New vaccine and new eligible vaccine recipients

​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