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Article by: Dr. Richard G. Berry MD, FACP
Last week I did something I have not done in the past ten months. I hugged my very special 84 year old mother in law, Bettye Mills and kissed her on her cheek. You may wonder how I can justify doing this since this article is supposed to deal with living with COVID and best practices to prevent catching the virus. You see both of us had been vaccinated with the last of the two doses of the Moderna vaccine two weeks prior. We had reached the 95% protection and, with her permission, I felt safe doing this. Let me be clear. If you have not received the vaccine, Pfizer or Moderna, you are at a high risk of catching the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19 disease. So if you want the joy that I had in showing affection to a loved one, this is the article for you. So here we go. Let us begin unpacking the very important subject of not only surviving COVID, but also lowering your risks on a daily basis. Four important things we can do immediately to live with COVID now and protect ourselves from this deadly virus and it’s variant. First the reality is that for the foreseeable future masks will be in vogue in this country. The N95 mask is the gold standard. Double masking with a surgical mask although not as yet recommended by the CDC, is more protective. Secondly, since people can spread the virus before they know that they are sick, physical distancing of at least six feet is very important. I cannot over stress this third one. Get the vaccine as soon as it is available for you. Yes, you will still have to follow the above two recommendations, but you will still feel a sense of protection and relief. Finally, a healthy immune system is essential for survival. Please consider a vegan or at least a vegetarian diet. Supplements with Vitamins C, D and Zinc are also recommended by many medical professionals. Recent publications from the CDC, show the number of new COVID-19 cases in the US declining to levels last seen before the Thanksgiving and Christmas 2020 holidays. This is a long awaited trend. However some in the medical community have voiced a warning that COVID may really never go away. We may have to get yearly vaccines like we do with the Flu vaccine. Therefore it is important to know these best practices and more importantly follow them. A Needle in Time Saves Lives
By Dr. Richard G. Berry, MD, FACP. I have been asked by a number of patients and family members what I will do when the COCID-19 vaccine is available. I have taken the time to think about it and research the literature available at this time. Well they, the vaccines, have arrived. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is here and the Moderna’s vaccine just got approval by the FDA and CDC. I have made the decision to take the COVID-19 vaccine in a few days when my hospital receives the doses. There are three options for you to consider. Just three. Option 1. This option is to disregard all the scientific research and recommendations about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine and refuse to take it. Option 2. The second option is to wait till some have taken the vaccine and see if there are any unknown side effects. (See if Dr. Berry begins to glow in the dark after receiving the injection, and then decide whether to take it or not.) Option 3. The third option is the option I chose. To review the reputable scientific information, seek counsel from a physician you trust, pray about it, and get the vaccine when it becomes available. If you choose option one, you are at a high risk of becoming infected by the virus, especially if you have a number of risk factors like obesity, diabetes and chronic medical problems. Over 300,000 souls have been lost so far because they did not have the antibodies to help their immune system fight off the infection. Option 1 is still your choice. If you choose option two, wait and see, you are still as vulnerable to the deadly consequences of the infection as option one. Option 2 is however still your choice. Option three is the only option I believe is available now for our survival. Like the Polio vaccine, MMR and Flu vaccines, mankind has been saved from many deadly infections. Literally millions of us have been protected by these inoculations. The same is now true for the COVID-19 vaccine. Now to be completely transparent, as of the publication of this article, there are individuals who should NOT get the vaccine. In researching the literature, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are not approved (at this time) for people aged below 16, or those with severe allergies (make sure the clinic that administers the vaccine has the resources to correct any adverse reaction to the injection, like an Epipen. They must also observe you for at least 20 minutes after the injection). Also pregnant women are not eligible for the vaccines. Ongoing research by these companies, I believe, will eventually clear for pediatric and pregnancy use, but at this time, these three are not eligible. Well how does the vaccine work? Prophecy states that in the last days knowledge shall increase. The production of this vaccine with mRNA technology (messenger Ribonucleic acid) has been a miracle in the making. As of February 2020 when the Chinese disclosed the virus, they had already deciphered the genetic sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2). This sequence was shared with American scientists who were especially interested in the part of the virus that attaches to the human cells and facilitates injection of the viral RNA into these cells. These “protrusions” on the surface of the virus, or the clusters of red triangular projections we have seen in pictures, are called Spike proteins or S proteins. If an antibody could be developed to attack the S proteins, the virus could not penetrate the human cells and therefore would die. This is exactly what was done. The mRNA protein sequence of the S protein is encircled in a lipid Nano molecule (because of the length of this article I will explain this at a future time) that allows this S protein to enter the cell. It never goes into the nucleus of the cell where the DNA is found. In the cytoplasm the mRNA is used to form S proteins that are eventually expressed on the surface of the cells. Your immune system sees these S proteins and produces antibodies to them. The research shows that to be 95% effective, the body needs a second injection of the Pfizer vaccine 21 days after the first. It is important to note that after you are immunized you can still become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The difference is that you would have developed antibodies to the S protein of the virus. These antibodies would effectively prevent the virus from attaching to your cells, and therefore, you would not get very sick or die. You still however need to protect yourself by wearing an appropriate mask and physical distancing. So there you have it. Information to aid with your decision making. Pray about it and as you have in the past, and be guided by the Holy Spirit. now that we are in the midst of summer, the question that is being asked the most is, "how to i get the most out of my summer and still stay safe in this pandemic?"
go swimming! According to the CDC, there’s no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through water. Swimming and other water-related activities are fun, healthy ways to get outside and get physical. In addition to backyard pools, the CDC says state, local and national parks will open their beaches and other swimming areas on a case-by-case basis, so check with the area you want to visit to see when it’s safe to get back in the water. Here’s how to do it safely:
Ride a bike Biking is making a big revival, with bike shops backed up with orders for new bikes as well as for assembly and maintenance. Follow the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s guidelines for bicycle safety, including:
Ride a recreational vehicle Motorcycles, dirt bikes, ATVs, jet skis and golf carts are fun ways to get around but they can be dangerous if not used properly.
go on a staycation! Backyards have never looked so good since we’re spending so much time in them. Turn yours into a fun zone with these ideas for the perfect family staycation. Grilling it Barbecued hamburgers, roasted vegetables and toasty s’mores … yes please! Cooking food on a grill or over a fire pit says summer vacation like nothing else. To avoid burns, follow the fire safety tips below.
We hope your family has an amazing summer of bonding and creating memories, but if an accident or illness happens, we at Signet Healthcare are here for you, with safe care and expert clinicians who can help with emergencies of all kinds. Article via: Medical City Healthcare June is Men’s Health Month. On average, men die five years younger than women, and die at higher rates from nine of the top 10 causes of death. Men are also less likely than women to be insured. All of this impacts their ability to be involved fathers, supportive partners, and engaged community members.
But there are quite a few things we can do to help dad as Father’s Day nears—and even more that all of us can do to help men all year.
article by: Men's Health Network COVID-19 has caused a lot of uncertainty in our community, but we at signet are still here for you.To ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff, Signet Healthcare is offering two options to receive treatment, these are CURBSIDE MEDICAL VISITS & VIRTUAL MEDICINE.
Here's how you can access these options: CURBSIDE MEDICAL VISITS
also, please note that there will be no restroom access given. VIRTUAL MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS
please note that video appointments are ONLY available through FACETIME with apple products OR FACEBOOK MESSENGER VIDEO CHAT At Signet, our highest priority is the health and safety of our patients and staff. Due to the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the CDC urges people to avoid contact with those who are sick and to put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
To better serve our community, Virtual appointments and E-visits will soon be available for all Signet Healthcare Patients. detailed instructions of how to use this feature will be posted soon Patient Education Seminar: |
