- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogThe COVID-19 vaccine is our best shot at stopping the pandemic. We encourage you to get the vaccine once it’s available to you. Here are a few reasons why. It’s effective. The COVID-19 vaccines available right now in the U.S., Pfizer and Moderna, have been shown to be highly effective at preventing COVID-19. The vaccines have a reported 94% to 95% effectiveness rate—a beacon of hope as we work to end the pandemic. For perspective, the FDA recommends a vaccine have an effectiveness rate of at least 50%, and the influenza vaccine effectiveness is around 30-50% effective. Data from clinical trials, plus what we already know about vaccines for other diseases, indicate that even if you do get COVID-19, the vaccine may help prevent severe illness. It’s safe. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines have received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). To receive an EUA, the benefits of a vaccine must outweigh its risks. Before a vaccine receives approval for use, clinical trials must first show it’s safe and effective – including COVID-19 vaccines. Reports from the Pfizer and Moderna clinical trials have not indicated any serious safety concerns. Both trials had fully independent safety monitoring boards. In most cases, serious side effects become apparent early (usually less than 40 days) after receiving a vaccine. Short- and long-term monitoring of those who receive the vaccine will continue. It’s better to receive immunity from a COVID-19 vaccine than risk severe illness and death from the virus. We don’t yet know how long immunity lasts post-infection — and some who recover from COVID-19 have no detectable antibodies, meaning they have no immunity protection. People who get COVID-19 can have serious illnesses. Some have debilitating symptoms that persist for months. When you get the COVID-19 vaccine, this will help protect you by creating an immune system response without having to get sick first. And, the vaccine may also help protect people around you. We believe a vaccine is a light at the end of the tunnel. But we still must practice the 3Ws as we wait for everyone to get the vaccine. Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Watch your distance. We’re spotlighting all your frequently asked questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more about why it’s our best shot. Information adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
- CommunityGeneral Page Tier 3BlogTori Bayless, Luminis Health CEO, reflects on hope in times of crisis. I am sure each of you is still processing the events of yesterday, as am I. What happened in our nation’s capital was shocking and scary. While horrifying for people all over the country, we have the added trauma of this happening where we live – so many of our colleagues live and work in DC or nearby. This is our home – not a tourist destination. News analysts and commentators speak about how yesterday’s breach and desecration of the Capitol shakes the very foundation of our democracy. And it does. For us, it also takes aim at the security and sanctuary of our home. That is no small matter, especially this year when home has become even more central to our worlds – family life has collided with work and school. Home has been a safe haven from the virus; our respite. Yesterday, for some of our team mates, getting home was a scary prospect. That weighs on everyone. Many of us were looking forward to the hope of a new year. The promise of a vaccine and a return to normal. Yesterday’s violent acts shattered some of that optimism. But here’s what I know: The hope is in us. Each of us – choosing to stand and face the future with determination to make it better – give hope for a brighter tomorrow. Together, collectively, we have the power to change today. And tomorrow. And the one after that. During the stress of a long day or particularly hard shift, it is easy to forget how much our communities respect and admire the compassion, excellent care, teamwork and inclusiveness you demonstrate every day. But just as the assault on our nation’s capital could not destroy the inherent strength of our democracy, neither a pandemic – nor any challenge – can harm the strength of our purpose and our resolve to make lives better for thousands of people every day. I encourage you to check on each other. Reach out for help. Call the employee assistance program. Take care of yourself, your family, and each other. Know that your Luminis Health family is with you, supporting each other. There is hope in that.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogFinally, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The two pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and Moderna, that have developed COVID-19 vaccines are reporting a 94% to 95% effectiveness rate—a beacon of hope in fighting the pandemic. “94% to 95% efficacy is much higher than the annual influenza vaccine. Also, the high efficacy is maintained in the elder population. This is very promising,” says Dr. Mary Clance, epidemiologist with Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center. The Data The New England Journal of Medicine reported on the results of Pfizer’s Phase 3 clinical trials late last month. A final analysis of its Phase 3 trial showed a 95% effectiveness rate. There were also no serious safety concerns. The clinical trial has 43,548 participants enrolled. The company conducted trials in about 150 clinical sites in six countries, including 39 states. The NEJM also reported on the results of Moderna’s Phase 3 clinical trials last month. Moderna’s data shows a 94.1% effectiveness rate at preventing severe disease from COVID-19. Moderna has 30,420 participants enrolled in the study at more than 100 clinical sites in the U.S. Both Pfizer and Moderna have received emergency use authorization from the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), and began distribution of the vaccines last month. The vaccines will continue to be monitored and studied. But so far, Dr. Clance and Jean Murray, director of Infection Control for Luminis Health Anne Arundel Medical Center, are very encouraged by the vaccines’ ability to prevent severe COVID disease. What This Means “Everybody is excited about the progress of the vaccine,” Jean says. “But, we need to remember that we still need to observe infection control precautions to prevent the spread of the disease until enough of the community is vaccinated.” Remember to practice the 3Ws. Wash your hands, wear a mask and watch your distance. It’s going to take time to roll out the vaccine and immunize a significant number of the population. “It’s not a magic bullet, so people will still need to continue to physically distance, wear a mask and wash their hands,” Jean says. “But the vaccine is an opportunity to give many, many more Americans immunity to prevent the spread of this virus.” Questions Remain But there are many unanswered questions. How long will a vaccine provide immunity? Can it be used in young children? When can the general public get the vaccine? State health departments have developed plans to roll out the vaccine. Essential health care workers in hospital and nursing facilities were first to get it, followed by first responders including firefighters, police officers and emergency medical services personnel. No vaccine is 100% effective, Dr. Clance says. “The chances of getting COVID after vaccination with the two mRNA vaccines is very small,” she says. “The duration of immunity after vaccination is not yet known but will be learned in the months ahead with longer follow up of the past and current vaccine recipients.” The Vaccine’s Effectiveness The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say the trial data results are remarkable. Each year, the CDC looks at how well the flu vaccine protects against the flu. Recent studies show the flu vaccine reduces the risk of flu by between 30% and 60% among the overall population—compared to the 94% to 95% effectiveness the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are showing against COVID. In some years the efficacy is much lower. The challenge, Dr. Clance says, is that influenza viruses can change each year. The CDC anticipates which strains to target for the upcoming vaccine. Some years, the efficacy is lower because the vaccine doesn’t match the virus. Coronaviruses, too, can mutate over time — as we are seeing with a more contagious strain recently discovered in the United Kingdom and now reported in several parts of the U.S. We don’t yet know what percentage of the population will have to become immune to COVID to reach herd immunity – the point at which the virus runs out of bodies to infect because enough people have already gotten it. How It Works To best understand how the vaccine works, we need to describe how the virus works. The virus is transmitted via droplets into our nose, mouth or eyes. The virus then produces spike proteins. These spike proteins are used like a key in a lock. The key, or spike proteins, attaches and unlocks our cells to infect them and make more virus. Both COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were created using a genome sequence to design a molecule called messenger RNA (mRNA). The vaccine is not a live virus vaccine and cannot give COVID to those who receive it. When the vaccine is injected, the mRNA in the vaccine instructs the cells to make the virus’ spike protein only. Our bodies recognizes these spike proteins as foreign and starts making antibodies, so when we are exposed in the future to the actual COVID virus, our bodies will immediately respond and defend us. The antibodies generated by the vaccine prevent viral attachment and infection. Talk to Your Provider About the Vaccine “We’re beginning a marathon here,” Dr. Clance says. “We want to tell the public to be patient, continue washing your hands, wearing a mask and watching your distance – and let this unfold.” Talk to your doctor about when you could be eligible for the vaccine — and continue to follow Luminis Health for the latest updates. Do you think you may have COVID-19? Check your symptoms here.
- Infectious DiseaseGeneral Page Tier 3BlogYou can’t turn on the news or scroll through social media today without hearing about the COVID-19 vaccine. And while we know you’re anxious to put the pandemic behind you, we also know you may have lingering questions about the vaccine. You aren’t alone. Many of your coworkers, family members and neighbors are wrestling with the same questions. We’ve never experienced a pandemic of this magnitude in our lifetimes, and we’ve never seen a vaccine developed this quickly. But investigating the details and unpacking what we know about the vaccine can go a long way in helping you feel more at ease. It’s important to know that multiple COVID-19 vaccines are under development. At this time, Pfizer and Moderna are the only vaccines available in the United States. They are the only COVID-19 vaccines that have received an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Fast doesn’t mean careless. It’s true; this vaccine is one of the fastest developed in modern history. But researchers were not starting from scratch when they learned about SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines. Technology associated with the mRNA vaccine dates back to the 1990s. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), researchers performed early stage clinical trials using mRNA vaccines for HIV, influenza, Zika, rabies, and others. Unfortunately, it has taken a pandemic to get the needed funding to push this technology forward to develop this type of vaccine. It’s also important to note the process has been able to move so quickly because: The clinical trials were centrally coordinated by the government rather than various pharmaceutical agencies. The clinical trials combined the first two phases to assess safety, dosing, and the immune responses. The FDA granted the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines an EUA to allow for quick approval and distribution. Under an EUA, approval is pushed ahead of less critical projects. In order to issue an EUA, FDA must determine the known and potential benefits of the vaccine outweigh its known and potential risks. CDC continues assessing the effectiveness of vaccines approved for an EUA. None of the factors that allowed the accelerated development of a COVID-19 vaccine have compromised safety, scientific or ethical integrity. No short-cuts have been made. The FDA recommends a vaccine have an effectiveness rate of at least 50 percent. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines far exceed this standard. Both report about 95 percent effectiveness at preventing symptoms of COVID-19, including severe disease. This efficacy rate is extraordinary. You won’t get COVID from the vaccine, but you may experience mild flu-like symptoms. It’s not possible to get COVID-19 from the vaccine. Pfizer and Moderna vaccines only produce the spike protein from the virus, not the whole virus. However, when you get the vaccine you may experience some side effects, including chills, fatigue, headache, joint and muscle pain and injection site pain. But these side effects are typically mild and will go away on their own within one or two days. They represent immune activation and are seen with other vaccinations. It takes a few weeks for the body to build immunity after vaccination. That means it’s possible you could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and get sick. It takes about two weeks after your second dose for full immunity. Two doses of the vaccine are necessary. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines require two doses to be effective. Pfizer’s second shot occurs three weeks after the first dose, and Moderna’s is four weeks. Health experts recommend you resist the urge to skip the second dose and make time for the second shot. Vaccines for all will take several months. Vaccine distribution will take a while to make it into your neighborhood. That’s because the Maryland Department of Health created a phased approach to vaccine distribution based on initial limited supplies. First available doses will go to those at highest risk of exposure to or developing complications from COVID-19, including hospital health care workers and nursing home residents and staff. Next up will be first responders and those at significant risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms. Phase 2 targets essential non-health care and transportation workers, and people at moderately higher risk of severe COVID-19 illness. Phase 3 focuses on vaccinations for the general public. According to the CDC, vaccines should be available to the general public by the spring of 2021 and distributed throughout the year. Now is not the time to let your guard down. Just because a vaccine is making its way into your area, it still isn’t time to let your guard down. It will take a while for everyone to get both doses of the vaccine. For a highly contagious disease like COVID-19, much of the population must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity. Herd immunity occurs when enough people become immune to COVID-19 to make its spread unlikely. And, while Pfizer and Moderna vaccines show they’re about 95 percent effective at protecting you from the disease, they aren’t 100 percent effective. That means there’s a small chance you can still get COVID-19 after being vaccinated if you’re exposed. Experts recommend continuing all of the safety measures we know are working to keep the virus at bay, including the 3Ws: Wash your hands. Wear a mask. Watch your distance. For your health and safety, stay up to date. Information about the pandemic and the vaccine changes daily. For the latest recommendations for you and your family, listen to your local public health officials and bookmark the CDC’s vaccination page for the most up to date information.
- General Page Tier 3BlogNow more than ever, it’s important to do everything you can to stay healthy. And you may have wondered if there are ways to boost your immune system. There’s still much research to be done on the link between your nutrition and lifestyle choices, and your immune system. But here’s what we know now. Your Nutrition Choices You’ve probably seen supplements at the grocery store that claim to support your immune system. But remember this – nutrients work together, so having too much of one nutrient might undermine how effective another one is. Also, unless you are malnourished or have a disease affecting how you absorb nutrients, there’s no evidence that suggests adding extra supplements beyond what you already eat will help. Instead, stick to a healthy diet with a balanced amount of protein, vitamins and other minerals and nutrients. Protein. The body uses protein to build and repair tissues, plus make hormones and enzymes that promote the body’s daily functions. You can get protein from meats, fish, beans, cheeses, eggs, peanut butter, nuts and dairy products. Vitamin A. This fat-soluble vitamin also supports vision, reproduction and healthy organ function. You can get vitamin A from poultry, fish, potatoes, leafy green vegetables and non-citrus fruits. Vitamin C. This water-soluble vitamin supports wound healing and acts as an antioxidant to protect cells. You can get vitamin C from citrus fruits, tomato juice, broccoli, strawberries and cantaloupes. Folate and folic acid. These help create and repair cell’s DNA in your body. Folate and folic acid are in leafy green vegetables, beans, peas, Brussels sprouts and fortified cereals. Selenium. This is a mineral that also supports thyroid gland function and DNA production. You can find it in seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, meat and whole grains. Zinc. This nutrient supports cell creation and wound healing. Vitamins E, D, B6 and iron could also help support your immune system. Your Lifestyle Choices Your lifestyle can also play a role in how often you get sick. Here are some things you should do to help keep your immune system in top shape. Sleep. You need sleep to rest and recharge. Without it, you increase your risk for developing serious health problems, such as Alzheimer’s disease, obesity and heart disease. Exercise. Exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. It improves your cardiovascular health, controls your weight, lowers your blood pressure, reduces your risk of many cancer types and protects you from a variety of other diseases. Exercise also promotes good circulation, which allows cells and substances to move through the body and do their job most effective. That helps your immune system. Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk of infections such as pneumonia and flu. Studies show you could also be at greater risk of developing a severe case of COVID-19 if you smoke or vape. Lower your stress. This year has been full of uncertainty. But it’s still important for you to take care of yourself, because your immune system can weaken when you’re stressed out. Focus on what you can control, instead of what you can’t. There is no magic food or nutrient that can stop you from getting sick. But a balanced diet will help support your immune system – which will help your body fight off infections and diseases. Butternut Squash and Kale Soup This hearty soup is full of vitamins A, C and B6. Ingredients 1 large sweet onion, cut into wedges 4 cups of cubed butternut squash (cut into 3/ 4 inch cubes) 1 tablespoon of olive oil Fresh ground black pepper to taste 1 teaspoon of dried thyme 1 14.5-oz. can of low sodium chicken broth 3/ 4 cup of water 3 cups of chopped kale Directions Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a large baking pan with aluminum foil and spread onion and squash over foil in a single layer. Drizzle vegetables with olive oil and toss lightly to coat; then season with pepper and thyme. Place in oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until vegetables are cooked through and starting to brown. Note: take vegetables out at least one during cooking to stir. Combine roasted vegetables, chicken broth and water in a large saucepan and use an immersion blender to blend ingredients together until smooth. If you don’t have an immersion blender to make this soup, you can use a regular blender to blend the vegetables and the liquid together. Heat blended soup over medium heat until heated through, then stir in kale and cook until wilted, about three minutes. Recipe courtesy of the Diabetes Food Hub. Author Ann Caldwell is a nutritionist and registered dietitian at Anne Arundel Medical Center. To reach her, call 443-481-5555.
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