Author Archives: Trudy

Double Trouble: Flu Season and COVID-19

By: LAUREN BOND, CRNP

The annual flu season is expected to begin this month with the onset of cold weather. And for the second year, COVID-19 is likely to be spreading at the same time, making this flu season an especially dangerous time.

Flu – short for influenza – is a common virus that infects millions of Americans each year. For most people, the flu isn’t dangerous, but people over 65, young children, pregnant women, and people with chronic medical conditions are at greater risk for serious complications, such as pneumonia and sepsis.

The flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu. This season, all flu vaccines are designed to protect against the four strains of the flu virus that are expected to be the most common. The vaccine is not 100% guaranteed to prevent the flu, but it greatly lowers your risk. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months or older get the shot before the end of October.

See the CDC Influenza Map to track the severity of flu in Maryland.

Flu and the Coronavirus

It’s not possible to be sure what will happen in the fall and winter, but the CDC says it’s likely that flu viruses and the coronavirus will both be spreading at the same time. With COVID-19 prevention measures (such as stay-at-home orders and mask mandates) being relaxed, this may result in more COVID-19 cases during flu season.

It’s possible for a person to be infected with the flu and COVID-19 at the same time, and the results can be very serious, especially for people older than 65 or with certain medical conditions. Flu and COVID-19 are both respiratory illnesses and share some of the same symptoms ‒ such as a fever, cough, and runny nose ‒ so testing may be necessary to tell which disease a person has.

The best way to prevent a double flu/COVID infection is to make sure you are vaccinated for both the flu and COVID-19. MPCP can give patients the flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time for the best possible protection.

Next steps

All MPCP offices now have the flu vaccine, so make an appointment to get your shot.
Think you may have the flu? Check your symptoms.
If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can be used to treat your illness. They can’t cure the flu, but they can make your illness milder and shorter. Ask your doctor about antiviral drugs.

Lauren Bond, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner, cares for patients in MPCP’s Queenstown office. She is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Family Practice.

COVID-19 Update: How It Affects You

By: MEDICAL DIRECTORS FALANA CARTER, MD and JERRY I. LEVINE, MD, PA

COVID-19 continues to spread in Maryland. Individuals who remain unvaccinated are at the greatest risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19 including highly contagious variants resulting in hospitalization and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest guidance recommends booster vaccines for adults over 65, those with high-risk medical conditions, and individuals at risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due their occupation or institutional settings. The Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine has been approved for a booster after two months. The Pfizer vaccine is available for children 12 and older, and soon will be approved for children 5 years and older. Here’s how the latest COVID-19 news affects you.

The Delta variant

Like many other viruses, the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) continually changes, producing new strains with features different from the original virus. The Delta variant is the most common form of the virus in the U.S. today and is very dangerous, causing most new COVID-19 infections. Here’s what you should know:

The Delta variant is significantly more contagious than previous variants, infecting many more people.
The Delta variant appears to cause more severe illness in unvaccinated people than previous variants, leading to more hospitalizations and deaths.
COVID-19 vaccines are very effective in preventing Delta infections, and the vast majority of new hospitalizations and deaths are in unvaccinated people.
Fully vaccinated people can get “breakthrough” Delta infections, but they are rare and are generally less severe than in unvaccinated people.
Fully vaccinated people with Delta breakthrough infections can spread the virus to others, but vaccinated people appear to be contagious for a shorter period of time.

Booster shots

COVID-19 vaccines remain highly effective against the virus months after vaccination, but their effectiveness will decrease over time. The effectiveness of the vaccine is enhanced by getting a booster shot. Based on CDC recommendations, these groups are eligible for booster vaccines:

Adults 65 or older who received two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least six months ago
Adults 18-64 with underlying high-risk medical conditions
Adults 18-64 who are at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission due to their work or institutional settings
All adults 18 or older who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine at least two months ago

Also, individuals with compromised immune systems are eligible for a third dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine at least 28 days after the first two doses.

Boosters may be “mixed and matched,” heterologous dosing. While preference remains to obtain the same booster as the primary vaccine, either Moderna or Pfizer can be received as a booster for the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. This can be discussed with your primary care provider.

MPCP administers the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines in our offices, and many of our offices will also offer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine starting November 1.

Call your MPCP office to schedule an appointment to receive a booster dose. Vaccines are also available at your local pharmacy or health department clinic.

COVID vaccines for children

The CDC is recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children 12+. Here’s the latest:

Fewer children have been infected with COVID-19 than adults, but they can still get sick from the virus and spread it to others.
CDC recommends everyone 12 years and older should get a vaccination to protect them and help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The two-dose Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine has been shown to be safe and effective for children 12+. As with adults, serious side effects from the vaccine are rare in children, and the benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the potential risks.

If you have questions about COVID-19 or the vaccine, contact your MPCP doctor or visit Maryland’s covidLINK website.

Dr. Levine is an MPCP partner and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He serves as MPCP’s Medical Director and Vice President, and sees patients in the Columbia office.

Dr. Carter is an MPCP partner and is certified by the American Board of Family Physicians. She serves as Assistant Medical Director and sees patients in the Arundel Mills office.

MPCP Queenstown Welcomes Back Lauren Bond, CRNP

Ms. Bond received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree in 1996 from the University of Virginia School of Nursing and her Master of Science in Nursing degree from the University of Washington School of Nursing in 1998. Ms. Bond is board-certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in Family Practice.

She has a passion for women’s health and is a proponent of partnering with her patients in their healthcare.

We are pleased to announce her welcome addition to our practice!