Medicare Annual Enrollment
There are 2 ways to get Medicare coverage:
Original Medicare is Hospital (Part A) and Medical (Part B). If you need drug coverage you can buy a drug plan (Part D). You can also add Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap). This helps pay personal costs.
Medicare Advantage Plan is a blended plan. It includes Part A, Part B, and Part D. Most plans also have vision, hearing, and dental coverage.
Medicare open enrollment is a time when you can look over your coverage. It is important to look at your Medicare plan every year, as it can change year to year. During Medicare open enrollment you can:
- Change Medicare Advantage plans.
- Change from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.
- Change from Original Medicare to Medicare Advantage.
- Join a Medicare Part D plan.
- Change from one Part D plan to another.
- Cancel Medicare Part D.
Medicare open enrollment begins October 15 and ends on December 7. The changes to your plan will take place on January 1 the following year.
You can go to www.medicare.gov to find the right plan for you. You can also speak to your local insurance agent.
- Published in Pharmacy
Do masks prevent COVID-19?
There is conflicting information on whether or not masks can help prevent COVID-19. Studies have shown that wearing a cloth mask lowers the risk of getting COVID. This is in comparison to not wearing a mask. Cloth masks are almost as good as medical masks in reducing the spread of infection.
You can use cloth masks, disposable paper masks, surgical masks, N95 masks, and other types of masks with filters. Do not use holiday masks, celebration masks, costume masks, skincare masks, sleep masks, or decorative masks. You can use cloth to make masks or bandanas. It is better to wear masks rated to filter out particles, such as N95 masks.
Masks work by blocking the spread of particles and germs when you breathe or speak. They can also slow the spread of germs when you breathe. Masks do not fully stop you from getting COVID-19. Germs can still flow up and through any gaps in between your skin and the mask. It is better to wear a mask than to not wear one. There will be fewer germs that can spread. Health professionals highly encourage that you wear a mask when you go outside or to a public place. Remember to wash or change your mask often.
-APPE Student Class of 2021
COVID-19 testing
There are many types of tests for COVID-19. The two main types are a viral test and an antibody test. The viral test tells you if you have the virus. The antibody test tells you if you had a past or current infection. Antibodies are small proteins that your immune cells make. They bind to markers called antigens that are on germs or foreign objects.
The main kind of test is the nasal swab PCR test. This test involves swabbing a sample of the back inside of your nostrils. The PCR machine makes hundreds of thousands of copies of the DNA in the sample. The tester then checks the sample for viral DNA.
Other tests involve testing for a COVID antigen. In this test, the patient places a sample of blood onto a trip of paper that has antibodies. If the antibodies bind to the antigen, the paper strip changes colors. This color change means the sample is positive for the antigen. Antibody tests use a blood sample to see if there are antibodies to the virus. Quick testing uses a test strip to check for a color change. Many other tests involve blood or other fluids. Positive results will show a color change.
PCR tests are the most accurate and effective, but take a lot of time. Antigen and antibody tests are much faster and are almost as accurate. You should get the test that is the best fit for you. It is important that you get the test if you feel you have COVID symptoms or were exposed to someone with COVID.
-APPE Student Class of 2021
When to get the flu shot?
There’s a bigger push to get the flu shot this year. Some patients may want to know when is the best time to get flu shots. Flu season doesn’t start until much later in the year. It may help to know if there are any reasons to get it earlier.
When is flu season?
The most common time for flu season to start is December or early January. It can start as early as October. Peak flu was in January or later for 3/4 flu seasons from 1982–2018. In the Saint Louis area, peak flu for 2016–2017 and 2019–2020 was in early February. It started around the last week of December or 1st week of January. The 2017–2018 season started in the 1st week of December. It peaked around the 1st week of January.
How well do flu shots work?
Early flu shots in July and early August work less well. From 2011–2015, the H3N2 flu shot did not work as well by 7% for each month after its peak. The H1N1 flu shot worked less well by 6-11% every month. A study found that each 28 days after getting the shot, patients were 16% more likely to still get the flu. For example, some patients may get the flu shot 21 weeks before flu season. This means they are more than twice as likely to still get the flu. This is compared to patients who get the flu shot 6 weeks before flu season. Another study looked at the 2011–2012 flu shot. In patients over 65, it worked only 85% as well after 3 months. It mostly did not work after more than 4 months.
Recommendations
Most people 6 months and older should get the flu shot. The CDC says you should get it in September or October before flu season. July or August is too early. There is a chance that it will not work later. Kids from 6 months to 8 years who are getting it for the 1st time should get it when it is ready. They need to get 2 flu shots. They should get the 2nd shot 4 weeks after the 1st. It is better to get the shot than to not get it. With COVID-19 this year, it is more important than ever to get the flu shot. It will lower the chance of going to the hospital or getting sick.
-APPE Student Class of 2021
- Published in Health, Immunizations, Pharmacy, Wellness
The World Isn’t Ending, Even Though You Think It Is
I hope this blog finds you well in these unprecedented, trying times.
Does this sound familiar? We have all seen or heard this phrase. No one likes to be scared, unsure, or confused. Just like a virus, we as a society need to adapt and change to our environment to do more than just survive. We need to thrive. I want to simplify what I’ve read from honest sources to help you learn.
Coronavirus
After getting this virus, a person starts to feel sick after 2 to 14 days. They are contagious for 10 days. A sick person can spread this virus by sneezing or coughing in the air. This is why it’s important to wear masks. Everyone should wear a mask.
If you don’t know if you are sick, look at this picture.
I hope this blog finds you well in these unprecedented, trying times.
Right now, more people are getting sick from this virus. Some states require you wear a mask. Some states let you choose if you want to wear it. But, everyone should wear a mask to stop germs from spreading. Look at this picture.
To not get sick, make sure you wash your hands with soap for 20 seconds to kill the germs. Hand sanitizer needs to be above 70% ethanol to kill the germs. Most important, keep 6 feet away from people. If you do these things, the virus can’t spread.
G4 EA H1N1 Virus
From 2011 to 2018, China found 179 different types of flu in pigs from China. Since 2016, one flu has shown up more and more. Like how a puzzle is made up of many pieces, this flu is made up of the 2009 Swine flu, 1918 flu, and more. The flu shots we have right now will not protect you from this flu. Lucky for us, it is not a threat right now because the virus can’t spread between humans. Right now, it can only travel from pigs to humans. This new swine flu is not a threat yet, but it can be more dangerous if it mutates.
Black Plague
There have been two recent cases of the plague. The plague was found in a Chinese marmot and a Coloradan squirrel. In the 1300s, the plague killed up to 200 million people. People were not clean in the past. Now, we have medicine called antibiotics that can kill the germs and stop the plague. The plague is not dangerous anymore and it can be treated if caught early.
Takeaway
Keep in mind, we are learning more and more about COVID-19 every day. We don’t know if G4EA H1N1 or the Black Plague will become a pandemic. Right now, as I am typing this, we are okay. Wash your hands and do not worry.
-IPPE Student Class of 2023
- Published in Health, Immunizations, News, Pharmacy, Wellness
Vaccines for people with HIV
Vaccines are very important to help stop illness. There are many vaccines. Some shots are for children, while other shots are for adults. HIV is a condition that leads to a weak immune system. For people with HIV, it becomes even more important to use vaccines to protect against illness. We will talk about which vaccines are good for people who have HIV. The main source on vaccines in the United States comes from the CDC. The CDC or Center for Disease Control and Prevention also lists what vaccines are good for many other types of conditions.
Some may worry that vaccines have chemicals in them, or cause harmful effects. One example is mercury, which is a toxic metal in large enough amounts. Some shots used to contain a very tiny amount of mercury, but not enough to cause harm. Today in Missouri there are no shots with mercury. There are some side effects from shots. They include redness, pain, and swelling at the part where the shot was given. Some shots like the Shingles shot can cause a fever that lasts a day or so.
You may even have most of these shots already! The shots that are good for people with HIV to get are listed here:
- The yearly flu shot – To lower the risk of getting the yearly flu
- Hepatitis B – To stop hepatitis B
- Pneumonia – To stop pneumonia
- Meningitis – To stop meningitis
- Tdap – To help against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. A booster is given every 10 years for this shot.
- HPV – For people under the age of 26 to be safe from human papillomavirus
- MMR* – For Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
- Varicella* – To help against Chicken pox and Shingles
Certain shots can be dangerous to some people with HIV. There is a test doctors will look at your blood to find a value they call CD4. If your most recent CD4 was below 200, the MMR and Varicella shots are not recommended.
Why do these shots matter? If a person gets sick, they are at a bigger risk of another illness. For people with HIV, this risk is even bigger. Another problem is that with a weak immune system, the body cannot heal from being sick as fast. By stopping the illness from ever happening, there is less chance of a serious illness.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about what is recommended for you.
-APPE Student Class of 2021
- Published in Health, Immunizations, Pharmacy