July 17th, National ice Cream Day!
Thanks to President Reagan, we celebrate National Ice Cream Day every third Sunday in July, meaning July 17 this year. Reagan wanted to commemorate a treat enjoyed by over 90 percent of the US population. In 1984, he decreed a day for ice cream, and his proclamation actually glorified the dairy industry in America.
In fact, Americans still lead the world when it comes to eating this frozen delight: 23 gallons a year to be precise. Reagan also proclaimed July as National Ice Cream month, describing ice cream as ‘‘a nutritious and wholesome food enjoyed by over ninety percent of the people in the United States.’’ Since then, the holiday has sparked worldwide cravings and is traditionally celebrated year after year.
Standing in the frozen food aisle trying desperately to make a choice? Or brainstorming how to celebrate this fabulous day? Well, look no further. Inspiration has arrived.
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Your Weekly COVID-19 Updates
Paradise Valley Medical Clinic,
Douglas M. Lakin, M.D.
Kaitlin A. Kraemer, M.S., PA-C
9977 N 90th Street, Suite 180, Scottsdale, AZ 85258
480.614.5800 (phone), 480.614.6322 (Fax)
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ATTN PATIENTS:
for a 'Telehealth' visit. You can connect using your iPad, iPhone, Android phone, a laptop, or a PC with a camera.
Please watch these videos so you can be prepared and know how to connect with Dr. Lakin for a 'Telehealth' visit.
CLICK ON THE PICTURES
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JULY 17, 2022
COVID IS WIDESPREAD AT THIS TIME. WE HAVE SEEN MORE CASES THIS PAST WEEK THAN ANYTIME IN THE EPIDEMIC.
IF YOU HAVE RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS AND A NEGATIVE HOME COVID TEST…. YOU STILL MOST LIKELY HAVE COVID. ISOLATE AND CONTINUE TO RETEST.
MANY WHO HAVE AVOIDED COVID ARE NOW GETTING INFECTED DESPITE ALL OF THEIR EFFORTS.
THE NEW BA-5 VARIANT IS MORE CONTAGIOUS.
IT IS NOT MORE SERIOUS. ALL OF OUR PATIENTS ARE DOING WELL. SOME NEED TREATMENT WITH PAXLOVID…. MOST DO NOT.
WE STILL HAVE ZERO HOSPITALIZATIONS AMONG HUNDREDS OF OUR PATIENTS WHO HAVE RECENTLY HAD BREAKTHROUGH COVID.
PLEASE LIVE LIFE, BEING CAREFUL IN WAYS THAT MAKE YOU FEEL MOST COMFORTABLE, BUT DO NOT RESTRICT YOUR ACTIVITIES.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE SITUATION, BUT AT THIS TIME, IN THE USA FOR THE MULTI-VACCINATED, WE HAVE REACHED OUR ENDPOINT.
BA.4 and BA.5 VARIANTS ARE OVER 70+% 0F ISOLATES CURRENTLY.
FOR THE UNVACCINATED…. KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ROAD…. COVID CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE.
THE CURRENT VARIANT IS MUCH MILDER, BUT THERE ARE CONCERNS FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT VACCINATED. WE ARE TREATING NEARLY ALL THE UNVACCINATED TO GET COVID.
IF YOU HAVE SIGNIFICANT RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS, PRESUME THIS IS COVID AND PROTECT OTHERS!!!
GET TESTED AND IF PERSISTING SYMPTOMS AND NEGATIVE HOME TEST…. RETEST.
FLU IS ALSO POSSIBLE IF FEELING ILL AND COVID NEGATIVE. CALL TO COME IN FOR FLU TESTING IF NEEDED.
COVID VERY HIGH IN THE PHOENIX COMMUNITY BROADLY. IF YOU HAVE NOT HAD COVID NOW IS A TIME WHEN YOU MAY CONTRACT IT.
DO NOT WORRY BUT TAKE STEPS IF YOU WANT TO AVOID INFECTION.
BREAKTHROUGH CASES IN ALL TRIPLE & QUADRUPLE VAXXED ARE DOING WELL.
BREAKTHROUGH CASES IN ALL THOSE PREVIOUSLY INFECTED ARE ALSO DOING WELL.
PAXLOVID PILLS AVAILABLE FOR ALL BUT ARE ONLY NECESSARY FOR THOSE WITH CHALLENGING SYMPTOMS IN THE FIRST 5 DAYS OR THOSE AT HIGH RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS FROM BREAKTHROUGH COVID.
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TOP PODCAST DONE WEEKLY
BY DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM
(UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA)
He is a world-renowned epidemiologist who was credited with first elucidating TOXIC SHOCK SYNDROME in the 1980’s.
He provides comprehensive and understandable/actionable ideas related to COVID.
Dr. Osterholm Update: COVID-19
July 8, 2022
(Same as last week’s podcast….. New one next week!)
'Living with COVID'
In this episode, Dr. Osterholm and Chris Dall discuss the state of the pandemic in the U.S. and internationally, the rise of the BA.5 subvariant, and what living with COVID currently looks like for Dr. Osterholm.
According to Dr. Osterholm……
- ALL IS GOING WELL WITH THE PANDEMIC AT THIS TIME. HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE AT THE LOWEST WE HAVE SEEN DURING THE PANDEMIC
- THERE IS A LOT OF COVID ACROSS THE USA. PEOPLE ARE DOING MUCH BETTER, IT IS MUCH LESS SEVERE.
- BA 4 AND BA5 ARE RISING AND MAY CAUSE INCREASE HOSPITALIZATIONS SLIGHTLY COMPARED TO MORE RECENT VARIANTS.
- CHINA WILL BE EXPERIENCING MAJOR COVID OUTBREAKS AS TIME GOES ON. OMICRON IS LIKE THE WIND…YOU CAN’T STOP IT, BUT YOU CAN TRY TO CONTROL IT. THE ZERO COVID POLICY OF CHINA IS UNSUSTAINABLE.
- COVID IS SHOWING MINOR SURGES IN THE NORTHEAST.
- VACCINE, VACCINE, VACCINE…THIS IS OUR PROTECTION. ALL VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE AND WITH TIME WE ARE SEEING THAT THE J&J VACCINE IS PICKING UP STEAM AND GIVES SOLID LONG-TERM PROTECTION.
- BOOST, BOOST, BOOST…THIS WILL BE NECESSARY TO PREVENT RECURRING SURGE AND TO RAISE ANTIBODY LEVELS IN THOSE ALREADY SET WITH THE PRIMARY COVID VACCINE SERIES.
- ANTIGEN TESTING IS USEFUL, BUT OF LIMITED VALUE. DON’T DEPEND ON THIS TEST IF YOU HAVE CLASSIC COVID SYMPTOMS.
- MASKS OF THE KN95 AND N95 VARIETY CAN BE HELPFUL. CLOTH MASKS AND SURGICAL MASKS ARE CURRENTLY NOT AS EFFECTIVE WITH DELTA VARIANT
- THE THREE/FOUR VACCINE REGIMEN IS PARTICULARLY EFFECTIVE AGAINST SERIOUS ILLNESS AND HOSPITALIZATION. DEATHS AMONG THE VACCINATED ARE MASSIVELY REDUCED.
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GET YOUR BOOSTERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
Know that unvaccinated remain a source of potential infection. Avoiding unvaccinated persons will reduce your risk of COVID.
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After you received your COVID vaccinations, please let us know!
We would like to document this information into your chart.
BUT FIRST.......
PLEASE COMPLETE THE INFORMATION ON THE CARD BEFORE YOU SEND IT TO US!
What we need:
- Your name
- Date vaccination received
- Brand name
- Lot number if available
- Which dose you have received
**Email your COVID vaccine completed info HERE
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Biden Admin May Offer 2nd Covid Booster Shot To All Adults Due To BA.5 Subvariant
The plan comes amid a rise in hospitalizations driven by the
new version of omicron.
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The Biden administration is considering a plan that would allow all adults to get a second Covid booster shot, according to a person with knowledge of the plan.
White House Covid coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha did not confirm the administration would adopt such a plan during a briefing on Tuesday, but said federal health officials have been discussing the possibility of offering boosters for all adults "for a while."
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Third Round Of Free Covid-19 Tests Now Available
The websites for HHS and the U.S. Postal Service directed people Monday to apply for a third round of at-home tests.
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The federal government started taking orders Monday for a third round of Covid-19 test kits to be mailed to any U.S. household.
A Department of Health and Human Services website said Monday that all U.S. households were eligible to order a third round of tests. Each order now contains eight rapid antigen tests, the U.S. Postal Service website says. Previously, four tests were sent out at a time.
According to U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Americans can start placing their orders for the second round of free at-home COVID-19 tests now.
If you need help ordering your tests, you can call 1-800-232-0233 (1-888-720-7489 for TTY).
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The 'Worst Variant' Is Here
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Nearly two-and-a-half years since the coronavirus pandemic began, the most infectious and transmissible variant yet has arrived.
Repeated Covid-19 waves have left millions of people dead, with only vaccines helping to blunt the toll. Now the virus is spreading again — evolving, escaping immunity and driving an uptick in cases and hospitalizations. The latest version of its shape-shifting, BA.5, is a clear sign that the pandemic is far from over.
The newest offshoot of Omicron, along with a closely related variant, BA.4, are fueling a global surge in cases — 30% over the past fortnight, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
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Mask Policy in Our Office
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At our office, we are continuing to follow CDC guidelines and will strive for ways to keep our patients and staff safe.
We recommend that all unvaccinated and vaccinated patients and visitors entering our office cover their nose and mouth at all times.
To prevent further spread of the Delta & Omicron variants, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its mask guidance on February 25, 2022, to recommend that fully vaccinated people wear masks when in areas with “substantial” and “high” transmission of Covid-19.
We have a limited supply of paper masks and will make these available to patients while they last, however, we encourage you to bring your own facial covering.
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With BA.5, Are You More Likely To Lose Your Sense Of Smell?
Anecdotally, doctors say they're seeing more Covid patients who have lost their sense of smell as the BA5 omicron subvariant takes hold.
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Elizabeth Simins had all the typical symptoms of Covid after testing positive for the virus June 25. For about a week, Simins, 34, of Portland, Oregon, felt dizzy, fluish and out of breath. She had palpitations if she exerted herself. Those symptoms, thankfully, were temporary. But just when she thought she was in the clear, she lit a scented candle and noticed something else — she couldn’t smell it.
For five days, everything smelled the same to her, a woodsy autumnal smell uncharacteristic of July in Oregon. Even now, her sense of smell is not as keen as it was before she got sick.
She’s not alone: While far fewer patients reported loss of the sense of smell during the first omicron wave compared to earlier waves, the peculiar Covid symptom seems to be making a comeback.
Doctors note that what they’re seeing during the current rise in cases — fueled by the hyperinfectious BA.5 omicron subvariant — is still based on anecdotal evidence.
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We Are Here to Take Care of Your Healthcare Needs.
We Are Here to Serve!
Our office is using all techniques to reduce exposure to a minimum during your visit. These include:
· Temperature checks of all patients and staff.
· Masks for all people in the office.
· Cleansing of hands and surfaces repeatedly.
· Multiple Super-HEPA filters to filter out potential virus and particles in the office.
· High Level UV light air cleansing in the office to eliminate bacteria and viruses in the air.
OUR OFFICE SCHEDULE
DOORS OPEN
7AM - 4PM Monday through Thursday
7AM - 11AM Friday
IN OFFICE
APPOINTMENTS: MONDAY – THURSDAY
7AM – 11:15AM & 1PM – 3:30PM
APPOINTMENTS: FRIDAY
7AM – 10:30 AM
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Dr. Lakin's Info For COVID-19 Kit &
Recommended Treatments
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SUMMARY OF A COVID KIT:
This is what you should have at home to prepare for possible COVID, to monitor yourself if you were to get infected:
- DIGITAL ORAL THERMOMETER
- PULSE OXIMETER
OTHER ITEMS FROM THE HOME MEDICAL KIT:
TYLENOL, ADVIL, OR ALEVE
Sudafed 30mg tablets
Chlorpheniramine 4mg tablets
Robitussin DM syrup
Imodium AD
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Outbreak Investigation of Listeria Monocytogenes: Ice Cream (July 2022)
Do not eat, sell, or serve recalled ice cream products from Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, FL. FDA’s outbreak investigation is ongoing.
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The FDA, along with CDC, is assisting the Florida Department of Health (FL DOH) and Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services (FDACS) in investigating an outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to ice cream supplied by Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, Florida.
In response to the FL DOH and FDACS outbreak investigation, Big Olaf Creamery of Sarasota, Florida ceased production and distribution of ice cream products on July 1, 2022. Big Olaf Creamery is now working to voluntarily recall all flavors and all lots of Big Olaf brand ice cream products. Big Olaf brand ice cream was sold in plastic pint size containers, plastic ½-gallon containers, and plastic 2.5-gallon tubs, scoopable.
All flavors, lots, codes, and expiration dates through 6/30/2022 are included in this recall. The recalled product was sold at Big Olaf retailers in Florida as well as to consumers in restaurants and senior homes, and at one location in Fredericksburg, Ohio.
This is an ongoing investigation, and the FDA is continuing to work with the FL DOH and FDACS to investigate. FDA will update this advisory should additional consumer safety information become available.
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'Sweet Republic: Fresh, Local and Delicious Ice Cream In Scottsdale'
Using local ingredients to create some of the most delicious and unique ice cream flavors in Arizona, Sweet Republic is taking the Scottsdale dessert scene to the next level.
Enjoy their delicious ice creams by themselves or one of their unique sundae combinations with eclectic flavors that elevate this to more than your standard ice cream shop.
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