COVID19 Vaccine Recommendations Update & Omicron Update

Vaccines:

Age 5-11 - vaccines (Pfizer only) have been available since early November 2021 - first series

Age 16-17 -vaccine boosters now available (Pfizer only)

Age 18 + - vaccine boosters now available (can mix-match any)

    6 month time interval minimum from Pfizer or Moderna first series.

    2 month time interval minimum from J&J dose.

Quick tips:

1) You can schedule your vaccines at most pharmacies - check their online schedules. Your physician's office may carry it too - give them a call. Hospitals and Health Departments also have clinics and pop-up clinics. Resources are available everywhere.

2) You can get your COVID19 vaccine with other vaccines (such as the influenza vaccine). 

• Those who had a strong vaccination response previously: you may want to consider separating the doses by a few days or a week, or plan for a few days of rest. 

• I highly recommend, that while your immune system is doing a lot of work doing its internal strengthening after vaccinations, it might be transiently low on resources, and you may get infected with a different respiratory virus. Take care of yourselves and allow your body time to recover. Try not not plan major trips, parties, large gatherings (including dining out), tough workouts after your shots. Give yourself about a week, mask up when you're out and about, hydrate well with water and feed your body proper healthy nutrition. Doing so may give your body the advantage and avoid some additional misery. (Please note: This is an opinion recommendation; there are no scientific studies to support this claim. This is a common-sense recommendation based on personal and patient experiences).

3) Remember that, if you're not allergic or have other medical reasons to avoid, you can take Ibuprofen or Tylenol after vaccinations to help with discomfort or fevers.

4) Vaccine critical adverse events are rare. Hospitalizations & deaths from COVID19 are preventable and significantly and tragically more common in unvaccinated individuals, young or old. 

Benefits significantly outweigh the risks in favor of getting vaccinated, and even more so now as millions of people around the globe have been vaccinated with one of the most well-vetted vaccines we have in history.

Vaccine side effects and a bit of misery after the vaccines: common. Expect a sore arm, feeling rather tired, some chills, headaches, and muscle aches or joint pain. Often improves after 3-4 days.

5) There is growing evidence from small studies that show that mixing or switching to a different booster dose version may increase your immunity level against COVID19.

Omicron Variant is now in Central Ohio

Still very few cases, but likely more of it in community, just unidentified. We ARE sequencing the tests that are going to the labs. The cases mostly have been mild so far, and we're thankful - however, that's not reason to not stay vigilant. We need more information - another 1-2 weeks to gather more data to see if this variant is going to be an issue.

Influenza cases are on the rise

Flu is not gone. We're starting the season. Many people are skipping their flu shots this season, and I empathize that this year, it just seems like we're standing at an assembly line waiting for the next vaccine.

Just had an Influenza positive test in my care population. CDC already seeing higher numbers this year than last year. Why?

Masks are off more often. Distancing is not happening as much. We're seeing some more pre-pandemic lifestyles than last winter. 

Suggestion? Be careful. Strongly consider the influenza vaccine. It is still a miserable infection and can still cause hospitalizations and pneumonia in some.