 MONTHS FOR YOU TO GET TO 70% N CLAY COUNTY, IT'S 22 MONTHS, WHICH WILL TAKE US INTO 2023.

BUT WHY IS THAT SO SIGNIFICANT TO GET TO 70%?

>> IT'S REALLY NOT ABOUT THAT NUMBER.

SO LONG AS THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT POCKETS OF UNVACCINATED FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY, THERE'S OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VIRUS TO NOT ONLY SPREAD BUT TO MUTATE.

AND SO WE ARE MUCH LESS ACTUALLY FOCUSED ON THAT NUMBER OR WHAT WE CALL HERD IMMUNITY THAN WE ARE JUST THE DAY TO DAY GRIND OF GETTING OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND BEING WHERE PEOPLE ARE AND BRINGING THE VACCINES TO PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHERE OUR FOCUS IS.

>> NICK: GETTING MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED DOESN'T COME WITHOUT ITS CHALLENGES.

MISSOURI GOVERNOR MIKE PARSON SAYS THERE ARE DEFINITE LIMITS ON WHAT OFFICIALS SHOULD AND SHOULDN'T BE DOING.

FOR ONE, HEALTH WORKERS SHOULD NOT BE KNOCKING ON PEOPLE'S DOORS ENCOURAGING THEM TO GET THE VACCINE.

>> WE'VE HAD THE FEDERAL AUTHORITIES ON THE GROUND ON MANY DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, AND WE WANT THEM HERE TO ASSIST, BUT IT DEPENDS WHAT THAT ROLE IS.

I'M JUST SAYING YOU DON'T NEED THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMING IN GOING DOOR TO DOOR ON PRIVATE PROPERTY TRYING TO EITHER FORCE SOMEBODY TO TAKE A VACCINE.

>> NICK: GOVERNOR PARSON SPEAKING EARLIER THIS WEEK IN KANSAS CITY.

A NUMBER OF EXPERTS SAYING WHY ARE WE DOING MORE TO BRING THE VACCINE TO PEOPLE.

HOW ABOUT AT OUR BIG SPORTING EVENTS?

SPORTING KANSAS CITY GAMES, TALL GATING AT ARROWHEAD?

WHY NOT -- TAILGATING AT ARROWHEAD?

WHY NOT BRING IT TO THE PEOPLE?

>> ANYBODY THAT GOES TO A GROCERY STORE THAT HAS A PHARMACY CAN PROBABLY GET THE VACCINE THERE, AND IF IT'S LIKE HY-VEE, YOU CAN GET A 10-DOLLAR GIFT CERTIFICATE, SO IT'S NOT ACCESS PER SE.

YES, JUST KNOCKING RANDOMLY ON PEOPLE'S DOORS IS NOT THE WAY THAT WE NORMALLY APPROACH THINGS.

WE'RE NOT FORCING ANYBODY TO GET THE VACCINE, SO THE GOVERNOR HAS GOT THAT WRONG.

BUT WE ARE USING OUR EMT'S, PARAMEDICS, CALLING THOSE THAT ARE HOMEBOUND THAT CAN'T GET OUT, THAT WANT TO GET VACCINATED AND ARE TAKING VACCINES TO PEOPLE'S HOMES, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THE VOTERS, THE PEOPLE, WANT IT, AND SO WE ARE DOING THAT.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A SURGE THAT IS TOTALLY PREVENTIBLE THIS FALL WHEN KIDS COME BACK TO SCHOOLS, AND MANY OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE TO NOT HAVE THEIR KIDS WEARING MASKS EVEN THOUGH THE KIDS UNDER 12 CAN'T BE VACCINATED, AND THE OUTBREAK IS GOING TO EXPLODE.

WE WILL HAVE A SHORTAGE OF HOSPITAL BEDS.

WE WILL BE TAKING PARENTS HOME, WATCHING SICK KIDS OR KIDS THAT ARE BEING QUARANTINED, BECAUSE FOLKS AREN'T WEARING MASKS OR CAN'T BE VACCINATED.

>> NICK: LET'S GET INTO THAT.

A LOT OF OUR VIEWERS HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOLS AND OUR KIDS.

EVERYONE HEADS BACK TO CLASS NEXT MONTH.

DR. AREOLA, HERE IS WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER THIS WEEK.

>> ONE FALLACY THAT WE MUST REFUTE IS THE MISINFORMATION THAT CHILDREN DON'T GET INFECTED OR CHILDREN DON'T GET SICK.

NOTHING CAN BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

IT IS NOT TRUE.

>> NICK: WHY IS IT THEN THAT NEARLY EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT IN JOHNSON COUNTY HAS NOW ANNOUNCED THEY'LL BE COMING BACK IN A FEW WEEKS AND MASKS WON'T BE REQUIRED.

WHAT INFORMATION DO OUR LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS HAVE, DR. AREOLA?

WHAT DO THEY HAVE IN THEIR POSSESSION THAT YOU DON'T?

>> UP UNTIL APRIL, THERE HAS BEEN 1.5 MILLION INFECTIONS IN CHILDREN AGED 12 TO 17.

SOME RESULTING SOME HOSPITALIZATIONS.

WE'RE SEEING MORE, A LOT OF THE INFECTIONS WE ARE SEEING ARE GOING IN YOUNGER PEOPLE.

THE REASON WHY WE WERE ABLE TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS OPEN LAST YEAR WAS BECAUSE WE HAD THE KIDS AND STAFF WEARING MASKS.

WE WERE TESTING VERY BROADLY.

WE ARE ISOLATING INFECTED PORTIONS.

WE WERE DOING CONTACT TRACING.

IF YOU DON'T, THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT IS THE PERFECT ENVIRONMENT FOR THE VIRUS TO SPREAD.

AND SO THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOLS UNDERSTAND, THAT THE SCHOOL BOARDS UNDERSTAND AND THAT PARENTS UNDERSTAND, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE IT VERY CLEAR.

IF YOU GO TO SCHOOLS WITHOUT MASKS, YOU ARE GOING TO PUT A LOT OF CHILDREN AT RISK.

>> SOME PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC, THOUGH, ARE GETTING VERY FRUSTRATED, DR. AREOLA.

THEY SAY WE HAVE TO ACCEPT SOME ELEMENT OF RISK.

WHEN, FOR YOU, DOES COVID END?

I MEAN, IS IT WHEN THERE IS ABSOLUTELY ZERO DEATHS IN THE ENTIRE METROPOLITAN AREA FROM COVID?

IS THERE A CERTAIN NUMBER YOU ATTACH TO THAT?

>> YOU KNOW WHAT?

ONE OF THE MORE FRUSTRATING THINGS ABOUT THIS IS WE COULD REALLY HAVE CONTROL OVER THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS.

WE'VE GOT VACCINES THAT ARE VERY, VERY EFFECTIVE.

WE'VE GOT THEM AVAILABLE UNLIKE OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD WHERE AVAILABILITY IS AN ISSUE.

WE ARE HAVING TO BATTLE MISINFORMATION.

SOMEWHERE YESTERDAY I WAS HEARING A COLLEAGUE I WORKED WITH BEING FIRED BECAUSE SHE WAS PROMOTING VACCINATION IN YOUNG CHILDREN.

THESE ARE REALLY UNFORTUNATE TIMES FOR PUBLIC HEALTH.

>> NICK: JULIAN, I ASKED YOU EARLIER ABOUT 70%.

THAT USED TO BE THE FIGURE WE WERE SHOOTING FOR, 70% OF THE POPULATION VACCINATED, AND WE WOULD SAY THIS IS BASICALLY OVER.

IN FACT, THE PRESIDENT SAID FREEDOM FROM COVID.

YOU SAID THAT'S NOT A NUMBER THAT'S IMPORTANT ANYMORE.

SO FOR YOU, WHEN IS COVID OVER?

>> TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, NICK, RIGHT NOW IS NOT THE RIGHT TIME TO BE ASKING THE QUESTION OF WHEN WE SHOULD STOP BEING CONCERNED.

RIGHT NOW IS THE TIME TO BE VERY CONCERNED.

SO ENTERTAINING THIS CONVERSATION AROUND WHEN DO WE GET TO BE DONE, IT'S A MOOT PAINT.

THE FACT IS WE HAVE A VERY TRANSMISSIBLE VARIANT RUNNING WILD IN THE METRO.

WE NEED TO START BEING SERIOUS ABOUT THE FACT THIS IS A PROBLEM RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE THIS FALL IF WE AREN'T TAKING IT SERIOUSLY.

>> ALSO WE TALKED ABOUT ABOUT OUR K THROUGH 12 STUDENTS.

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HEAD BACK TO CAMPUS NEXT MONTH.

SO FAR, NONE OF OUR AREA COLLEGES REQUIRE THE SHOT TO BEGIN CLASSES WITH TWO EXCEPTION, ROCKHURST UNIVERSITY AND WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE.

THEY'RE BOTH REQUIRING STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 PRIOR TO RETURNING TO CAMPUS.

AGAIN, NONE OF OUR BIG UNIVERSITIES REQUIRING THAT.

OUR FRIENDS AT KCTV 5 GOT A SNAPSHOT OF STUDENT VIEWS ON THAT SUBJECT THIS WEEK ON THE COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA.

>> IF THEY MAKE YOU WEAR MASKS IF YOU'RE NOT VACCINATED, THAT'S FINE, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE PEOPLE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO GET THE VACCINE TO GO TO COLLEGE.

>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO GET A VACCINATION, BUT I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY A GOOD RECOMMENDATION.

>> JUST BECAUSE I DON'T REALLY FEEL LIKE IT, I GUESS, YOU COULD SAY.

>> NICK: YOU ALL HAVE COLLEGES IN YOUR OWN AREAS.

DR. ARCHER, ARE YOU CALLING UP THE CHANCELLOR OF UMKC BEGGING HIM TO RECONSIDER, BEGGING HIM TO HAVE VACCINATIONS FOR STUDENTS?

>> WE'VE HAD A STAFF MEMBER ACTUALLY ON WITH THE COLLEGES AND TALKING ABOUT THIS.

YOU DIDN'T MENTION KANSAS CITY UNIVERSITY ALSO WHICH REQUIRES STUDENTS TO BE VACCINATED WHEN THEY COME BACK.

I'D LIKE TO LOOK AT IT THIS WAY, THE RISK OF GETTING COVID AND HAVING SERIOUS ILLNESS IS WAY UP HERE.

THE RISK OF ANY SIDE EFFECT FROM THE VACCINE IS OFF THE CHART DOWN HERE.

AT THE SAME TIME, WE ALSO KNOW, AND THIS GETS TO THE 70% FIGURE.

70% MAY HAVE BEEN ADEQUATE FOR THE ORIGINAL COVID THAT WASN'T AS TRANSMISSIBLE AS THE DELTA.

BUT IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO EITHER BE HIGHER THAN 70% OR WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO HAVE 20 OR 30% OF THE POPULATION ALREADY CAUGHT COVID, BUT AGAIN, REMEMBER THIS, GETTING THE DISEASE ISN'T AS GOOD OF PROTECTION AS BEING VACCINATED.

WE ACTUALLY KNOW THAT PEOPLE ARE MORE LIKELY TO GET COVID AGAIN IF THEY GOT THE DISEASE BUT DIDN'T GET VACCINATED THAN IF THEY GOT FULLY VACCINATED.

>> NICK: A LOT OF OW VIEWERS HAVE MEDICAL QUESTIONS THEY'RE STILL CONFUSED ON.

WE'LL GET TO THOSE IN JUST A MOMENT.

BUT FIRST, ONE OF THE HARDEST HIT HOSPITALS IN SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI, JUST PUT OUT A COMPELLING STORY ABOUT ONE OF THEIR PATIENTS.

HIS NAME IS RUSSELL TAYLOR.

HE'S IN HIS EARLY 40s AND HASN'T LEFT HIS HOSPITAL ROOM IN NEARLY A MONTH.

>> I WAS ONE OF THOSE AMERICANS THAT WAS LIKE SKEPTICAL, NOT KNOWING WHO YOU CAN TRUST.

AND SO I JUST KIND OF PULLED BACK AND TOOK A STANCE OF, WELL, IF GOD ALLOWS IT, THEN IT MUST BE.

MY FIRST DAY OR TWO, I WAS -- I JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, LIKE I'M GOING TO GET THROUGH THIS, NOT A BIG DEAL.

BUT IT JUST ENDED UP -- THAT'S WHAT IT ATTACKED, WAS MY LUNGS.

I REALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE.

THAT WAS PROBABLY THE CLOSEST I'VE EVER BEEN TO DYING, I FELT.

I HAVE A NIECE NAMED ALICIA THAT WORKS HERE, AND YOU KNOW, SHE'LL COME HOME AND SHE'LL TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT DOESN'T REALLY REGISTER, BECAUSE IT'S NOT YOU.

THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN WHEN IT'S YOU, IT'S LIKE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

>> NICK: THAT'S 42-YEAR-OLD RUSSELL TAYLOR.

HE'S A PATIENT AT THE COX HEALTH HOSPITAL IN SPRINGFIELD.

HE WAS NOT VACCINATED.

BUT EVERYONE NOW SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANECDOTE OF A FRIEND OF A FRIEND WHO WAS VACCINATED AND STILL ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL.

DR. AREOLA, ARE YOU WORRIED THAT THE VACCINE ISN'T AT BULLETPROOF AS MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE?

>> WE KNEW THAT IT'S NOT 100% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING INFECTIONS.

WE KNEW THAT THERE WOULD BE BREAKTHROUGH INFECTIONS.

FOR THOSE FULLY VACCINATED, EVEN WHEN THEY HAVE THE BREAK THROUGH INFECTIONS, THE SEVERITY IS REDUCED.

WE GIVE OUR FLU SHOTS THAT ARE 40, 50% EFFECTIVE, AND THEY'RE STILL VERY, VERY IMPORTANT IN HELPING US PREVENT SICKNESS OR HOSPITALIZATIONS OR DEATH.

THIS IS ONE OF THE -- THESE ARE SOME OF THE MORE EFFECTIVE VACCINES THAT WE HAVE, AND THEY'RE WORKING PRETTY WELL.

>> NICK: DR. AREOLA, THERE WAS A TIME, OF COURSE, THAT PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTORS WERE A VERY ANONYMOUS GROUP OF PEOPLE.

YOU'VE NOW BECOME SORT OF ITEM ANYTHING RODS OF SOCIETAL UNEASE AND DISPLEASURE.

HAS THERE BEEN A POINT IN THIS MORE THAN A YEAR NOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THE JOHNSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR THAT YOU THOUGHT, I'M GETTING TOO MUCH AGGRAVATION, TOO MUCH HATE SHOWN MY WAY, I DON'T NEED THIS ANYMORE.

I DON'T NEED TO HAVE THIS JOB ANYMORE?

>> SINCE YOU ASKED, QUESTION, I'VE RECEIVED EVERY KIND OF THREATS, SOME FROM ELECTED OFFICIALS.

I'VE RECEIVED MESSAGES, RACIST MESSAGES.

WE HAVE DONE THINGS, TO BE CLEAR, OUT OF TREMENDOUS CAUTION TO OUR HEALTH, RELATIONSHIPS AND FAMILIES.

>> I SEE YOU SHAKING YOUR HEAD THERE.

SO YOU'VE HAD SOME OF THE SAME FEELINGS, JULIAN?

>> IT'S BEEN HARD.

I'M NOT ONE FOR SUGARCOATING MUCH.

IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY HARD.

THERE'S NO AMOUNT OF SCHOOLING OR EDUCATION THAT PREPARES YOU FOR RUNNING A HEALTH DEPARTMENT DURING A PANDEMIC.

IT DOESN'T EXIST.

WE'VE HAD LONG DAYS AND LONG NIGHTS.

I MISSED A LOT OF MOMENTS WITH MY KID WHO WAS 5 MONTHS OLD WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT.

BUT IF ANYTHING, IT'S GIVEN ME A NEWFOUND RESOLVE.

I'M MORE COMMITTED TO WYANDOTTE COUNTY.

I'M MORE COMMITTED TO PUBLIC HEALTH THAN WHEN THIS PANDEMIC STARTED.

IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE, BUT IT'S GIVEN US ALL INCREDIBLY THICK SKIN, NEW PARTNERSHIPS, AND I LOOK FORWARD, HONESTLY, TO WHAT WE TACKLE TOGETHER NEXT OUTSIDE OF COVID.

>> NICK: DID THAT ENTER INTO YOUR DECISION AT ALL TO HANG UP YOUR HAT AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS AS THE HEAD OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN KANSAS CITY, DR. ARCHER?

>> I STARTED 45 YEARS AGO TAKING ON THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY, DEALING WITH THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC AND OUTBREAKS AND MISTRUST AND ACCUSATIONS.

YOU GET A LOT OF THREATS.

THAT'S BEEN PART OF PUBLIC HEALTH.

I ACTUALLY -- MY WIFE AND I TALKED ABOUT MOVING IN TO A TEACHING CAREER BACK SEVERAL YEARS AGO, AND I WAS PLANNING ON IT FOR DECEMBER OF 2020.

AND THEN WHEN THIS HIT IN DECEMBER OF 2019, WHEN I FIRST STARTED SEEING RUMORS THAT THIS WAS GOING ON, WE SUSPENDED THAT.

WE REALIZED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE TIME THAT I COULD ABANDON SHIP.

I ACTUALLY HAD HOPED THAT HERE AT THE END OF JULY THAT IF WE HADN'T HAD THE DELTA VARIANT, WE PROBABLY WOULD HAVE THIS UNDER A LOT BETTER CONTROL RIGHT NOW, BUT THAT'S REALLY THE PROBLEM, IS THAT AS LONG AS WE DON'T SUPPRESS THIS VIRUS MORE THAN WE HAVE RIGHT NOW, IT'S THE OMEGA VARIANT THAT I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THAT WILL REALLY WIPE PEOPLE OUT, THAT EVENTUALLY THIS VIRUS WILL CONTINUE TO ADAPT AND CHANGE AND THEN OUR VACCINES WON'T WORK AT ALL.

>> NICK: YOU'VE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE POLITICIZATION OF THE VACCINE AND HOW THIS HAS WORKED OUT, BUT YOU HAVE ALSO INJECTED YOURSELF INTO POLITICS AS WELL.

I REMEMBER ONE YEAR AGO WHEN YOU SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP SHOULD GIVE A LIFE SENTENCE FOR CAUSING MORE THAN 90% OF AMERICA'S COVID DEATHS.

DO YOU REGRET, THOUGH, GETTING -- INJECTING YOURSELF SO INTIMATELY INTO THE POLITICAL SCENE AS WELL AS PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTOR?

>> THE FACT IS THAT MOST OF OUR JOB IS POLITICAL, THAT IT'S TRYING TO DEAL WITH SMOKING OR LIVING WAGE OR PREDATORY LANDLORDS THAT PROVIDE SLUM CONDITIONS FOR FOLKS.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH -- AND WE ARE THERE FOR THE PEOPLE, TO PROTECT THEM AGAINST THOSE THAT WOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEM, AND YES, WHEN FOLKS ARE PURPOSEFULLY PLAYING PARTISAN POLITICS TO CREATE DISSENSION AND TO LET AN EPIDEMIC RUN BECAUSE IT APPEARS TO BE ONLY IN BLUE STATES AND IT MAY HURT BLUE STATE GOVERNORS, THAT HAD TO BE CALLED OUT.

>> NICK: BUT THE FACT THAT YOU'RE DOING THAT, THOUGH, IN THE FUTURE WILL WE SEE A POINT WHERE PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU ARE NO LONGER APPOINTEES; YOU'RE GOING TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS YOURSELVES?

WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT THESE PUBLIC HEALTH LEADERS TO BE ELECTED OFFICIALS, JUST LIKE WE DO IT IN ATTORNEY GENERAL.

>> SO THE PROBLEM THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE RIGHT NOW IS IT NEEDS TO GO THE OPPOSITE WAY, NICK.

THE AVERAGE STATE HEALTH DIRECTOR LASTS LESS THAN TWO YEARS.

YOU CANNOT EFFECTIVELY DEVELOP AND RUN A GOOD ORGANIZATION WITH THAT KIND OF A STATUS.

WE NEED MANDATORY 4 OR 5 YEAR CONTRACTS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTORS, AND YES, IF THEY DECIDE TO BE REMOVED, THEY CAN BE REMOVED, BUT THEIR CONTRACT HAS TO BE PAID OUT JUST LIKE SUPERINTENDENTS FOR SCHOOLS, AND THAT'S WHAT WE NEED.

DO WE WANT TO GO TO THE MILITARY AND SAY, OKAY, ALL GENERALS HAVE TO BE ELECTED NOW?

THAT'S JUST ABSURD, AND THAT'S THE PROBLEM WITH PUBLIC HEALTH IS WE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE MILITARY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN PROTECTING LIVES AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THE RESOURCES WE NEED.

>> NICK: YOU ARE PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTORS.

YOU'RE NOT COVID DIRECTORS.

I WANT TO END WITH THIS.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN MISSING BECAUSE OF THIS LASER BEAM FOCUS OVER THE LAST YEAR ON DEALING WITH THIS VIRUS?

I WAS JUST LOOKING AT SOME OF THE RAW NUMBERS LAST YEAR.

32,000 MORE HEART DISEASE DEATHS THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

WE WERE LOOKING AT 13,000 MORE DIABETES DEATHS IN 2019 ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAN THE YEAR BEFORE.

WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN LEFT BEHIND?

>> A NUMBER OF THINGS HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

BUT HONESTLY WE CAN'T UNDO THE LAST 15 MONTHS.

WHAT WE CAN DO AND WHAT MY TEAM IS PRETTY LASER FOCUSED ON DOING IS TAKING THE MOMENTUM WE'VE BUILT AND CAPITALIZING ON THAT.

WE'VE BUILT TREMENDOUS NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOR-PROFIT BUSINESSES, WITH CHURCHES.

WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE TRUST WITH SO MANY COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAN A YEAR AND A HALF AGO.

WHAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON IS USING THAT TO TACKLE THESE SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH ISSUES IN NEW WAYS AS WE MOVE INTO THE COMING YEAR.

>> NICK: WHAT DID WE MISS, DR. ARCHER?

>> WELL, A FORMER SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MICHAEL LEVIT SAID EVERYTHING WE DO BEFORE A PANDEMIC WILL SEEM ALARMIST.

EVERYTHING WE DO AFTER WILL SEEM INADEQUATE.

AND WE'VE NOT LEARNED THE LESSONS FROM THIS PANDEMIC TO PREVENT THE NEXT ONE, WHICH IS LIKELY TO BE EVEN WORSE AND COULD START ON A PIG FARM HERE IN MISSOURI.

SO WE'RE NOT GEARING UP AND TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY.

AND YOU'RE RIGHT, WE HAVE A 15, 20 YEAR DIFFERENCE IN LIFE EXPECTANCY BETWEEN DIFFERENT ZIP CODES IN KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF ISSUES THAT WE SHOULD BE WORKING ON, HAVE BEEN TRYING TO WORK ON, BUT WHEN YOU'RE WORKING 60, 70 HOURS A WEEK TRYING TO MANAGE COVID, WHICH BECAME THE NO.

1 CAUSE OF DEATH IN SOME GROUPS AND CATEGORIES OVER THIS LAST YEAR, IT HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE.

>> NICK: AND THAT IS WHERE WE NEED TO WRAP UP THIS CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU TO OUR HEAVY HITTERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH.

I'M NICK HAINES.

FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS, BE WELL, KEEP CALM, AND CARRY ON.

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