12/27/2021
NEW INFORMATION 12/27/21: ISOLATION AND QUARANTINE SHORTENED. See next post or CDC website: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html
COVID Updates:
Hello all. I’m writing with a few updates about COVID situation overall, boosters, testing, and what to do when you are sick or exposed.
COVID in our area:
There is a lot more COVID disease in our area right now and it is expected to rise dramatically over the next couple weeks. Omicron is very contagious. You can still get COVID (and spread it) even if you had your COVID vaccines or had COVID disease already. One of the reasons that this matters is that our local hospitals are close to full, ER wait times are over 8-12 hours and we are having staffing shortages that will get worse as our health care providers get COVID. This means that if you or a loved one do need hospital level care for COVID or for any other regular medical condition, it will be harder to come by and may not be the same medical care we are used to. We can all help with this in a few ways.
What can we do to help:
1) Get your COVID vaccines and boosters.
2) Try not to get COVID or other illnesses right now (Mask and avoid high risk situations)
3) Test when you have symptoms or exposure
4) Isolate and quarantine when you need to
BOOSTERS and VACCINES:
1) Vaccines are approved for everyone age 5 and older. Moderna and Pfizer work better than J&J by far. In our office, we are giving Pfizer for ages 5 to 11 and Moderna for ages 18 and older. You can get vaccines in many convenient places. Please ask us if you have questions or concerns. We highly recommend getting your COVID vaccines.
2) BOOSTERS are highly recommended for everyone 16 and older even if you are healthy.
a. For Pfizer and Moderna, the booster is 6 months after your 2nd dose.
b. For J&J, the booster is 2 months after your vaccine and should be Moderna or Pfizer.
c. Boosters make a very BIG difference in lowering your chances of getting COVID and keep you from getting very sick from COVID.
d. It’s a little better to get the opposite vaccine than your original series (Moderna->Pfizer or Pfizer-> Moderna) but it doesn’t make a big difference which one. You will get good protection from both getting the same or getting a different brand. If you had a lot of side effects from your first 2 shots, you might want to get Moderna as your booster since it is a ½ dose. Usually the lower the dose, the lower the side effects. It works just as well.
e. No booster shots for kids under 16 yet unless very immunocompromised (cancer treatment, severe immune conditions from birth and similar).
3) For KIDS 5-11: Over 5 million COVID vaccines have been given in this age group. The dose is one third of the adult dose. We have not seen serious side effects from the vaccine in this age group. If you were waiting to get it for this age group, I would recommend getting it now.
4) For KIDS UNDER 5: COVID vaccines will likely be available in early to mid 2022.
5) For PREGNANCY: Please get the vaccine for you and your baby. When people get COVID disease, they have a higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth. We have seen pregnant women get very severe COVID disease which of course is so sad.
AVOIDING COVID:
1) MASKS- Please mask in indoor areas in public even if you are vaccinated. Omicron is very contagious and you will likely get it even if vaccinated if you are exposed. Surgical masks or N95 type masks protect you best. CLOTH masks DO NOT PROTECT you nearly as well as surgical or N95/KF94/KN95 type masks.
2) Keep your high risk activities to ones that are important. If it is high risk and not important to you, it’s probably not worth it.
3) If you are over 65 or have serious medical problems, strongly consider limiting what you do and who you see for the next month or so.
4) Stay home if sick even if you think it’s a cold.
TESTING:
1) If you have NEW SYMPTOMS (cold symptoms or vomiting/diarrhea): Test when symptoms start but if the test is negative, you still need to test again in 2 days. Testing on the 3rd day of your illness or later is the most accurate test.
2) If you have an EXPOSURE: Test 3 to 5 days after you were exposed. PCR test is most accurate for this. If you have a negative test, you could still get COVID for up to 14 days after your exposure, so retest if you start having symptoms.
3) HOME TESTS: These are great to have when they are back in stock. You can buy them online or at the pharmacy. If you have symptoms and test negative 2 days in a row, you probably don’t have COVID. If you have a positive test, Isolate and call us for instructions.
4) OFFICE TESTS: We do rapid (results in 15 minutes) and PCR (2 day results)tests at the office. Rapid tests are mostly for if you have symptoms. PCR is for symptoms or exposures and is more accurate.
5) OTHER TESTS: 1) Genomics in Langhorne- we can send you (with an order from us) for a PCR test. No appointments needed, Mon-Fri 9AM to 6PM. 2) Urgent care- Vybe or Patient First for PCRs.
ISOLATION for COVID POSITIVE:
1) Isolate for at least 10 days after the start of symptoms at home. If no symptoms, then 10 days after test. Stay away from household members whenever possible. Even if vaccinated, household members you are in contact with will most likely get COVID.
2) Call us and we will tell you what to do, what to look for, when you are no longer contagious and if there are any treatments right for you. Generally, rest and fluids help the most. OK to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) and Ibuprofen for fever, body aches and pains. Call immediately if your fever is 103 or higher OR pulse ox below 90% OR you are having difficulty breathing.
3) Isolation for healthcare workers is different. Call us for details if you are positive.
QUARANTINE for EXPOSURE:
1) With Omicron, if you had a significant exposure and no recent booster vaccine, you will likely get COVID within the next week.
2) IF YOU DID NOT HAVE YOUR COVID VACCINE: Stay home for 10 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19. Watch COVID symptoms. If possible, stay away from people in your home who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19. Test on day 5.
3) MODIFIED QUARANTINE: If you are tested with PCR test 5 days after your exposure AND the test is negative THEN you can be out of quarantine 7 days after your exposure. Still be careful to limit your contacts and wear a mask inside in public until 14 days after your exposure.
4) IF YOU DID HAVE YOUR COVID VACCINE: Wear a mask when indoors outside of your home for 14 days after your exposure. Avoid contact with anyone who is frail, elderly, immunocompromised or babies for 14 days. You can go to work or school (wearing a mask) but try not to do optional activities indoors. Test on day 5 with PCR. If this is negative, your chances of developing COVID from this exposure are much lower.
As always, we wish you and your loved ones health and happiness! If you have family, friends, or acquaintances that are not as tech-savvy, please share this information with them.
Best in Health,
Dr. Jessica T. Baker, D.O. and Cheryl Noe, CRNP
