Novavax and children's covid vaccines

 Here is some information about the newest Covid vaccine called the Novavax. We have it available in the office now.

The Novavax vaccine is a traditional one compared to the other Covid vaccines. Its technology has been used before in vaccines to prevent such conditions as shingles, human papillomavirus, and DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis), among others in adults and children.

Novavax, it's a more traditional vaccine in that it uses moth cells and tree bark. Instead of an mRNA vaccine (Pfizer, Moderna) or a viral vector vaccine (Johnson & Johnson), Novavax is a subunit protein vaccine like 'regular' vaccines. Hopefully people who have been hesitant to take the newer technology vaccines will be willing to get this one.

In a presentation to the advisory panel Tuesday, CDC officials said that people ages 18 and older who are not immunocompromised should get the two doses of Novavax's vaccine three to eight weeks apart. Those who are immunocompromised should receive two doses three weeks apart.

How Given: Shot in the muscle of the upper arm

Does NOT Contain: Eggs, preservatives, latex, metals

Even though this vaccine has NOT yet been authorized for children or as a booster shot. We do have the Covid vaccine for 6 months and up.

Just a reminder about Adult Booster shots being available in the office on Tuesdays until 7.

FYI: I will be returning to the Harvard School of Public Health on Friday September 23 to meet with all the "Big Wigs" in Covid, Monkey Pox and other Public Health issues, so the Laurel office will be closed that day.

We will be open in Laurel on Saturday September 3rd and October 1st

Summer sale ends August 31st:

Buy one get one half off on all AALI face and body products.

20% off sunblock

10% on all supplements

10% off Stop Aging Skin Therapy!

10% off Concierge Program

10% off Weight loss program

Stay Healthy and Happy Rest of the Summer!!

Dr. Tuakli

Happy Juneteenth, Monkey pox, A soda a day can kill you and Covid vaccinations for Kids!

Happy Juneteenth!

Schedule a travel consult if you are planning on doing international travel.

This weekend the CDC approved Covid vaccination for all children over 6 months (the same age group that gets the flu shot).They have approved both Moderna and Pfizer. To avoid confusion I want to point out a couple of things.

First it appears that the Moderna shot for kids is only a series of 2 and Pfizer is a series of 3 but then when you look at the efficacy of the shots it appears Pfizer has a higher rate of effectiveness. If however the child only gets 2 Pfizer shots the effectiveness equals out. Bottom line you can expect that there will be a recommendation for a booster at some point, just not as quickly.

Here is a response to a question from the CDC:

"Why do you think kids should be vaccinated against COVID?"

This virus is smarter than we ever imagined. I remember saying in 2020 that this virus has got it made because it transmits really well. That was true of the early isolates of SARS-CoV-2. Omicron and its subvariants are more transmissible than measles—one of the most infectious diseases we know of.

What that means is that virtually everybody is going to get infected with this virus sooner or later. So, even if complications in children are rare, if everybody is getting infected, the absolute number of children who will have serious disease or who will die is not a small number.

Right now, the CDC estimates that 1,200 children have died of COVID. We're talking for the most part about generally healthy children or children with minor medical issues. This is a tragedy. Whatever we can do to avoid this tragedy is something we should do.

We have Moderna vaccine available in the office for initial or booster vaccination for adults and children. Yes, I will vaccinate any child with Moderna, whose parent wants it. The vaccination can be given in conjunction with all the other childhood vaccines.

Vaccination is the most reliable way to be protected but obviously you should still use all the other methods of protection.

If you have questions about Paxlovid for Covid please refer to my last email.

Feel free to call if your Covid test is positive and we can jointly decide what is the best path for you to take.

Don't forget to use your sunblock, preferably medical grade and stay hydrated.

Cases of Monkey Pox continue to rise. There have been 60 cases in 18 states so far. Unusually, the disease in the US seems to be predominantly sexually transmitted and most of the lesions are found around the mouth and genital areas. If you have any concerns about this disease please read up on it on the CDC website.

BTW: Eventually a 4th vaccine will be approved for Covid in this country. It is called Novavax and it is made in a way similar to Hepatitis B, Tetanus and HPV vaccines. Very different to the current Covid vaccines available. It has taken a lot longer to get to market than the others and hopefully the wrinkles will eventually be ironed out. There are also rumors that it maybe combined with the flu shot so you only have to get one shot in the fall. We will see

Here is an interesting statistic:

Harvard researchers found for every sugary drink like soda that people consume on average per day, the risk of dying from heart disease increases by 10 per cent.

Enjoy your summer!

Clinic Update February 2022

 It will be spring soon, warmer weather and hopefully manageable levels of Covid, it has been an unbelievable 2 years! Only predicted by the public health community and now everyone knows epidemiological terms like pandemic, incidence and prevalence.

The current decrease in hospitalizations is very encouraging

As I'm sure you are aware there has been a holdup with vaccinating the under 5 population. The exact reasons are not completely clear, so let's be patient.

I will be out of the office 9th thru 18th. The Laurel office will be open on Saturday March 5th.

If you need an appointment or prescription please call now.

New purchasers will get 10% of any brand products

Covid 2022. How does Omicron vary from Delta?

 COVID 2022: 

 So now its 2022 and as its name suggests Covid-19 is going into its 3^rd year of existence.

Let’s summarize what we have learned and how this information can be helpful going forward.

I would also like to address some of the numerous myths out there.

 

COVID-19 VACCINES:

First off: The biggest deal is the vaccines, we have learned a lot. They are safe and very effective. 90% of people dying from Covid now are unvaccinated, what more do you need to know?

My hesitation regarding mRNA vaccines is now gone. I think one should always have a healthy skepticism but once science proves the point we should move on. After millions of vaccinations the jury is in. They are safe and effective.

Some people still need to be careful about which one they get but every one should get something.

I was a little hesitant regarding younger people because of the unknowns with the mechanism of action of the mRNA vaccines but now I am comfortable with children being vaccinated.  I don’t know why Moderna has not been authorized below 17 yet, it could be they are still trying to figure out the dose, since Moderna’s dose is larger in the basic shot.

Women who has been vaccinated pass protective antibodies to their babies in breast milk.

 

FACT: The recommendation for a Booster has now been changed to 5 months from the last vaccination.

Patients who have already received the initial series and a booster may be eligible for an additional booster if their immunocompromised status warrants it.

 

FACT: Getting a COVID-19 vaccination is a safer and more dependable way to build immunity to COVID-19 than getting sick with COVID-19.

Getting a COVID-19 vaccine gives most people a high level of protection against COVID-19 and can provide added protection for people who have already had COVID-19. One study showed that, for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery.

Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, particularly people at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Getting sick with COVID-19 can cause severe illness or death, and we can’t reliably predict who will have mild or severe illness. If you get sick, you can spread COVID-19 to others. You can also continue to have long-term health issues after COVID-19 infection.

FACT: COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with your DNA in any way. So they cannot alter your DNA.

FACT: Covid vaccinations have no effect on male or female fertility and do not change a woman’s menstruation. In addition they are recommended for pregnant women.

MYTH: Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will cause you to test positive on a viral test.

FACT: None of the authorized and recommended COVID-19 vaccines can cause you to test positive on viral tests, which are used to see if you have a current infection. You may test positive on some antibody (blood) tests which are used to see if you have developed immunity from previous infection or vaccination.

 

At this point we know that the vaccines are safer than the antiviral medicines that have been given EUA, don’t put yourself in the position of needing one.

 

If you are asymptomatic and think you were exposed to Covid  but got a negative home test you can get a PCR test after 5 days.

If you are symptomatic just follow the guidelines for quarantine.

 

At this point it seems that almost everyone knows someone who is positive for Covid unlike this time last year.

Here are some of the differences I have noticed between the Delta and Omicron variants:

Last year the Delta was much more severe, possibly because fewer people were vaccinated. It was more likely to infect and damage the lungs and cause pneumonia. People were sicker for longer.

Omicron on the other hand often starts with a sore throat and pressure around the eyes like a sinus infection headache. It may feel like a bad flu for a couple of days but it doesn’t seem to cause the high fever, loss of taste and smell and severe respiratory symptoms that Delta does. Vaccinated people do very well with it. 90% of people who end up admitted to hospital have not been vaccinated.

 

The biggest problem with Omicron is that it spreads like wild fire, it is even more contagious than the flu!

 

In other news, FYI:

Concierge Program:

The annual discount ends January 31^st.

 

The Laurel office will be open Saturday February 5^th.

Concierge can be seen any day by special appointment.

We are still giving Booster and initial vaccination shots.

You will need to bring proof of vaccination when you come to the office. 

Happy New Year!