COVID-19 UPDATE / December 26, 2021, National Candy Cane Day!

December 26, 2021, National Candy Cane Day! View as Webpage

National Candy Cane Day – December 26, 2021

National Candy Cane Day is on December 26, and while that doesn’t mean it’ll keep us from munching on the sugary sticks as early as Thanksgiving, it does give us a chance to indulge as much as we can before New Year’s.

With beginnings in 17th-century Germany, these sweet treats were curved to represent the shepherds’ crooks. They later made their way to the states in the mid-19th century. Now we see them everywhere, even on trees.

Read more here. . .

Clause For Concern: Candy Cane Shortage Blamed On Supply Chain, Peppermint Crop

If you haven’t been able to find as many red and white candy canes in stores this year, you are not alone. The Christmas candy favorite is the latest to be impacted by holiday shortages, and the weather is not to blame this time.

Peppermint production has been on a general decline for the past ten years in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Agriculture.

Read more here. . .

Your Weekly COVID-19 Updates

Paradise Valley Medical Clinic, Douglas M Lakin MD

9977 N 90th Street, Suite 180, Scottsdale, AZ 85258

480.614.5800 (phone), 480.614.6322 (Fax)

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT AS IT IS OF

IMPORTANCE TO ALL PATIENTS

"We will be emailing you weekly during the COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

We will provide you with the latest information and instructions to deal with the current outbreak as it develops in Phoenix."

Visit our Website

We Offer Telehealth And In-office Visits During The

COVID-19 Pandemic.

Please Call Us If You Need Medical Assistance.

480.614.5800

We Are Here For You!

PVMC COVID-19 OFFICE APPOINTMENT PRE-SCREENING

QUESTIONNAIRE

IF YOU HAVE COMPLETED 2 COVID-19

VACCINATIONS OF PFIZER-BioNTech OR MODERNA OR 1 COVID-19

VACCINATION OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON AND ARE AT LEAST 2 WEEKS OUT, NO NEED TO COMPLETE OUR QUESTIONNAIRE.

PLEASE CALL OUR OFFICE TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT.

ATTN PATIENTS:

Dr Lakin is using FaceTime ,

WhatsApp and Zoom to connect with you

for a 'Telehealth' visit. You can connect using your iPad, iPhone, Android phone, a laptop, or a PC with a camera.

Please watch these videos so you can be prepared and know how to connect with Dr Lakin for a 'Telehealth' visit.

CLICK ON THE PICTURES

FROM THE DOC

COVID LEVELS REMAIN HIGH IN ARIZONA AND APPEAR TO BE STABLE. THAT SAID, WE HAVE SEEN MORE CASES THROUGH THE OFFICE THAN WEEKS PAST.

WE ARE AT SURGE LEVELS AND MASKING IN HIGHER RISK SETTINGS REMAINS NECESSARY FOR ALL, INCLUDING TRIPLE VACCINATED.

OMICRON IS 75% OR MORE OF CASES NATIONSIDE. MORE CONTAGIOUS, BUT SEEMINGLY MILDER…. CERTAINLY, IT APPEARS THAT WAY IN BREAKTHROUGH CASES WITH 2 OR 3 VACCINATIONS.

STILL, THE UNVACCINATED ARE AT HIGH RISK. THE DOUBLE VACCINATED AT TEMPERED RISK, AND THE TRIPLE VACCINATED ARE AT LOWEST RISK.

HOLIDAY GATHERINGS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MORE EXPOSURE DURING A SURGING PACE. IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED YOU ARE AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE AND THESE EVENTS ARE APPROPRIATE BUT BE CONSIDERATE IN YOUR CHOICES.

THINK ABOUT YOUR SITUATION AND STAY AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.

OUTDOOR VENUES/OPEN AIR IS MOST IDEAL. LOOK FOR THE SITUATIOIN WITH THE BEST AIR FLOW. DON’T HESITATE TO USE YOUR MASK IF THAT MAKES YOU COMFORTABLE.

TESTING PRIOR TO GET-TOGETHERS IS AN EXCELLENT APPROACH (HOME KITS ARE GREAT FOR THIS).

REQUESTING THAT THOSE ATTENDING BE VACCINATED IS ALSO MOST HELPFUL IN REDUCING RISK.

WHEN WE ARE SURGING, WE REMAIN AT HIGHER RISK AND MASKING IS STILL BENEFICIAL. VACCINES AND BOOSTERS ARE THE BEST ANSWER.

1. WEAR YOUR MASK IN BUSY PUBLIC SPACES KN95 OR N95 DURING SURGE. CLOTH MASKS ARE OF LIMITED VALUE.

2. GET YOUR BOOSTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PFIZER BOOSTER, MODERNA BOOSTER, AND J & J BOOSTER RECOMMENDED & APPROVED FOR ALL OVER AGE 18. EVERY ADULT WILL BENEFIT FROM A BOOSTER.

MIXING AND MATCHING VACCINES IS FINE. TRY TO STICK WITH YOUR VACCINE IF YOU CAN, BUT IT’S FINE TO MIX AND MATCH (THERE MAY BE A BENEFIT…BUT THE DATA IS LIMITED).

BOOSTER FOR THE J & J…. I RECOMMEND MODERNA OR PFIZER…. I DO NOT RECOMMEND REPEATING J & J…NOT AS GOOD.

GET YOUR BOOSTER SHOT. (ONLY EXCEPTION IS FOR THOSE WHO HAVE HAD BOTH COVID INFECTION + 2 VACCINES…THEY DO NOT NEED A BOOSTER)

WALK IN APPOINTMENTS ARE BECOMING LESS COMMON…. SET UP ‘ONLINE’ WITH THE PHARMACIES (LINKS ARE BELOW).

(WANING IMMUNITY OCCURS WITH THE CURRENT VACCINES AND A BOOSTER IS REQUIRED FOR MAXIMUM PROTECTION SO THAT YOU CAN BE ACTIVE IN PUBLIC WITH MAXIMUM CONFIDENCE.)

3. CHOOSE YOUR EXPOSURES WISELY AT THIS POINT. A-OK TO GO OUT IF VACCINATED BUT BE SELECTIVE AND SMART UNTIL THE SURGE IS OVER.

ONCE SURGE IS OVER, PUBLIC ACTIVITIES SHOULD RESUME TO NORMAL, PRE-COVID LEVELS. IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND BOOSTED YOU SHOULD LIVE LIFE AS NORMAL, UNLESS YOU ARE AT HIGHEST RISK DUE TO IMMUNE SUPPRESSION.

4. GET A COVID SELF-TEST KIT NOW.... TO HAVE AVAILABLE FOR SELF-CHECK SHOULD YOU HAVE SYMPTOMS THAT SUGGEST COVID. SELF TEST KITS ARE IN SHORT SUPPLY, SO GET YOURS NOW...AND IF YOU CANNOT FIND ONE...KEEP LOOKING. YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID.

5. DO NOT CALL US FOR SHOTS...... WE DO NOT HAVE BOOSTER SHOTS.... PHARMACIES WILL BE GIVING OUT BOOSTER SHOTS.... SEE LIST BELOW.

YOU CAN TRY A ‘WALK IN’ APPOINTMENT AND SEE IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE.

VARIANTS OF CONCERN

THE OMICRON VARIANT IS SPREADING RAPIDLY. IT DOMINATES TO OVER 75% OF CASES.

INFORMATION IS DEVELOPING ON A DAILY BASIS. CURRENT THOUGHTS ARE: MORE CONTAGIOUS, LESS DANGEROUS (SLIGHTLY)…BUT THAT CAN CHANGE AND WE WILL UPDATE WEEKLY AS WE UNDERSTAND MORE.

THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION DUE TO OMICRON IS TO GET BOOSTED & MASK MORE FREQUENTLY.

THERE IS EVIDENCE THAT BOOSTING TO HIGH ANTIBODY LEVELS WILL BE HELPFUL WITH OMICRON.

GENERAL COVID STATUS

SCOTTSDALE/PHOENIX/ARIZONA:

WE ARE SURGING. RED ZONE STILL.

CASES ARE AT A HIGH LEVEL …. THIS IS DISAPPOINTING NEWS FOR ARIZONA.

COVID EXPOSURE IS STILL HIGHER THAN DESIRABLE WHEN YOU GO OUT….

BEHAVIOR IN PUBLIC IF YOU ARE VACCINATED:

NOW IS THE TIME TO GET OUT YOUR GOOD MASK AND WEAR IT. ASSESS YOUR SITUATION AND CHOOSE TO WEAR A MASK ACCORDING TO YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THE RISKS INVOLVED.

I RECOMMEND YOU USE YOUR BEST MASK…. N95 OF KN95. THIS WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE. CLOTH MASKS…LESS SO.

YOU WILL GET MILDLY SICK IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND GET COVID, BUT IF YOU DON’T WANT TO DEAL WITH COVID…. START WITH YOUR MASK AGAIN IN PUBLIC SPACES.

MASKING RECOMMENDATIONS:

I RECOMMEND MASKING IN BUSY PUBLIC SPACES SO YOU DON’T HAVE TO DEAL WITH EVEN A MILD COVID COLD.

IF YOU ARE OVER 85 OR HAVE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUES/KNOWN REDUCED IMMUNITY, THEN MASKING IS A MUST. FOR SUCH PEOPLE I RECOMMEND A KN95 OR 95 MASK TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED PROTECTION. REGULAR MASKS WILL NOT BE PARTICULARLY HELPFUL.

PERSONAL INTERACTIONS IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD A BOOSTER:

IMMUNITY IS WANING. YOU MUST BOOST. IF YOU HAVE NOT BOOSTED AND IT IS 5+ MONTHS SINCE YOUR VACCINATION SERIES, YOU ARE INCREASING YOUR RISK WEEK BY WEEK UNTIL YOU ARE BOOSTED.

PERSONAL INTERACTIONS AFTER YOU BOOST:

BOOSTING IS ESSENTIAL. ONE WEEK AFTER BOOST YOU ARE AT NEARLY 10X THE ANTIBODY LEVELS. WE HAVE SEEN PEOPLE GO FROM UNMEASURABLE ANTIBODIES TO 100+ (MAXIMUM) ANTIBODIES FROM THE BOOSTER.

ONCE YOU ARE BOOSTED YOUR RISKS FOR SERIOUS COVID INFECTION ARE DRAMATICALLY DECREASED AND WE ARE ANTICIPATING 6-12MONTHS+ OF PERSISTING ANTIBODY RESPONSE FROM THE BOOSTER SHOT.

ONLY TIME WILL TELL US WHAT ACTUALLY OCCURS, BUT THIS IS OUR CURRENT EXPECTATION.

PERSONAL INTERACTIONS IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD ANY COVID VACCINATION:

YOUR RISK FOR COVID IS HIGH. YOU ARE BEING FOOLISH AND TAKING CHANCES WITH YOUR HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF THOSE YOU LOVE.

YOU WILL GET COVID…. WE SEE PEOPLE EVERY WEEK GET COVID AFTER BEING ‘LUCKY’ FOR 18 MONTHS. THIS THINKING IS FOOLISH AND WILL LEAD TO UNNECESSARY HARDSHIP, HOSPITALIZATION, AND POTENTIAL LONG-TERM HEALTH CONSEQUENCES FOR YOU. DO NOT BE ONE OF THE PEOPLE THAT ‘WISHES’ YOU GOT YOUR SHOT. WE ARE STILL SEEING THIS HAPPEN…AND IT’S SAD.

FOLLOW ALL MASKING AND DISTANCING PROTOCOLS 100%. REDUCING RISK IS NOT THE SAME AS ELIMINATING RISK. THOSE AT THE HIGHEST RISK WHO ARE UNVACCINATED SHOULD NOT BE TAKING ANY CHANCES, PERIOD!

BOOSTER SHOTS:

PFIZER, MODERNA, AND J & J BOOSTER SHOTS ARE APPROVED FOR THOSE WITH REDUCED IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND OVER 65 AND HIGH EXPOSURE PROFESSIONS.

BOOSTER SHOTS PER CDC GUIDELINES:

People 18 years and should receive a booster shot 6 months after their primary series.

VACCINATION RATES ARIZONA:

57% (+1%) ARE FULLY VACCINATED.

67% (+1%) PARTIALLY VACCINATED.

NEW VACCINATIONS ARE NEARLY AT A STANDSTILL.

ALL PATIENTS WHO HAVE RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS SHOULD COVID SELF TEST FIRST, BEFORE THEY ARE IN CONTACT OR PLAN TO COME INTO OUR OFFICE.

IF YOU HAVE A POSITIVE COVID RESULT YOU SHOULD NOT COME INTO OUR OFFICE, BUT PLEASE NOTIFY US.

WHAT IF I GET COVID DESPITE BEING VACCINATED?

IF YOU ARE VACCINATED AND YOU GET COVID IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE A MILD ILLNESS.

I HAVE LABELED THIS A ‘COVID COLD’

THE RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS IS VERY REMOTE…BUT BE IN TOUCH FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS.

NEW TREATMENT OPTIONS EXIST INCLUDING:

PAXLOVID (RITONAVIR)…FROM PFIZER. THIS COURSE OF PILLS, TAKEN WITHIN 5 DAYS OF COVID DIAGNOSIS, WILL REDUCE THE RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION OR DEATH BY 90%. IT IS A GAME CHANGER AND HAS BEEN APPROVED. IT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON VERY LIMITED BASIS FOR THE NEXT FEW WEEKS RESERVED FOR HIGHER RISK INDIVIDUALS. (WE HAVE NOT HEARD THAT ANY IS TRULY AVAILABE IN ARIZONA), INCREASING IN AVAILABILITY WITH TIME.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE ARE USING:

STEROID INHALERS

FLUVOXAMINE (AN ANTI DEPRESSANT RECENTLY SHOWN TO POTENTIALLY REDUCE COVID INFECTION SEVERITY & HOSPITALIZATION.)

THERE IS NO WORRY IN THIS SITUATION. CONSIDER THIS VERY MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD FLU EXPOSURE DURING WINTER FLU SEASON…. BE ATTENTIVE, BUT NOT WORRIED.

AND PLEASE WAIT 10 DAYS FROM BEGINNING OF SYMPTOMS TO BE AROUND OTHERS.

TESTING FOR COVID IN PATIENTS WHO ARE VACCINATED IS NECESSARY WITH ANY SIGNIFICANT RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS.

HOW DO I GET TESTED FOR POSSIBLE ACTIVE COVID INFECTION?

TESTING CAN BE DONE AT LOCATIONS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OR BY A SELF-TEST FROM YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY.

https://doctordoug.com/2020/11/22/covid-19-testing-sites/

YOU MAY PURCHASE A HOME TEST KIT FROM AMAZON OR YOU CAN GET SIMILAR KITS AT WALGREENS OR CVS OR YOUR LOCAL PHARMACY.

I THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE A HOME KIT FOR SELF-TESTING AT HOME. IT IS LIKELY YOU WILL USE IT BY THE END OF WINTER.

RECOMMENDED HOME TEST KITS FROM AMAZON ARE:

BinaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test
Quidel QuickVue at-Home OTC COVID-19

https://www.amazon.com/BinaxNOW-COVID-19-15-Minute-Emergency-Authorization/dp/B094LVQZJL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=binaxnow+rapid+covid+test&qid=1630677880&sr=8-1

https://www.amazon.com/Quidel-QuickVue-at-Home-COVID-19-Test/dp/B093NBTF75/ref=sr_1_3?crid=25COAA6CR9FBY&dchild=1&keywords=rapid+covid+testing+kit+for+home&qid=1630678185&sprefix=rapid+covid+test%2Caps%2C241&sr=8-3

FLU SEASON:

FLU SEASON ARRIVING… BE SURE TO GET YOUR FLU VACCINE!

FLU LEVELS ARE VERY LOW BUT HIGHER THAN LAST YEAR AT THIS TIME.

FOR THE UNVACCINATED:

I AGREE WITH THE CDC RECOMMENDATION FOR VACCINATION OF 5-18-YEAR-OLDS. THIS IS SAFE AND IT WILL BE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THEIR RISKS AND THE FAMILIES' RISK OF INFECTION.

PLEASE ENCOURAGE EVERYONE YOU KNOW TO GET VACCINATED NOW AND BOOSTED!

IF THEY DO NOT GET VACCINATED, THEY WILL GET COVID AT SOME POINT.

WE ARE NO LONGER ROUTINELY TESTING IN THE OFFICE FOR COVID EXPOSURE OR ILLNESS, BUT RATHER YOU SHOULD TEST AT A FACILITY OR DO A SELF-TEST PURCHASED FROM A PHARMACY OR AMAZON.

TESTING LOCATIONS CAN ALSO BE FOUND HERE:

https://doctordoug.com/2020/11/22/covid-19-testing-sites/

COVID IMMUNIZATION:

THE RATE OF PFIZER & MODERNA VACCINATION IS DECLINING NATIONALLY. BOTH OF THESE VACCINES ARE AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE…VIRTUALLY 100% IN PREVENTING HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH FROM COVID...BOTH OF THEM. THEY ARE SAFE FOR MEN AND WOMEN OF ALL AGES.

POSSIBLE COVID VACCINE SEVERE

ALLERGIC REACTIONS:

OCCURRING AT A RATE OF

1 IN 50,000 (VERY LOW)

YOU SHOULD PLAN ON PROCEEDING WITH IMMUNIZATION UNLESS YOU HAVE A KNOWN ALLERGY TO PEG (POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL). .... A COMPONENT OF THE CARRIER IN THE VACCINES.

YOU CAN SEE DAILY TRENDS FOR ARIZONA AND THE U.S. HERE, ON THE CDC WEBSITE…JUST CHOOSE ‘ARIZONA’ FROM THE LIST.

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrends

To monitor the curse of COVID in Maricopa County, go to: https://covidactnow.org

Ep 83 Osterholm Update COVID 19: On Viral Time

TOP PODCAST DONE WEEKLY

BY DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM

(UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA)

He is a world-renowned epidemiologist who was credited with first elucidating TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME in the 1980’s.

He provides comprehensive and understandable/actionable ideas related to COVID.

Dr. Osterholm Update: COVID-19

December 22, 2021

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/podcasts-webinars/episode-83

'On Viral Time'

In this week's episode, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the rapid global spread of the Omicron variant, how the United States and other countries around the world are responding to the Omicron surge, and how to approach the holidays.

According to Dr. Osterholm……

VACCINE, VACCINE, VACCINE…THIS IS OUR PROTECTION
BOOST, BOOST, BOOST…THIS WILL BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT RECURRING SURGE AND TO RAISE ANTIBODY LEVELS IN THOSE ALREADY SET WITH THE PRIMARY COVID VACCINE SERIES.
COVID, IS WAXING AND WANING IN DIFFERENT STATES.
MASKS OF THE KN95 AND N95 VARIETY CAN BE HELPFUL. CLOTH MASKS AND SURGICAL MASKS ARE CURRENTLY NOT AS EFFECTIVE WITH DELTA VARIANT
THE THREE VACCINE REGIMEN WORKS AGAINST OMICRON VARIANT TO 75%....AND IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS AND HOSPITALIZATION. DEATHS AMONG THE VACCINATED ARE HIGHLY REDUCED.
GET YOUR BOOSTER AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

Know that unvaccinated remain a source of potential infection. Avoiding unvaccinated persons will reduce your risk of COVID.

LOCATIONS FOR COVID TESTING OTHER THAN OUR OFFICE…SEE OUR UPDATED LIST:

https://doctordoug.com/2020/06/30/covid-19-testing-sites/

LATE NIGHT TESTING AT NEXTCARE FACILITIES IS A CONSIDERATION. HERE IS THE LINK:

https://nextcare.com/curbside/

Know that our office is responding to COVID, and we are here to help. Reach out for assistance if you are not feeling well. We will develop a plan of action for you to move forward.

Yours in good health,

Dr. Lakin

RECOMMENDED LINKS IN THIS NEWSLETTER AND IN GENERAL FOR COVID INFORMATION:

INTERNET SITES WITH BEST INFORMATION:

Risks with different activities…how to gauge risk:

https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

Accurate US statistics by age on COVID infections:

https://www.acsh.org/news/2020/06/23/coronavirus-covid-deaths-us-age-race-14863

What we can expect of COVID in next 1 year:

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/sites/default/files/public/downloads/cidrap-covid19-viewpoint-part1_0.pdf

Can follow here for ARIZONA UPDATES DAILY and best trending information to know what is out in the community:

https://covidactnow.org/us/az?s=44750

Most informative graphics:

https://www.acsh.org/news/2020/06/02/every-picture-tells-story-covid-roundup-14825

Get your Mask up to N95 Level:

https://www.fixthemask.com

If you have symptoms of COVID…. you can run through a simple checklist on-line to see if you should be concerned:

https://c19check.com/start

Understanding the various vaccines under development

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/health/covid-vaccine-update-coronavirus/

Here's What Early Studies Say About How Omicron Compares To Delta

Two new preprint papers add to growing evidence that the Omicron coronavirus variant may be less likely to cause severe disease and hospitalization compared to the Delta variant.

Omicron is associated with a two-thirds reduction in the risk of Covid-19 hospitalization compared with Delta, suggests one study, released online Wednesday as a working paper by researchers at the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom. That research was based out of Scotland.

The other paper, posted Tuesday to the online server medrxiv.org, suggests that people with Omicron infections have had 80% lower odds of being admitted to the hospital compared with Delta infections. But once a patient was hospitalized, there was no difference in the risk of severe disease, according to that research, based out of South Africa. Both studies include preliminary data and have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The study out of Scotland included data on 23,840 Omicron cases and 126,511 Delta cases, from Nov. 1 to Dec. 19. The researchers – from the University of Edinburgh, University of Strathclyde and Public Health Scotland – took a close look at the health outcomes among those Omicron infections compared with Delta infections. There were 15 hospital admissions among those with Omicron infections and 856 hospital admissions among Delta.

"Although small in number, the study is good news. The two thirds reduction in hospitalisation of double vaccinated young people compared to Delta indicates that Omicron will be milder for more people," James Naismith, director of the Rosalind Franklin Institute and professor of structural biology at the University of Oxford, who was not involved in either study, said in a written statement distributed by the UK-based Science Media Centre on Wednesday.

The researchers found that the proportion of Omicron cases that were likely reinfections in people who have had Covid-19 before was more than 10 times that of Delta. The data also showed that having received a third dose of vaccine, or booster shot, was associated with a 57% reduction in the risk of symptomatic Omicron infection when compared with being at least 25 weeks out from completing a second dose.

"These early national data suggest that Omicron is associated with a two-thirds reduction in the risk of COVID-19 hospitalisation when compared to Delta. Whilst offering the greatest protection against Delta, the third/booster dose of vaccination offers substantial additional protection against the risk of symptomatic COVID-19 for Omicron," the researchers wrote in the paper.

Read more here. . .

After you received your COVID vaccinations, please let us know!

We would like to document this information into your chart.

BUT FIRST.......

PLEASE COMPLETE THE INFORMATION ON THE CARD BEFORE YOU SEND IT TO US!

What we need:

Your name
Date vaccination received
Brand name
Lot number if available
Which dose you have received

**Email your COVID vaccine completed info HERE

Information Where To Schedule Your COVID-19 Vaccine & Boosters

Maricopa County Covid-19 Vaccine Data

Key takeaways from this week’s data (as of 12/21/2021):

Over 2.4 million Maricopa County residents have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine — which is over 55% of the total population.
Almost 5.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses have been given to Maricopa County residents.
In the last week, close to 15,000 doses of vaccine were given to Maricopa County residents daily.
Over 55% of all Maricopa County residents, almost 59% of Maricopa County residents 5 years and older, and almost 67% of adults 18 years and older have received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Read more here. . .

We Are Here to Take Care of Your Healthcare Needs.

We Are Here to Serve!

Our office is using all techniques to reduce exposure to a minimum during your visit. These include:

· Temperature checks of all patients and staff.

· Masks for all people in the office.

· Cleansing of hands and surfaces repeatedly.

· Multiple Super-HEPA filters to filter out potential virus and particles in the office.

· High Level UV light air cleansing in the office to eliminate bacteria and viruses in the air.

OUR UPDATED OFFICE SCHEDULE

DOORS OPEN

7AM - 4PM Monday through Thursday

7AM - 11AM Friday

IN OFFICE

APPOINTMENTS: MONDAY – THURSDAY

7AM – 11:15AM & 1PM – 3:30PM

APPOINTMENTS: FRIDAY

7AM – 10:30 AM

DR. LAKIN WILL CONTINUE ‘TELEHEALTH’ VISITS WITH FaceTime, WhatsApp or ZOOM WHEN NEEDED.

COVID KIT:

This is what you should have at home to prepare for possible COVID, to monitor yourself if you were to get infected:

DIGITAL ORAL THERMOMETER: MANY BRANDS ARE FINE…HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE:

https://www.amazon.com/Digital-Thermometer-Reading-Waterproof-Indicator/dp/B087T3S4TR/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=THERMOMETER&qid=1597159324&sr=8-6

PULSE OXIMETER: TO CHECK OXYGEN LEVELS. MANY BRANDS ARE FINE...HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE:

https://www.amazon.com/Innovo-Fingertip-Oximeter-Plethysmograph-Perfusion/dp/B07YVGZPRZ/ref=sr_1_20?dchild=1&keywords=PULSE+OXI&qid=1597159388&sr=8-20

OTHER ITEMS FROM THE HOME MEDICAL KIT:

· TYLENOL, ADVIL, OR ALEVE

· Sudafed 30mg tablets

· Chlorpheniramine 4mg tablets

· Robitussin DM syrup

· Imodium AD

COVID COURSE:

THREE PHASES OF COVID:

· JAILBIRD Day 1-10

· PAROLE BIRD 11-17

· FREE BIRD 17+

JAILBIRD: STRICT QUARANTINE...... 10 DAYS FROM DATE OF FIRST SIGNIFICANT SYMPTOMS IF OBVIOUS OR FROM DATE OF TESTING IF UNCERTAIN BASED ON SYMPTOMS

PAROLE BIRD: DAY 11-17…. VERY CAREFUL WITH ALL ATTENTION TO MASKING, DISTANCING, HAND CLEANSING: NEXT 7 DAYS AFTER QUARANTINE

FREE BIRD: DAY 17 AND BEYOND.... NO RESTRICTIONS.

Although I do not recommend testing to prove the virus has cleared after infection, if you have testing and are clear, then the above protocol is not applied.

CARING FOR YOURSELF IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE COVID OR IF YOU HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH COVID:

Most Common Symptoms

They consist of the same set of symptoms as the common cold/rival respiratory syndrome, but they are worse.

Common/Hallmark symptoms:

· High fever (over 100.4, but can range from 99’s to 104+)

· Fatigue

· Cough

Other symptoms can include milder issues:

· Loss of Smell and/or Taste

· Nausea without Vomiting

· Sore Throat

· Aching muscles throughout the body

· Headache

· Occasional diarrhea …

· Nasal congestion (occasional)

TREATMENT:

Symptomatic treatment for the most bothersome symptoms

· Plan to: Monitor temperature twice daily and record.

· Monitor oxygen levels twice daily and record. If dropping

significantly you should be in touch.

For the oxygen/Temperature:

1. Check your temperature twice daily and keep a log. No temperature is dangerous…adults do not have to worry about this. This is about monitoring your condition. If you have concerns, be in touch.

2. Check oxygen level twice daily and keep a log. A declining oxygen level can indicate early de-compensation from COVID. Normal oxygen saturation is 97-100%. If lower than that it may be normal for you, but the trend is what matters. If you are declining into the low ninety’s, if you are feeling particularly short of breath…then it is time to check at the Emergency Room (which is safe to do!) If you have concerns…be in touch.

Aches and Pains and Fever:

· Tylenol 650 – 1000mg four times per day is preferred for treating these symptoms, but if not working well, you may use:

· Advil (Ibuprofen 200mg), 2 – 3 tablets….2 – 3 x per day or Aleve (naproxen 220mg), 1 – 2 tablets...1 – 2 x per day,

· Drink good amounts of clear liquids (anything you can see through)

Sore Throat:

· Saltwater gargling

1. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water.

2. Gargle for 15 seconds and spit.

3. Repeat during the day every 2 – 4 hours to relieve pain.

· Pain relief medications: Advil (Ibuprofen 200mg), 2 – 3 tablets….2 – 3 x per day or Aleve (naproxen 220mg), 1 – 2 tablets...1 – 2 x per day, or Tylenol 650 – 1000mg four times per day.

Cough:

· Steam: Either in the form of a hot, steamy shower or using a hot pot of water and covering with a towel and put your head under the towel. Both methods will provide humid air to the irritated air passages and soothe the cough.

· Cough Syrup: Robitussin DM or Delsym cough syrup can be used to suppress cough.

· You may require a prescription cough syrup with Codeine. Contact me if that is the case.

Sinus Congestion and Drainage (RARE SYMPTOM):

· Use a decongestant such as Sudafed 30mg, 1 – 2 pills up to four times per day, or use a drying antihistamine such as Chlortrimeton 4mg, up to four times per day. Other cold medications (over the counter) can be used.

· Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra will not work for congestion symptoms from an infection. Do Not Use.

Nausea Treatment:

This is the most difficult issue to treat at home as there is very little one can do to settle the stomach. Coca-Cola with the carbonation eliminated (Flat Coke), Ginger Ale, or Ginger Root…. can be tried, but these are often inadequate, and the key to getting the stomach to settle is getting a good nausea medication.

If nausea is persistent, then calling for a prescription medication is often a good idea. Phenergan (Promethazine), Compazine (prochlorperazine), Zofran (Ondansetron) are very effective in treatment. Sometimes we use them in combination either as a pill or a suppository.

The KEYS are:

1. Settling the Stomach…so that liquids can be taken

2. Focusing on Liquids…so that dehydration does not set in

3. Eating light foods… if possible (to provide energy for healing). This is not a requirement for healing from an acute GI illness; so, do not feel that the sick person needs to eat food. The only requirement is liquid intake!

When to Seek Medical Assistance

• There is no medication to treat this virus, so the resolution takes time.

Worsening symptoms/Signs of Complications:

• If you are getting significantly short of breath please be in touch. If progressive and worsening, you need to be seen and hospitalized. Best to go the ER if shortness of breath is a significant symptom

How Long to Recover

• The COVID is a viral infection that will take from 3–7 days to develop, 3-7 days to improve and then from 3-7 days to completely resolve.

Stay Safe!

"How Candy Canes Are Made"

Candy makers start the candy cane-making process by cooking up a batch of sugar, water, and corn syrup.

The batch is then stretched and rolled into canes.