Happy New Year!

I recently had a patient in the office who missed my blog- it's difficult to keep up with this, while managing a busy medical practice. I got inspired to write...

The Flu season is ongoing and the worst seems to have peaked. Hospitals have been flooded with patients and have had to bypass new admissions due to the overload of patients and infection risk. This year's vaccine has missed one strain of the Flu, but it is still recommended to get immunized. The season extends into March. Please get the immunization. This is an inactivated vaccine so it is not possible to get the Flu. I have many patients claiming they get ill from the vaccine. It is difficult to dispute, but I believe any reaction is better than the actual infection.

This year's vaccination recommendations have been published. Interesting to note is that smokers continue to be a recommended population for the pneumonia vaccine. Anyone before age 65 who has a chronic condition and/or smoking history should get the vaccine. This can be repeated once 5 years later, if the time is still before age 65. The final dose can then be administered at age 65. Unless there is immunosuppression or other factors, no repeated dosing is needed after this age.  Also, it is now recommended that everyone over 65 get a dTap vaccination in cycle with a 10-year tetanus vaccination. This protects against the whooping cough, which is dangerous to the very young and older/frail. Lastly, the shingles vaccine continues to be popular. Regardless of infection or outbreak of the shingles, vaccination is recommended beginning at age 60. Some indicate age 50, but most indications remain at 60 years.

We have joined Zocdoc to welcome new patients into the practice. I appreciate all the recommendations on LinkedIn as well.

I welcome any feedback and response from anyone. Please schedule a complete physical if you haven't had one in a year!.

RW