The state Department of Health announcement Tuesday that all Pennsylvania residents 65 years and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine is good news in this ongoing battle against a pandemic that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the U.S. in the past 10 months.

But expanding the eligibility doesnt get the preventative medicine in peoples arms. As long as a majority remain unvaccinated, the virus will continue spreading -- at an even faster rate with mutations that are taking hold.

The lags in getting vaccinated are for the most part due to supply and demand. In a state like Pennsylvania where 2.27 million people are over 65, there are just not enough doses. So far Pennsylvania has received only about 900,000 doses, according to the state Department of Health.

While that news is frustrating, there is encouragement that supplies will be replenished as manufacturing ramps up as additions from drugmakers AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are expected to get FDA review and enter the pipeline in coming weeks.

And it is inevitable that states and counties will get better at the distribution and availability of vaccine, as well as boosting the signup capability. Right now, systems are crashing and people are waiting hours just to get access to websites to register for appointments.

However, what is even more troubling as thousands wait for the chance to be vaccinated is the reluctance among those who can get the vaccine and the skepticism being spun by naysayers.

In Berks County, Phil Salamone, public information officer of the Berks County EMS COVID-19 Joint Task Force and director of operations for Lower Alsace Ambulance, estimated there are 300 to 400 total workers in the ambulance crews in Berks and about a third of them "simply aren't interested in obtaining the vaccine."

Some of the reasons for refusing the vaccine might be that younger people don't believe getting COVID will do them much harm, while other people have heard of side effects that are simply rumors and have no basis in science; those who had COVID believe they are immune anyway, and some people simply bristle at what they consider to be a herd mentality.

"The message needs to be that if we're going to get through this pandemic we need to vaccinate as many people as possible. We wouldn't recommend something if the benefit didn't outweigh the risk," Dr. Robert J. Tomsho told The Reading Eagle. Tomsho is medical director of the emergency medicine institute, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and oversees training for ambulance crews.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are essentially 100 percent effective against serious disease, Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, told David Leonhardt for The New York Times "The Morning" newsletter. Its ridiculously encouraging.

These vaccines are among the best vaccines ever created, with effectiveness rates of about 95 percent after two doses, Leonhardt wrote. If there is an example of a vaccine in widespread clinical use that has this selective effect prevents disease but not infection I cant think of one! Dr. Paul Sax of Harvard has written in The New England Journal of Medicine, dismissing speculation that getting a vaccine won't stop the spread.

"The risks for vaccinated people are still not zero, because almost nothing in the real world is zero risk. A tiny percentage of people may have allergic reactions. But the evidence so far suggests that the vaccines are akin to a cure," Leonhardt wrote.

Concerns are reported to be even more widespread among low-income and people of color, even though those populations have suffered the most cases and deaths. Officials in Montgomery County addressed those concerns head-on Thursday night in a town hall with Black church leaders encouraging their communitiues to participate and air their concerns.

The lack of supply, lack of an orderly and well-communicated system of distribution, and misinformation about vaccine safety have all contributed to diminishing the initial excitement that followed the approval of vaccines. The value, however, is as important as ever.

A few decades ago, the nation underwent a rollout of another vaccine that successfully eradicated polio, and then more vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella all of them having dramatic effect on public health and saving thousands of lives. This rollout needs to proceed with the hopeful enthusiasm that accompanied those vaccines. Efficiency and communication should be easier, not harder, in this age of technology and internet sophistication.

This vaccine remains our best chance to tame the pandemic and restore normalcy. This is our best shot; we need to take it.

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Editorial: Vaccines can be the game-winning shot - The Reporter

We can all agree that a trip to the doctors office is no fun but doctors said putting off primary care is not an option.

HOUSTON The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed health priorities for many people to the forefront of their lives while other things have been placed on the back burner.

However, healthcare experts warn preventative checkups shouldnt be one of them.

We can all agree that a trip to the doctors office is no fun but doctors said putting off primary care is not an option.

We clearly saw during the peak of the pandemic in the summertime, we had people delaying care and having worse outcomes than they should have had because they put off the emergent evaluation of symptoms, Dr. James McDeavitt, dean of clinical affairs at Baylor College of Medicine said.

McDeavitt said ignoring health screenings can put you at risk.

When we look at the death rate for this past year unfortunately I think were going to see a death rate that exceeds COVID-19. Were going to see a higher rate of heart disease deaths and cancer deaths, and deaths from pulmonary disease, deaths from stroke because of care thats already been delayed, McDeavitt said.

In addition, UTHealth associate professor and pediatrician, Dr. Sandy McKay, said its not just adults. McKay said when it comes to children theres been a significant drop in vaccinations across the country.

Seeing as much as a 40% decline since COVID which is huge because these are vaccine-preventable illnesses that now children could be potentially be exposed to, McKay said.

She said regular checkups and care will help kids stay healthy during the pandemic.

We do not need to add something like measles or pertussis outbreak in a school which is going to add that much more layer of complexity to dealing with the pandemic, McKay said.

While most physicians have appointment availability both health experts encourage folks to take advantage of telemedicine if theyre concerned about visiting a doctors office. Their main goal is for you to stay on top of your health.

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Health experts strongly suggest keeping up with preventative screenings during COVID-19 pandemic - KHOU.com

We're all looking for the magic bullet to cure or prevent a cold or the flu. Herbs and medicine like echinacea and elderberries are often hyped as ways to keep from getting sick, especially in the winter. But do they work? While they certainly don't replace a flu shot, studies have shown that they can be beneficial at protecting against the common flu and cold. While elderberries have been used in traditional medicine for years, modern science gives us some clues as to why.

"They are rich in flavonoids quercetin and anthocyanidins, which are rich in antioxidants that protect your cells from damaging free radicals," explains Serena Poon, CN, CHC, CHN, chef, nutritionist, Reiki master, and founder of the Culinary Alchemy program. "Quercetin have properties that can protect against viruses, inflammation, and carcinogens. Anthocyanidins, a kind of plant pigment, are known for their anti-inflammatory benefits."

Poon also notes that studies have linked elderberries specifically to reducing the upper respiratory symptoms from cold and flu as well as reducing cold duration and severity. Poon recommends elderberries as preventative medicine, citing them as a low-risk way to protect yourself. It is important to note, however, that no studies have been done on elderberries and COVID-19, and elderberries do not replace CDC-endorsed measures like wearing a mask or social distancing.

While there are lots of good reasons to consider adding elderberry to your diet, you are going to be hard-pressed to find them for sale in the produce section. Raw elderberries are toxic, so that's actually a good thing. Instead, you'll find elderberries in different supplements and syrup. Poon recommends syrups as an easy way to get elderberry benefits but cautions that not all syrups and pills are created equal.

"It is really important to do your research on any supplement, including elderberry syrups or capsules," she says. When shopping either online or at your local health store, Poon has some tips for what to look out for: products that are certified organic, with transparent outsourcing practices, and that have third-party testing or certifications. She also recommends looking for supplements free from animal products, gluten, soy, and dairy.

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While that may sound like a lot to look out for, Poon notes that it's fairly easy to find high-quality elderberry syrups online. But if you want something now, there are also other immune-boosting foods you can find at your local grocery store. Poon recommends zinc and vitamin C during cold and flu season, which should be in any drugstore vitamin aisle. Taken alone or with elderberry supplements, these vitamins and minerals can provide a much-needed wellness boost during a time of the year when we're all worried about catching colds and the flu.

Take a look at some elderberry and immune-boosting supplements below.

Nature's Way Original Sambucus Elderberry Syrup ($20)

BioSchwartz Sambucus Elderberry Capsules With Zinc & Vitamin C ($10)

MaryRuth Organics Organic Liquid Elderberry ($20)

Garden of Life Mykind Organics Elderberry Gummy ($25)

Nature's Way Black Elderberry Capsules ($8)

Zarbee's Naturals Elderberry Immune Support Gummies ($17)

Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup ($20)

Sports Research Elderberry Capsules With Zinc & Vitamin C ($20)

Nature's Bounty Elderberry Gummies ($11)

Sambucol Black Elderberry Syrup ($13)

NOW Foods Elderberry ($8)

Next up: 9 Simple Things You Can Do Now to Boost Your Immune System

This article originally appeared on The Thirty

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The Secret Ingredient That Can Make Your Cold and Flu Season Way Better - Yahoo Lifestyle

After almost a full year of elevated anxiety amid a worldwide pandemic, staying healthy both physically and mentally is the primary concern of many.

While beginning a health journey can seem like a daunting world of diets, sweat and endless information local experts agree, start simple.

Lydia Skiljan, a certified health and wellness coach at LakeHealth's Brunner Sanden Deitrick Wellness Campus in Mentor, has worked in the wellness field and health education industry for over 30 years, and said the primary focus of her job is helping people meet their goals, big or small.

"With coaching, I help people reach their goals whatever their goals are," she said. "So it might be losing weight. It might be stress reduction, or organizing your day, organizing your life. And I've worked with all walks of life with that."

Skiljan said that one of the biggest issues she has encountered recently with her clients is, not surprisingly, a massive amount of stress.

She recommended taking advantage of technology to combat it. She said apps such as "Ten Percent Happier," which provides guided meditation and mindfulness exercises, are a useful route to take if you are one of many struggling with anxiety right now.

Even simple breathing exercises can make a huge difference, Skiljan said.

"Breathing is huge. So there's an easy style of breathing called 'four, seven, eight,' and basically you inhale for four [seconds], you hold for seven, you exhale for eight," she said.

"It's that holding your breath for seven that tells your brain, there can't be a tiger chasing us, because you're holding your breath and it really is a neurological change," she added. "The whole system calms down, and the good chemicals are released."

As more people are working from home than ever before, Skiljan said it was important to not fall into stagnancy when stuck inside and it seems too cold to want to go do any outdoor exercise.

Her philosophy is that any type of movement is good movement, even if it is just curling soup cans while watching television. It does not necessarily have to be a strict exercise regime.

Personal trainer Jordan Taylor teaches a young client proper form on the pull-up bar at I Perform Fitness.

"Anything you can do, and anything you're willing to do," Skiljan said. "People say, 'when should I exercise?' or 'what type of exercise?' whatever you look forward to doing, and you will do, at whatever time you will do it. So it doesn't matter if it's morning or night or whatever, if you're willing to do it."

Another result many have experienced from working at home or simply not going out as much over the past year is the notorious 'quarantine 15' unexpected weight gain due to stress or lack of activity.

Skiljan said taking simple steps to engineer one's environment to successfully lose weight can be very helpful.

"Make sure your environment is conducive to what you want to do," she said. "So if you want to start eating healthier, or you don't want to gain more weight, get rid of the cakes, the cookies, pasta and garlic bread, whatever it is, that's going to be a trigger for you, or send you down a path.

"I think that's important, making it easy on yourself," she added. "And then find other ways to reduce your stress if you're a stress eater really think about 'why am I doing this?'"

Skiljan added that taking time away from computer screens to eat is also another form of mindfulness.

"If you're working and you're thinking, 'well, I'm at home, I should just eat while I'm working.' Don't do that. Take time away, enjoy your meal," she said.

Registered dietician nutritionist Julie Lipowski, who has a private practice called Cleveland RDN with offices in Mentor and Beachwood, also lauded the benefits of self-awareness when it comes to what foods one is putting in their body.

"I would say that everyone needs to be mindful of what their body wants and how you feel...," she said. "If you're tired and bloated all the time, you're probably doing something wrong."

"People say, 'when should I exercise?' or 'what type of exercise?' whatever you look forward to doing, and you will do, at whatever time you will do it. So it doesn't matter if it's morning or night or whatever, if you're willing to do it."

Lydia Skiljan, certified health and wellness coach

Lipowski spends her time working with a range of clients, from those seeking recovery from eating disorders to those who are just looking for general guidance on how to eat healthier and be more in tune with their own needs.

Once a person has identified foods that are causing more harm than good, Lipowski said it is important to swap them out with better options. But seeking balance in all the food groups is the goal.

"It's not about starving or dieting; it's about balance and moderation," she said.

However, Lipowski said she encourages her clients to be intentional about planning out their meals she said taking time to shop for groceries and specific ingredients so that they can cook meals at home is important.

In the midst of active spread of COVID-19 across Ohio, Lipowski said using nutrition as preventative medicine is a good idea.

"Make sure you're getting in enough vitamin C, fruits, veggies and whole foods...," she said. "Hydration is really important too, to flush the body of toxins."

No stranger to the importance of hydration, one of the main things personal trainer Jordan Taylor recommends his clients do is make sure they are getting in enough water.

"The biggest thing is increasing your water intake, especially during the winter," he said. "We're more likely to be kind of dehydrated during the winter, and just simply increasing water is going to increase your metabolism's rate to speed up."

Taylor, owner of I Perform Fitness in Wickliffe, has personal training clients of all ages ranging from 8 years old to 69.

He said that in addition to keeping easily accessible water bottles around, it is also essential to get in foods that are rich in calcium and iron during the winter.

"So for instance, leafy green vegetables, lentils, beans, things of that nature it's going to be huge because obviously, you know, we're putting a whole bunch of clothes on and the sun's not always out," he said. "So you're not getting that natural calcium and vitamin D which is essential for our body's health."

Taylor also encouraged anyone looking to start or revamp their fitness routine to begin with simple exercises and lifestyle changes that are easy to turn into habits.

"The likelihood of you doing four, five, or six things is tough," he said. "So I'm like, 'hey, what's the one thing you can for sure do? And then I say cool can we do that for two weeks? Can we then maybe add something to that? Or can we expand how long you're doing that one thing and then just continue to just build off of that?'"

"[That's] how I've seen people have the most levels of success," he added.

At the end of the day, Taylor said, consistency in how much movement a person is getting will ensure proper blood flow, which plays a role in preventing physical illness, and exercise helps regulate positive hormones released from the brain for mental wellness too.

"It does so much mentally and emotionally," Taylor said. "There's hormones that are released through this physical movement that help with stress reduction."

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Movement, moderation and more water: Lake County health experts give tips on staying well - News-Herald.com

This article was originally published here

BMJ Open. 2021 Jan 20;11(1):e042270. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042270.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic is demanding for occupational medicine and for public health. As healthcare workers (HCWs) fight impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on front lines, we must create safe work environments through comprehensive risk assessments, evaluation and effective implementation of counter-measures. We ask: What does current literature report on health risks at workplaces regarding COVID-19? and What do current studies report on the effectiveness of enacted preventative recommendations?

METHODS: As a snapshot of early HCW research, on 26 April 2020, we conducted a rapid systematic literature search in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and PsycInfo) for COVID-19-related health outcomes and preventive measures in healthcare-associated workplaces.

RESULTS: 27 studies were identified as relevant for exploring the risk of infection, 11 studies evaluated preventive measures. The studies described that SARS-CoV-2 impacts significantly on HCWs health and well-being, not only through infections (n=6), but also from a mental health perspective (n=16). 4 studies reported indirect risks such as skin injuries, one study described headaches to result from the use of personal protective equipment. Few studies provided information on the effectiveness of prevention strategies. Overall, most studies on health risks as well as on the effectiveness of preventive measures were of a moderate-to-low quality; this was mainly due to limitations in study design, imprecise exposure and outcome assessments.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to widespread exposure of HCW to SARS-CoV-2, workplaces in healthcare must be as safe as possible. Information from HCW can provide valuable insights into how infections spread, into direct and indirect health effects and into how effectively counter-measures mitigate adverse health outcomes. However, available research disallows to judge which counter-measure(s) of a current mix should be prioritised for HCW. To arrive at evidence-based cost-effective prevention strategies, more well-conceived studies on the effectiveness of counter-measures are needed.

PMID:33472783 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042270

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COVID-19 and healthcare workers: a rapid systematic review into risks and preventive measures - DocWire News

FORT WORTH, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TimelyMD, the only full-service telehealth provider solely focused on higher education, has recently hired five transformative leaders to support its exponential growth at colleges and universities across the country as demand for telemedicine and teletherapy continues to skyrocket during the COVID-19 pandemic.

With a mission to improve the well-being of college students by making virtual medical and mental health care accessible anytime, anywhere, TimelyMD offers differentiated solutions to meet the needs of college students with 24/7 access to telehealth and providers in all 50 states.

Providing telehealth options has never been more important, especially for college students who may be learning remotely, need after-hours care, and prefer to access care privately on their own devices. These leaders will support TimelyMDs continued growth beyond the 80 campus partners it currently serves, including Duke University, Emory University, Johns Hopkins University, Los Rios Community College District, University of Notre Dame and Paul Quinn College.

Nirmal (Nim) Patel M.D., M.P.H., Senior Vice President of Care Transformation

Dr. Patel is a nationally renowned expert in preventative health and telemedicine who has held prestigious roles such as Chief Medical Officer, Chief Medical Information Officer and Global Head of Health and Wellness at industry giants such as United HealthCare, Teladoc, Morgan Stanley and Cisco. As SVP of Care Transformation, Dr. Patel brings her vast experience to TimelyMD, where her role focuses on population health, optimizing quality of care and tailoring measures of success for campuses.

A primary care physician with an epidemiology background, Dr. Patels differentiated knowledge of clinical operations, evidence-based medicine, team-based care and care variation have enabled her to develop innovative care delivery systems for hospital systems, and payors. She is a subject matter expert in telehealth, having created first-of-its-kind solutions focused on primary care, dermatology and behavioral health, while using data to show success. Dr. Patel developed a unique approach to quality and value measurement for the largest telemedicine platform in the U.S. to facilitate improved outcomes, she participates in nationally renowned boards and leadership councils, including the Clinical Advisory Board at WebMD, as well as advisory boards of venture capital and early stage companies. Dr. Patel received her M.D. at the University of Manchester, U.K., and her M.P.H from Yale University. She is based in the New York metropolitan area.

Kelsey Cunningham, Senior Vice President of Finance

As SVP of Finance, Kelsey Cunningham brings a strong background of accounting and finance experience to the TimelyMD team, primarily focused on the financial development and execution of various business strategies. She most recently served as Chief Financial Officer for Inspirus, an HR technology and employee recognition company within Sodexo. Cunningham previously served as the Vice President of Finance for Signify Health and began her career in audit at Ernst & Young. Kelsey earned a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting and a Master of Accounting degree from Texas Christian University and has been a CPA since 2011. Based at the companys Fort Worth headquarters, Kelsey serves on the TCU Accounting Advisory Board and the Neeley School of Business Board of Advisors.

Becky Laman, Senior Vice President of Business Development

Becky Laman has dedicated her career to student success and brings more than a decade of leadership experience developing strategic plans with proven success in higher education, medical education, technology and advertising to her role at TimelyMD. She has held numerous roles across business development and operations, overseeing partner creation and expansion, new partner launches, client service, market research, technology implementation and ongoing improvement. Previously, Laman worked for two industry-leading online education service providers, Wiley Education Services (formerly Deltak) and Bisk Education, supporting both public and private institutions. Her passion for excellence and entrepreneurship has helped to build long lasting partnerships with universities and higher education associations. Becky earned her B.S. in Computer Graphics Technology from Purdue University. She is based in the Orlando area.

Nathan (Nate) Stewart, Vice President of Student Marketing

As VP of Student Marketing, Nate Stewarts focus is on maximizing student engagement and utilization, as well as building the TimelyMD brand. Prior to joining TimelyMD, Nate spent 20 years as an executive marketer in the advertising industry, leading teams at some of the best creative agencies in the world for clients like The Home Depot, General Motors, Jack Daniels and Delta Air Lines. Most recently, he was the Managing Director for The&Partnership in New York, where he built a bespoke, embedded agency for The Wall Street Journal that helped the publication add 1.5 million new subscribers, including half a million students across more than 80 universities. Stewart earned a B.B.A. in Marketing from Texas A&M University and is based in Austin, Texas.

Dr. Robert (Bob) Hitchcock, Executive Director of Medical Services

Dr. Bob Hitchcock oversees a national network of medical and mental health physicians and advanced practice practitioners that serve hundreds of thousands of students at TimelyMD partner institutions. An actively practicing emergency physician with over 25 years experience, and several years of telemedicine clinical and leadership experience, Dr. Hitchcock is driven by a passion for outstanding healthcare delivery. He believes that the intersection of technology and healthcare delivery is rich with opportunity to positively influence health outcomes, improve patient access to acute, chronic and preventative care and reduce the cost of healthcare. For over a decade, as a senior executive with a healthcare IT company, he led strategies for business and product development that promoted improved financial, operational and clinical outcomes for hospitals, providers, and the patients they serve. Dr. Hitchcock actively participates with state and national professional organizations to advance the practice of medicine. He received his M.D. from the SUNY Stony Brook School of Medicine a B.A. from SUNY Oswego. He completed his emergency medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, N.Y. Dr. Hitchcock is based at TimelyMDs Fort Worth headquarters.

About TimelyMD

Focused on improving the health of student populations, TimelyMD offers universities and colleges a comprehensive, custom program centered around telehealth. TimelyMDs campus-wide solution gives students one point of contact anytime, anywhere to get quality care and immediate treatment for medical or mental health concerns from board certified physicians and licensed counselors. TimelyMDs telehealth programs optimize clinic resources and support clinic staff in delivering quality care to the right students at the right times. Visit timely.md for more information.

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Growth of Telehealth Provider TimelyMD Continues with Strategic Hires - Business Wire

Treatment-related events resulted in a low number of unplanned emergency department (ED) visits among patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving active treatment with either tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), or chemotherapy. In addition, a substantial portion of these unplanned visits were unnecessary or found to be preventable, according to the results of a retrospective study published in JCO Oncology Practice.1

A better understanding of the main drivers of unplanned cancer care may lead to the development of evidence-based preventative strategies, the study authors wrote. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the drivers of unplanned ED visits attributable to NSCLC treatment.

The retrospective study evaluated the electronic health records of 97 patients with NSCLC who received chemotherapy or TKI or ICI therapy at a single institution and visited the ED in 2018. Patients were identified using the Stanford Medicine Research Data Repository (STARR). The ED visits were assessed for the reason for the visit and whether the visit was preventable.

There were 173 ED visits, the majority of which were cancer-related (54%). Most of these visits involved patients in the TKI group (61%), followed by the ICI group (49%), and the chemotherapy group (42%).

Twenty-nine percent of the visits were determined to be not directly related to cancer or its treatment. Eight percent were visits initiated by an outpatient provider who sent the patient to the ED to rule out a medico-oncologic emergency.

The remaining 9% were deemed treatment-related. Two percent of these visits were seen in patients receiving TKIs; 12%, in those receiving ICIs; and 21%, in those receiving chemotherapy (P <.001).

Of all the ED visits, 24% were classified as potentially preventable; 10% were deemed unnecessary. This assessment was based on the finding that 52% of visits occurred during business hours, 53% were for complaints that began at least 2 days before presentation, and 48% led to workup that could have been performed in the outpatient setting. Fifty-five percent did not result in admission.

These findings indicate that a significant portion of unplanned hospital care for patients with lung cancer might be managed with early intervention, extension of ambulatory care, and patient education on outpatient avenues of care, the study authors concluded.

Reference

Shah MP, Neal JW. Relative impact of anticancer therapy on unplanned hospital care in patients with nonsmall-cell lung cancer. JCO Oncol Pract. Published online December 22, 2020. doi:10.1200/OP.20.00612

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NSCLC Therapies Associated With Low Rates of Unplanned ED Visits, Many of Which Were Preventable - Cancer Therapy Advisor