In another last minute change, San Diego County has expanded the criteria for eligibility to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting March 15.  In addition to the more stringent criteria listed in my last blog entry, they have now added new criteria listed below.  The biggest increase would be for people with hypertension and those who are overweight.  If you're not sure if you fall into the overweight category, you can calculate your body mass index online with a BMI calculator or log into your portal to see what your last documented BMI was.  In addition, YOU DO NOT NEED A NOTE FROM OUR OFFICE.  When you show up for your vaccine appointment, you simply have to confirm that you have one of the eligible conditions. To make an appointment, click on the COVID-19 tab above to see the different ways to access appointments, specifically through the county at www.VaccinationSuperStationSD.com or at individual pharmacies.

•  Asthma (moderate-to-severe)
•  Cerebrovascular disease (affects blood vessels and blood supply to the brain)
•  Cystic fibrosis
•  Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Immunocompromised state (weakened immune system) from blood or bone marrow transplant, immune deficiencies, HIV, use of corticosteroids, or use of other immune weakening medicines
•  Neurologic conditions, such as dementia
•  Liver disease
•  Overweight (BMI > 25 kg/m2, but < 30 kg/m2)
•  Obese (BMI > 30 kg/m2, but < 40 kg/m2)
•  Pulmonary fibrosis (having damaged or scarred lung tissues)
•  Thalassemia (a type of blood disorder)
•  Type 1 diabetes mellitus

Side effects:  We encourage everyone to report any side effects to the vaccines through the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.  If you want to help out even more, you can also sign up for V-safe on your cell phone. This phone-based app will check in with you daily after you receive your vaccine to see how you’re feeling, and it helps us document the various possible side effects the vaccines may have.  Just go to vsafe.cdc.gov on your smart phone and follow the prompts.  One important thing to know is that NONE of our patients have had any long term side effects from the vaccine.  You may not feel well for a few days after getting the vaccine because you are tricking your body into thinking it is fighting the real COVID-19 virus, but because there is no virus there, you quickly return to normal.
 
If you’ve already had COVID-19:  Many people have already been diagnosed with COVID-19 this past year.  Although there are no official recommendations, if you have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the last 3 months, I would recommend waiting to get your COVID-19 vaccine.  Having had the infection, you will most likely have at least 90 days of protection from getting re-infected, and getting the vaccine soon after having had the infection may give you more side effects from it.

​There are a few new developments in the COVID-19 vaccines, but I first want to stress again the availability of Monoclonal Antibody Treatment for COVID-19.  With all the discussion over the last year about hydroxyurea, zinc, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and ivermectin for the early treatment of COVID-19, so far one of the best treatments early in the disease is monoclonal antibodies, which has been shown to decrease your risk of hospitalization and death.  The key is getting the treatment early if you qualify, so you must get tested early if you have any symptoms suggestive of COVID, even if you think it’s just allergies!  Click the COVID-19 tab above to find out more information about this treatment.
 

• Newest COVID-19 vaccine:  With the recent Emergency Use Authorization given to the single dose Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine, we now have 3 different effective vaccines available.  Even though the preliminary numbers seem to suggest that it is not as effective as the 1st two vaccines, it is pretty much 100% effective at preventing death from COVID-19.  Please read about the details in my previous blog post dated 2/15/21 found below.  Given the much less stringent requirements associated with storing and administering this vaccine, our office is going to attempt to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine to be able to distribute to our patients.  It may take a month or more as there are not many doses of this currently available, and the initial distribution will be mostly to higher risk areas such as the South Bay, but if and when we do get the vaccine in, I will send out another email.

 

• Who can get vaccinated now?  Starting at the end of February, these additional patients are eligible to get the vaccines:
  • Teachers for grades K-12.  To get vaccinated, you should contact your school or register at this specific website for teachers.  CLICK HERE.
  • Workers in Childcare and Higher Education, Emergency Services, Food and Agriculture. To see if you qualify under these categories, and for information about how to get the vaccine, please CLICK HERE. 

 

• Who can get vaccinated starting March 15?  There have been announcements that the next phase in California starts March 15 and will include people ages 16-64 with certain health conditions.  You will likely need a note from our office stating that you are eligible.  While this list of health conditions appears to include a lot of people (diabetes, COPD, chronic kidney disease, obesity, etc.), we are being told to prioritize specific individuals in these groups.  For example, people with diabetes and a HgbA1c > 7.5%, people with COPD on supplemental oxygen, people with chronic kidney disease stage 4 and above.  To see the full list, CLICK HERE.  If you do meet these criteria, please send us a message through your patient portal so that we can prepare your letter when it gets closer to March 15.

 

• Double Masking:  There has been a lot of information in the media about using 2 masks for protection.  It is important thing to know the right way to wear 2 masks.  Evidence shows that surgical masks are better than cloth masks, but if there isn’t a good seal of the mask on your face and air can get around the mask, you are still vulnerable.  If you wear 2 masks, it makes no sense to wear 2 masks that both have gaps around your face so that the virus can get around your masks.  If you wear a surgical mask underneath a cloth mask, make sure the cloth mask is large enough to cover your face tightly and that at least one of the masks has a wire frame to fit over your nose.  Read information from the CDC by CLICKING HERE