July 10th, Happy Pick
Blueberries Day!
Activities like picking blueberries can be loads of fun for the whole family–and a great way to eat fresh, delicious fruit in the summertime. It’s time to learn about and celebrate Pick Blueberries Day!
Native to North America, blueberries originally grew wild and were likely picked by local hunters and gatherers as part of their diet.
Blueberries were not successfully cultivated for commercial production until the early 20th century.
Falling right at the height of the season for the best blueberry crops, Pick Blueberries Day was founded as part of National Blueberry Month by the National Blueberry Council in the United States. Since 2003, the day has been officially recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Blueberries are not only tasty, but they are also a healthy fruit. In fact, they have the highest level of antioxidants of any common fruit or vegetable. So get ready to celebrate Pick Blueberries Day!
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Your Weekly COVID-19 Updates
Paradise Valley Medical Clinic,
Douglas M. Lakin, M.D.
Kaitlin A. Kraemer, M.S., PA-C
9977 N 90th Street, Suite 180, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480.614.5800 (phone), 480.614.6322 (Fax)
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ATTN PATIENTS:
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
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JULY 10, 2022
COVID IS WIDESPREAD AT THIS TIME. MANY WHO HAVE AVOIDED COVID ARE NOW GETTING INFECTED DESPITE ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS.
THE NEW BA-5 VARIANT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS.
IT IS NOT MORE SERIOUS.
FOR THE MULTI-VACCINATED…. COVID IS IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR.
WE STILL HAVE ZERO HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG HUNDREDS OF OUR PATIENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY HAD BREAKTHROUGH COVID.
PLEASE LIVE LIFE, BEING CAREFUL IN WAYS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE, BUT DO NOT RESTRICT YOUR ACTIVITIES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION, BUT AT THIS TIME, IN THE USA FOR THE MULTI-VACCINATED, WE HAVE REACHED OUR ENDPOINT.
BA.4 and BA.5 VARIANTS ARE OVER 70% 0F ISOLATES CURRENTLY.
FOR THE UNVACCINATED…. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD…. COVID CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE.
THE CURRENT VARIANT IS MUCH MILDER, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED.
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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
July 8, 2022
'Living with COVID'
In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the U.S. and internationally, the rise of the BA.5 subvariant, and what living with COVID currently looks like for Dr. Osterholm.
According to Dr. Osterholm……
- ALL IS GOING WELL WITH THE PANDEMIC AT THIS TIME. HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AT THE LOWEST WE HAVE SEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC
- THERE IS A LOT OF COVID ACROSS THE USA. PEOPLE ARE DOING MUCH BETTER, IT IS MUCH LESS SEVERE.
- BA 4 AND BA5 ARE RISING AND MAY CAUSE INCREASE HOSPITALIZATIONS SLIGHTLY COMPARED TO MORE RECENT VARIANTS.
- CHINA WILL BE EXPERIENCING MAJOR COVID OUTBREAKS AS TIME GOES ON. OMICRON IS LIKE THE WIND…YOU CAN’T STOP IT, BUT YOU CAN TRY TO CONTROL IT. THE ZERO COVID POLICY OF CHINA IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
- COVID IS SHOWING MINOR SURGES IN THE NORTHEAST.
- VACCINE, VACCINE, VACCINE…THIS IS OUR PROTECTION. ALL VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE AND WITH TIME WE ARE SEEING THAT THE J&J VACCINE IS PICKING UP STEAM AND GIVES SOLID LONG-TERM 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.
- ANTIGEN TESTING IS USEFUL, BUT OF LIMITED VALUE. DON’T DEPEND ON THIS TEST IF YOU HAVE CLASSIC COVID SYMPTOMS.
- 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/FOUR VACCINE REGIMEN IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS AND HOSPITALIZATION. DEATHS AMONG THE VACCINATED ARE MASSIVELY REDUCED.
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GET YOUR BOOSTERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Know that unvaccinated remain a source of potential infection. Avoiding unvaccinated persons will reduce your risk of COVID.
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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
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BA.5, Now Dominant U.S. Variant, May Pose The Biggest Threat To Immune Protection Yet. . .
The FDA recommended that Covid vaccine makers target two omicron subvariants — BA.4 and BA.5 — in new booster shots expected to come this fall.
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A new version of omicron is dominant in the U.S.
The coronavirus subvariant known as BA.5 accounted for nearly 54% of the country's Covid cases as of Saturday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A similar subvariant, BA.4, makes up 17% more.
"They're taking over, so clearly they're more contagious than earlier variants of omicron," said David Montefiori, a professor at the Human Vaccine Institute at Duke University Medical Center.
The two subvariants also appear to evade protection from vaccines and previous infections more easily than most of their predecessors.
Francois Balloux, the director of the University College London Genetics Institute, said that's most likely another reason the subvariants have taken over.
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Third Round Of Free Covid-19 Tests Now Available
The websites for HHS and the U.S. Postal Service directed people Monday to apply for a third round of at-home tests.
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The federal government started taking orders Monday for a third round of Covid-19 test kits to be mailed to any U.S. household.
A Department of Health and Human Services website said Monday that all U.S. households were eligible to order a third round of tests. Each order now contains eight rapid antigen tests, the U.S. Postal Service website says. Previously, four tests were sent out at a time.
According to U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Americans can start placing their orders for the second round of free at-home COVID-19 tests now.
If you need help ordering your tests, you can call 1-800-232-0233 (1-888-720-7489 for TTY).
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Is Covid-19 Surging Again? An Expert Explains How To Prepare. . . |
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The much-awaited summer lull in coronavirus cases doesn't appear to be happening as Covid-19 infections continue to increase in much of the United States.
An earlier rise in cases this year was driven by the BA.2 Omicron subvariant. Now, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that two other subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, constitute more than 70% of new infections in the country. These subvariants may partially escape the immunity produced by the vaccine and by prior infection, though vaccination still likely protects against severe illness.
These developments are occurring as more people resume travel and other pre-pandemic activities. How should people think about their risk from Covid-19 right now? If they are vaccinated and boosted, are they safe? What about those who recently had Covid-19? What kind of precautions should people take if they still want to avoid Covid-19? And if someone tests positive for the coronavirus, should this person still isolate?
To help with these questions, I spoke with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. She is also author of "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health."
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Results From Last Week's Survey:
'How would you rate your current anxiety level?'
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- 'Getting better, but still worried.' 25%
- 'Doing ok, considering today's environment.' 28.3%
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'Fine, have my anxiety well under control!' 31.7%
** Pleased that the results lean towards the positive side!
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Mask Policy in Our Office |
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At our office, we are continuing to follow CDC guidelines and will strive for ways to keep our patients and staff safe.
We recommend that all unvaccinated and vaccinated patients and visitors entering our office cover their nose and mouth at all times.
To prevent further spread of the Delta & Omicron variants, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance on February 25, 2022, to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks when in areas with “substantial” and “high” transmission of Covid-19.
We have a limited supply of paper masks and will make these available to patients while they last, however, we encourage you to bring your own facial covering.
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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 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
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Dr. Lakin's Info For COVID-19 Kit &
Recommended Treatments
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SUMMARY OF A 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
- PULSE OXIMETER
OTHER ITEMS FROM THE HOME MEDICAL KIT:
TYLENOL, ADVIL, OR ALEVE
Sudafed 30mg tablets
Chlorpheniramine 4mg tablets
Robitussin DM syrup
Imodium AD
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Ingredients
- Baked 9-inch pie shell
- 3/4 Cup sugar
- 3 Tbsp cornstarch
- 1/4 tsp . salt
- 1/4 Cup water
- 4 C . fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1 Tbsp . butter
- 1 Tbsp . lemon juice
- Whipped cream (opt.)
Instructions
- Combine sugar, cornstarch and blueberries. Cook over medium heat until it comes to a boil and is thickened.
- Mixture should be clear and very thick. Remove from heat and stir in butter and lemon juice. Cool
- Place remaining 2 cups raw blueberries in pie shell. Top with blueberry mixture. Chill and serve with whipped cream.
Notes
Chill. Serve
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'Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory'
-Violet Blows Up Like a Blueberry Scene
An impetuous Violet (Denise Nickerson) ignores Willy Wonka's (Gene Wilder) warnings and tries a piece of his experimental chewing gum.
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