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'World Laughter Day,'
May 7, 2023
It boosts your mood, and even lengthens your life. Watch your favorite comedy, read a funny book, or gather some friends to tell jokes and get your diaphragm working.
Everybody knows that laughing feels good, but few realize how valuable these simple tools can be in improving our everyday wellness and well-being.
Laughter cannot heal or solve anything, but it can help to heal and dissolve everything. That’s what World Laughter Day is for! It’s a day where people can relieve some stress and laugh.
Discover a new happiness workout and learn about what happens during World Laughter Day!.
Read more here. . . .
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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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May 7, 2023
THE 4th COVID BOOSTER IS APPROVED FOR THOSE OVER 65 OR THOSE WHO ARE YOUNGER AND HAVE COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS.
CONSIDER GETTING AN ADDITIONAL BOOSTER IF:
YOU ARE OVER 65 AND HAVE NOT HAD COVID
YOU ARE AT HIGHER RISK DUE TO ILLNESS/MEDICATION (ANY AGE) AND HAVE NOT HAD COVID.
IF YOU HAVE HAD COVID OVER 4 MONTHS AGO AND WISH TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY.
YOU ARE TRAVELING EXTENSIVELY IN THE NEXT 6 MONTHS OR ARE GOING TO LARGE FAMILY EVENTS.
IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVID AND NOT HAD 5 SHOTS…AND ARE OVER 65…THE DATA IS COMPELLING THAT ADDITIONAL SHOTS WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF THE HOSPITAL. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS.
THERE IS LESS VIRUS IN TOWN, BUT STILL WE ARE SEEING ABOUT 5 CASES A WEEK.……IT’S NOT FINISHED WITH US…. ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVID YET.
IF GOOD VENTILATION, OPEN SPACES…NO NEED TO MASK AS A GENERAL RULE.
CONSIDER WEARING A GOOD MASK (KN95 OR N95) SELECTIVELY AT BUSY INDOOR LOCATIONS TO STAY HEALTHY …ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVID.
LIVE YOUR LIFE AND GO OUT AND ABOUT AS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE…… AND YOU SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO.
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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
May 4, 2023
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/episode-130-better-place
"A Better Place"
In "A Better Place," Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the U.S. and around the world, the latest booster shot update from the FDA, and why the darkest days of the pandemic may be behind us. Dr. Osterholm also answers a COVID query on cardiac events following mRNA booster doses and shares a beautiful place from one of our listeners.
According to Dr. Osterholm……
- GET YOUR 4th BOOSTER (6th SHOT) IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVER OR IT’S BEEN LONGER THAN 4 MONTHS SINCE YOU HAD COVID YOURSELF
- A GOOD MASK, N95 OF KN95, DOES HELP REDUCE TRANSMISSION…. USE IT AT HIGH-RISK LOCATIONS
- GOOD VENTILATION IN ROOMS/HOME/BUSINESSES IS A GREAT WAY TO PREVENT TRANSMISSION
- 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 IT…BUT USE IT.
Know that unvaccinated remain a source of potential infection. Avoiding unvaccinated persons will reduce your risk of COVID.
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CDC Investigating COVID Outbreak After Its Own Annual Conference
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed it is conducting an investigation into several dozen COVID-19 cases linked to the agency’s annual conference that occurred in Georgia last week.
The CDC’s three-day 2023 Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) conference began April 24 in Atlanta, where the agency is headquartered. The purpose of the meeting is for EIS members to share their work in improving public health.
Read more here. . . .
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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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CDC Switching Gears On COVID Tracking | |
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While images of ICUs filled with Covid patients struggling to breathe may remain a haunting image of the early pandemic years, the public health emergency is coming to a close.
Not only did the World Health Organization declare Friday that Covid is no longer a global threat, the United States is set to wind down public health emergency protections on May 11.
As part of the end of the public health emergency in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will stop tracking levels of Covid spreading in communities around the country. The new focus will rely mostly on hospitalizations, according to two CDC reports released Friday.
The change in how the CDC reports Covid data comes as "99 plus percent of the population is in a low community level," Dr. Brendan Jackson, head of the CDC's Covid-19 Response, said during a media briefing Thursday.
The agency will cease using a color-coded system that's been in place on its Covid Data Tracker since February 2022. The system indicates high, medium or low transmission of Covid, county by county.
Read more here. . . .
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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 March 21, 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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What To Know About XBB.1.16, the 'Arcturus' Variant | |
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A new Covid variant is spreading in the U.S., but will it cause a surge in cases?
XBB.1.16 — dubbed “Arcturus” on social media — is another descendant of omicron.
It was first detected in early January and the majority of cases have been seen in India so far. It’s been steadily rising in the U.S. in recent weeks, although it still made up slightly less than 10% of new confirmed Covid cases as of Saturday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Last week, the World Health Organization deemed XBB.1.16 a “variant of interest” as it continues to spread and outcompete other variants.
Ali Mokdad, a professor of global health at the University of Washington, said it’s still too early to predict what XBB.1.16 will do. But what he’s seen so far has been reassuring.
“We haven’t seen an increase in hospitalizations, we haven’t seen an increase in any of the indicators that make us worry,” Mokdad said.
Read more here. . . .
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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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