Covid Vaccine update
Today, Moderna applied for FDA Emergency Use Authorization for its COVID vaccine. Pfizer applied for theirs a couple weeks ago.
As a healthcare professional, this is extremely exciting. 🩺 Not only have these vaccine trials shown promising results (both with over 94% efficacy preventing COVID and, in Moderna's case, 100% effective against severe disease), but among approximately 75,000 participants in total, neither trial revealed any serious safety concerns. 👏🏼
In general, vaccines work by "revving" up your immune system so that it is ready to fight disease before it overwhelms your body. The main side effects can include fatigue, muscle pain, headache, and fevers (all signs that your immune system is working), but are transient and - in my book - far less dangerous and worrisome than COVID itself.
It really feels like Christmas is on its way. 🎄 I cannot think of a greater gift this year than health, safety, and peace of mind. 🎁
#liveVICTORIOUS✌🏼 #doctormom #saferathome #hcw4science
You can call me Doctor…
When I first posted this video on TikTok, I got lots of comments - mostly supportive, but some not so much:
"So do you expect your friends to call you Doctor too? Ha ha."
"You are so uptight."
"Sometimes I just forget, no big deal."
I hear you, but I wonder: Would you respond to a male doctor this way? If he introduced himself as "Doctor" - Would you make fun of him too? Would you also call him uptight? Would you tell him it's no big deal? No, my bets are that you wouldn't.
And that's kinda the whole point.
Healthcare workers for Vaccines
Have you gotten your flu vaccine? Are you planning on getting the COVID vaccine when it becomes available?
According to the CDC, only about 49% of Americans got the flu vaccine last year. According to recent polls, only 21% of Americans would definitely get the COVID vaccine once approved. This is concerning, given that these vaccines are our best defense for staying out of hospitals and ending this pandemic.
One concern is whether vaccines are safe. I know there is a lot of nervousness especially surrounding this newest COVID vaccine (set to release at the end of this year or early next), but before being FDA approved and released to the public, every vaccine must be rigorously tested for safety and efficacy. Yes, ALL of them, regardless of what is promised or said. With so much riding on these meds - scientists will NOT skip or rush on safety protocols.
Per Dr. Fauci, “extensive checks and balances that include independent data analysis and a host of advisory groups staffed with career scientists will likely shield the FDA coronavirus vaccine approval process from political pressure... each of these vaccines has a data- and safety-monitoring board that is not beholden to the administration” or anyone else. This is reassuring.
Another concern is whether vaccines are effective. Definitely. This is one of the research end-point must-haves. However, true herd immunity and protection can only be achieved if the majority of the population get the vaccine. Everyone getting the COVID 19 vaccine is our best shot at ending this pandemic ASAP.
#WeStandWithFauci, the FDA, and the Scientific Process. We are Healthcare Workers for Vaccines #hcw4vaccines!
#liveVICTORIOUS✌🏼 #doctormom
The difference between M.D. and D.O.
What is the difference between a medical doctor (MD) and doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO)?
Spoiler alert: There isn't much of one.
The main difference is our philosophy and approach to patient care. MDs focus more on allopathic medicine, which include research-based medical and surgical treatments. While DOs have more of an osteopathic approach that focuses on whole body and preventative care.
In terms of education and training, here in the US both types of doctors must complete 4 years of undergraduate education, 4 years at an accredited medical or osteopathic medical school, and 3-7 years of hands on residency training. In 2020, a fully combined MD-DO residency match occurred, making these 2 paths to medical care even more standardized.
As a medical professional, to me, MD and DO licenses are often interchangeable and alone do not suggest a difference in medical care. What I would focus on instead is the doctor him/herself: their capability to address your issues and concerns, whether their specialty and approach align with what you are looking for, their willingness to answer your questions clearly and honestly, and their ability to provide you calm and confidence in their care.
Hopefully this helps clear up some of the “confusion” I’ve been seeing online. (And yes I put confusion in quotations, because in this day and age of readily available information and google, it’s really just a little bit of laziness to blast out this type of misinformation. )
The Truth about fake news
Have you ever read a headline or heard an audio clip circulating on social media and thought, "That can't be true!" Well, it probably isn't.
In 2018 MIT did a study looking at "news" posts on social media and found that false news was 70% more likely to be reposted and travelled 6 times faster than the truth. ‼️
In short, this means that that viral post you're seeing on your feed is most likely FALSE. ❌
Some food for thought and a reminder to do your own independent research as we head into flu/twindemic season and get closer to election day.
Why the flu vaccine is especially important this year
Winter is coming. So is what experts are calling "twindemic" season...
Not only is COVID still going strong - with the US fastly closing in on 7 million cases and 200,000 deaths - but flu season will be upon us soon as well.
As your FB doctor friend, please get your flu vaccine and remind your loved ones to get it as well! Not only can it decrease your risk of getting the flu by up to 60%, it can drastically reduce the severity of your disease course even if you do get it. It could very well save you from a hospitalization, which will be key with COVID numbers expected to rise as well this winter.
#liveVICTORIOUS but please stay safe and healthy!
(and yes, if it takes a dance to help you remember to get your vaccine, so be it!)