Dear Editor:
RE: Public health preparing for second wave of COVID-19, July 16.
Dr. Nicola Mercer, medical officer of health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, is planning for the second wave of COVID-19, but she and her staff offer no plan.
Medical researchers worldwide are showing that vitamin D3 is essential in boosting the immune system. And yet, Dr. Mercer makes no mention of vitamin D3 in her plan, and has not mentioned this key vitamin in the past 18 weeks – not once.
The most vulnerable victims of COVID-19 are those with vitamin D3 levels below 75 nmol/L. Many seniors in nursing homes are below 20 nmol/L, and have nil immune response to fighting COVID-19.
World-renown medical nutritionists state that the optimum vitamin D3 level is 150 to 200 nmol/L. The majority of the public fail to maintain this optimum level, especially those who dwell inside.
In addition, researchers have found that the combination of vitamin D3 supplemented with vitamin C, zinc, and probiotics also boost the immune system.
Without a strong immune system, people have little defence in fighting COVID-19. Even herd immunity fails to protect people with low immune systems. Since it typically takes three months to reach the optimum level, now is the time to formulate a vitamin D3 program – not when the second wave of COVID-19 hits.
I believe that Dr. Mercer’s plan for the second wave should include vitamin D3 supplementation.
John Scott,
Fergus
*Editor’s note: While some research has shown a correlation between high vitamin D levels and lower COVID-19 mortality rates, there is little, if any, existing evidence of causation (showing vitamin D can help people infected with or exposed to the virus).