From the Life Development Committee Sisters of Mercy, Mid-Atlantic August 2020

The United States recognizes August as National Immunization Month, Psoriasis Awareness Month, Eye Health Awareness Month, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month. This information is provided to help raise awareness about theses health conditions and designated to help you to live a healthy life.

However, our focus will be on immunization for the influenza, pneumonia, shingles, and COVID-19.

Self-Care During These Challenging Days

Stay Calm and Carry On

1. Keep a journal: Write about events or situations that you are happy or grateful for.

2. Meditate/Pray: Listen to yourself and speak to the Divine Being.

3. Garden: Soil has anti-depressant as well as cortisol-lowering properties (Healthline.com).

4. Exercise: Walk regularly if possible, or do chair stretches (https://www.healthline.com/health/tight- shoulders).

5. Drink your fruits and vegetables, enjoy healthy snacks, and take vitamins to boost your immune system and energy.

6. Relax: Get adequate rest, walk or do yoga, watch the sunrise/sunset or the moon, or enjoy nature.

7. Laugh: It is the best medicine to minimize stress—watch a funny movie, sitcom, or comedy show.

8. Stay in touch: Check in with your neighbors, family and friends to ensure that they are doing well.

9. Hand sanitizers: When water is not available, it will get rid of all types of germs, except when your hands are greasy or visibly dirty. (Caution: overuse of hand sanitizer may cause alcohol poisoning. Read labels and check for brands that are band.)

We are resilient people and we are blessed to have each other, our friends, and our family.

1 IMMUNIZATION AWARENESS

This month, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the search for a vaccination, we will focus on what we know about COVID-19 vaccination, followed by influenza, shingles, and pneumonia immunization.

Education-Conversation about COVID-19/Coronavirus Vaccination

So far, Dr. Anthony Fauci believes that researchers can develop an effective vaccine by December 2020 which will be ready for the trial phases from January to July 2021.

Access to treatment. Would everyone have access to the vaccine? Will enough persons get the vaccination to stop COVID-19? According to Yahoo News and YouGov, a survey done between July 28-30, 2020, shows that 42% of Americans plan to get vaccinated, a decrease from 50% in early July.

Scientist estimates that 75% to 80% of the affected population would have to be vaccinated with an effective vaccine for the coronavirus to eradicate.

Here is the thing, scientists say that the vaccination would have to have at least 50% to 60% percent efficacy to be effective in slowing down the spread of the virus but it would not eradicate it from the U.S. It may dampen the symptoms and strengthen the immune system, but the pandemic will remain.

Natalie Dean, an assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida, and a coronavirus expert, recently wrote in the New York Times, that as a researcher there is no evidence to convince her to get a COVID-19 vaccine or recommend it to her loved ones.

Would you get the vaccine if it was available and deemed effective and would eradicate COVID-19?

Recommendation to limit your chance of getting or spreading COVID-19

According to top experts Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Jennifer Ashton, Chief Medical Correspondent live on ABC News, we need to protect all surface areas with mucosal surface areas. They recommended:

1. Wearing mask or a face covering to avoid inhaling of breathing in the virus;

2. Wearing goggles, eye shield, or face shield to protect your eyes;

3. Wash hands frequently, or use hand sanitizers if not near to running water;

4. Keep your hands away from your face to avoid contamination;

5. Keep three to six feet away from others to honor social distancing and avoid droplet infections;

6. Avoid crowded areas of more than 10-20 persons;

7. Get tested for COVID-19 within five days of suspected exposure (CDC/NIH). The incubation window period for symptoms to show up is about five days, and the window period for getting tested could be three to five days (Dr. A. Fauci);

8. Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19;

9. The flu and pneumonia or flu and coronavirus can lead to severe illness and possible death.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/COVID19, (CDC 2020)

2 Influenza Immunization

It is important that you get your flu vaccine as the influenza immunization is a preventative measure in preparation for the flu season.

CDC recommends that everyone six months of age and older get a flu vaccine every year as it reduces the flu illness.

Causes and Types of Influenza

The influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus. There are two main types of flu viruses: Type A and B. These routinely spread in humans and are responsible for the yearly seasonal flu epidemic. They flu virus is commonly seen around the fall and winter seasons beginning in October and peaking in December and February, and could last as late as May.

The Symptoms of Influenza

Flu symptoms occur when the body develops an immune response to the flu virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle ache or body aches, chills, fatigue/tiredness, runny nose or stuffy nose, and headaches. Some persons may get diarrhea and vomiting and others may only have respiratory symptoms. (The symptoms for the influenza and COVID-19 virus are very similar and could be confusing.)

Symptoms may appear from one to four days from the time the virus enters the person. The flu can then be passed on from the infected person to another person during this time before you realize that you have the flu and while you are showing flu-like symptoms from five to seven days or even longer. Influenza virus can also spread from surface to person/s when person/s touch the infected surface areas.

Person/s at risk for flu due to an underlying condition needs to seek medical care or advice from a health care provider.

Recommendations to limit or prevent your chance of getting the influenza:

1. Get your flu shot as soon as the flu vaccination is available;

2. Avoid close contact or stay six feet away from those suspected of having the flu;

3. Limit contact with others if you are sick to avoid them becoming sick;

4. Stay home for 24 hours after the fever stops without the use of fever-reducing medication;

5. Cove your cough and sneezes with tissues and throw it away in the trash, not in your pocket;

6. Wash your hands with soap and water or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer for no more than four to five times before washing;

7. Apply lotion or cream to moisturize hands and avoid cracked skin.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), www.cdc.gov/influenza , (CDC 2020)

3 Pneumonia Immunization

It is important that you get the pneumonia shot as a precautionary measure to avoid getting pneumonia and respiratory infections. Speak with your health care provider prior to getting this shot.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It can cause mild to severe symptoms in people of all ages.

Causes of Pneumonia

The common causes of pneumonia are viruses, bacteria and fungi.

The Symptoms of Pneumonia

The symptoms of pneumonia are fever, cough, difficulty breathing, chest pain, chills, and fatigue. These symptoms may develop over several days or may take weeks. It is recommended that you contact your primary care provider as soon as possible.

Who Is at Risk of Getting Pneumonia?

Persons with weakened immune systems are at risk for contracting pneumonia. These are persons affected with chronic lung disease, cancer, inflammatory disease or autoimmune disease such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, or those with organ transplant.

How Pneumonia Is Spread

Pneumonia is spread from person to person through droplet infection from healthy persons carrying the pneumocystis fungus in their lungs without symptoms or persons with weakened immune systems.

Pneumonia Vaccine Is Recommended to Limit the Chances of Pneumonia

The pneumonia vaccine and good hygiene can help to prevent one from having some pneumonia infections.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviewed, July 2020. (https://www.cdc.gov/pneumonia/)

Shingles Immunization

Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

One in every three persons, about one million persons in the United States is said to have shingles, also known as herpes zoster, every year. Anyone who had chickenpox could get shingles. Children and adults can get shingles but older adults are at a higher risk of getting it. Shingles blisters typically dry up and forms scabs in seven to ten days and it fully clears up within two to four weeks. Some people experience intense burning pain which lasts months and even years.

Signs of Shingles

If you have a painful rash/blister formed to the body, the face or torso, contact your health care provider as soon as possible.

Preventative Measures

It is important that you get the shingles shot if you are healthy and 60 years or older.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), reviewed July 1, 2019, cdc.gov, https://www.cdc.gov/shingles/)

4 For information about these topics please see the links below

Organizations:

1. The centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC)

2. National Psoriasis Foundation www.psoriasis.org

Links: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-is-safe-covid-19- questions_l_5f10e257c5b6d14c33653f0e?ncid=newsltushpmglifestyle

Johnson & Johnson https://www.bing.com/news/search?q=Johnson+And+Johnson+Vaccine&qpvt=johnson+and+johnson+vaccine&FO RM=EWRE www.NationalDayCalendar.com

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