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South Macomb Internal Medicine

Warren, MI

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It’s Vaccine Season And We Are Here To Guide You Through The Options!

October 8th, 2021

Vaccine Season

 

Yes it’s that season again.

 

via GIPHY

Okay actually we are talking about VACCINE SEASON.  Hehe…

The Flu virus for example lives longer indoors in the winter, so we are just taking a quick break from our Improving The Patient Experience series to discuss vaccines and answer a few frequently asked questions.  Please keep in mind that this post isn’t meant to be the final word on all vaccines, and that we encourage you to call and ask us if you have additional questions!

Vaccine Season and Your Options:

Let’s address a few vaccines that you may already be considering and/or should consider.

  • Flu:  Flu shots are indeed safe and effective, are available for people over the age of 6 months and you can safely get one even if you’re egg allergic.  Folks over 65 can get the high dose vaccine which is a quadruple dose.  If you have any questions about the flu vaccine please let us know and you can make an appointment to get one with us.  Here is the CDC guidance on Flu vaccines.
  • Covid-19:  The Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective so please get one if you still have not.  If you have any questions about them please ask, and if you are over 65 please schedule a booster – a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine if it has been 6 months since your second dose.  For now this is for those who have had the Pfizer vaccine, and you cannot mix them.  In other words if you had two doses of the Moderna vaccine you cannot get the Pfizer vaccine for your booster dose.  The Covid-19 vaccines and the Flu vaccines are safe to get at the same time, but the Covid-19 vaccine is not administered at our office.  They are available at other locations including some pharmacies.  Call us and we can help you with that, and here is the CDC guidance on Covid-19 vaccines.
  • Shingles, Pneumonia, and Tetanus are all available as well.  Here is the CDC guidance on Shingles, Pneumonia and Tetanus.

There are other diseases which are preventable with vaccines, so if you have questions about any of them please call us and we can advise you, and here is the CDC guidance on all the available vaccines as well.

Please take care of yourselves this vaccine season as the weather starts to get colder, and we are here to help!

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South Macomb Internal Medicine

28401 Hoover Rd.  Warren, Michigan 48093

Phone: (586) 276-7530

South Macomb Internal Medicine has been designated a Patient Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/SMIMdoc!

Feel free to click on the categories and keywords below to find more content as we add more to the website!

 

Improving The Patient Experience: Part 1 – Covid & Flu Vaccinations

September 10th, 2021

By Dr. Scot Goldberg, MD

Hello everyone!  I hope you are doing well, and we are introducing a series around how we work towards improving the patient experience!  A little background on this and some highlights of the initiative as outlined by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan:

Medicare Star Ratings is a rating system developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to help consumers find the best Medicare Advantage plan for them. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has two MA plans – Medicare Plus Blue℠ for its PPO members and BCN Advantage℠ for its HMO members.

The Patient Experience

Improving The Patient Experience

CMS assesses a member’s health plan experience through the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems, or CAHPS, member survey. The survey asks patients to report on their experiences with a wide range of health care services. A large portion of the CAHPS survey is driven by the member’s experience with his or her physician’s team, including such things as follow-up on labs and imaging, and getting timely doctor appointments.

And, most importantly for patients, a positive patient experience results in better adherence to protocol, better relationships with health care providers and a feeling of mutual respect between them and their medical team.

Covid-19 and Flu Vaccines

We know that our entire team can affect the health of patients and how they assess their health care experience, so we are going to discuss a number of points of emphasis starting with Covid-19 and Flu vaccinations!

First let’s talk about boosters.  The newest data coming out of Israel (which is administering the most boosters to date) is that they are very effective and safe.  We still are not sure if they are necessary because we haven’t seen a big increase in cases among vaccinated individuals.  We are happy to discuss your options with you.

As for Flu – the high dose is in and available and they are first come first served for those aged 65 and over.  We expect an increase in flu this year since people aren’t quite as socially distanced as they were at the height of the pandemic.

These are the types of very real questions that we know many of you have based on our interactions with you at our office.  We are doing our very best to keep up with the up to the minute data so that we can provide the best experience for our patients!  Check back for part 2 which will focus on hypertension!

Stay safe everyone! 

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South Macomb Internal Medicine

28401 Hoover Rd.  Warren, Michigan 48093

Phone: (586) 276-7530

South Macomb Internal Medicine has been designated a Patient Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Join us on Facebook at facebook.com/SMIMdoc!

Feel free to click on the categories and keywords below to find more content as we add more to the website!

Flu Vaccinations 101

How do flu vaccines work?

Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body, which provide protection against infection. It takes the antibodies approximately two weeks to develop. The vaccine contains a tiny amount of the virus that the body needs to fight. This tiny amount spurs the body to develop those antibodies.

Every year, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the influenza viruses that are anticipated to be most common during the upcoming season based on scientific research.

Traditional flu vaccines are made to protect against three flu viruses;

1.    an influenza A (H1N1) virus,

2.    an influenza A (H3N2) virus,

3.    an influenza B virus.

Why should people get flu vaccinations?

People think of the flu quite lightly.  Actually, the flu is the Influenza virus and can be a potentially serious disease that can can lead to hospitalization or even death. The spread of the flu virus is seasonal and every season is different. The influenza infection can also affect people differently, some can be only slightly ill and some seriously.  Millions of people get infected with influenza every year and hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized. Unfortunately tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. Vaccination has been shown to reduce the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations and flu-related death in children.

Are any of the available flu vaccines recommended over others?

Although there are various types of influenza vaccines, the Center for Disease Control doesn’t distinguish that one is better than another during the current flu season. Any licensed, age-appropriate influenza vaccine is recommended. This can change from year to year and it is advisable to check with the CDC or your physician’s office annually about the recommended age and type of vaccination.

Who should get vaccinated this season and who should not?

Typically it is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every season. This recommendation has been in place since February 24, 2010 when the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for “universal” flu vaccination in the United States to expand protection against the flu to more people. For example, people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza are strongly urged to get a flu vaccination, as it may be very important to prevent influenza for them.

There are some instances when a flu vaccine is contraindicated, or not recommended, and some instances where a vaccination is strongly recommended. Different flu vaccines are approved for use in different age groups. In addition, some vaccines are not recommended for certain groups.  Furthermore, those who live with people with compromised immune systems, such as those undergoing chemotherapy or who have other reasons for a compromised immune system. Factors that can determine a person’s suitability for vaccination, or vaccination with a particular vaccine, include a person’s age, health (current and past) and any allergies to flu vaccine or its components.

If you are unsure whether or not to get a flu vaccine, ask your doctor.

When is the best time to get a flu vaccination?

Before the flu virus begins to spread in your area you should get a flu vaccination. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies that protect against flu to develop in the body. The CDC generally recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October.  Vaccines are offered however, even into the month of January as they are considered beneficial throughout the season.

In cases where two vaccinations are required (with some children’s vaccines), it is best to vaccinate early as two to four weeks are required between the injections.