COVID-19 Update
TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS
-International travel still needs to be carefully considered, even if you are fully vaccinated. COVID-19 is still a risk and treatment of COVID is often not easily available outside of the US.
VACCINATION INFORMATION
-Multiple countries have developed vaccinations. Moderna, Pfizer/Biontech, and Johnson & Johnson have all received authorization by the FDA in the United States. An excellent review of the components (“ingredients”) of these three COVID-19 vaccinations can be found here: Vaccine Ingredients.
-BOOSTERS: A new booster vaccination will likely be available this fall (September 2023). The CDC maintains the latest booster recommendations.
-Life-threatening allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis, are rare (about 5 in a million vaccines administered), but still several times more frequent than the flu vaccine. A history of anaphylaxis to vaccines, bee stings, or other medications/substances increases the likelihood of anaphylaxis to the COVID-19 vaccine.
-Moderna and Pfizer shots appear to be over 80% effective at preventing hospitalization and death from COVID-19. “Breakthrough” cases (COVID-19 disease in vaccinated people) can occur, but are usually mildly symptomatic (cold-like or flu-like symptoms).
-Antibody levels seem to decrease within weeks to a few months after vaccination/boosters HOWEVER, it appears that cellular immunity may last far longer, preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Having the disease but not having any vaccinations may not provide as much of this long-lasting immunity.
-If you have been sick with COVID, obtaining a vaccination to COVID will be useful three months or more after being ill. (Illness with COVID likely confers immunity for up to three months in people with an intact immune system).
-If you have not had one of the US FDA-approved COVID vaccinations but had vaccines abroad (SINOVAC, SPUTNIK, and others), you likely will benefit from receiving one of the US vaccinations.
TREATMENT
Treatments for COVID are constantly evolving (and availability is often an issue). In our Internal Medicine practice, we generally prescribe Paxlovid. Paxlovid may be the correct medication for you if you have:
- A positive COVID test result
- An elevated risk of progressing to severe disease
- No medical reasons to avoid Paxlovid
Paxlovid interacts with MANY medications for PROSTATE ENLARGEMENT, CHOLESTEROL, STROKE and BLOOD CLOT PREVENTION, SLEEP, PAIN, and others (by inhibiting medication breakdown in the liver). Many medications may need dose-adjustment or temporarily stopping the medication altogether. Paxlovid Interactions (Drugs.com)
It should also not be prescribed for patients who are at very low risk of progression to severe disease, since it has short term side effects (such as diarrhea and rarely liver effects) and unknown long-term side effects. A lower dose of Paxlovid should be taken by people with severe kidney disease.
For more information regarding coronavirus, please go to the CDC or the NY Department of Health.
Keep safe!