Carolina Acute Care & Wellness Center, P.A.

01/01/2026

12/31/2025

We are Closed Today & Tomorrow for the Holiday -
Reopen Monday Jan 5th -

Be sure to follow our page for upcoming announcements - expansions & plans for 2026 along with the latest in local Medical News & Scientific Research we are following!

Thank you for trusting us with your care...

12/30/2025

We pulled the Flu Vaccine data for adults along with comparative data - Here are the statistics by the numbers -

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine annual influenza vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications, which includes all adults aged 19 years and older.

In adults, influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against outpatient illness ranges from 26-49%, and against hospitalization from 35-44%, with substantial variation by influenza subtype and age.

During the 2023-24 season, VE against outpatient visits was 33-49% in adults ≥18 years, compared to 59-67% in children 6 months-17 years. Against hospitalization, adult VE was 41-44%, compared to 52-61% in children.

Regarding influenza risk in unvaccinated adults, the burden is substantial but differs from children. Healthy adults who receive inactivated vaccine experience influenza reduction from 2.3% to 0.9% (NNV 71), and influenza-like illness reduction from 21.5% to 18.1% (NNV 29).[7] During the 2017-18 season when A(H3N2) predominated, vaccination prevented an estimated 7.1 million illnesses, 3.7 million medical visits, 109,000 hospitalizations, and 8,000 deaths in the overall population.

Protection against severe outcomes is moderate. Meta-analysis shows 42% VE against influenza-associated hospitalization, 36% against death, 51% against pneumonia, 52% against ICU admission, and 55% against ventilatory support. Among hospitalized adults with influenza, vaccination reduces ICU admission risk by 26% and mortality by 31%. Vaccination of adults with cardiovascular disease reduces mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events.

The adult-child comparison reveals important differences. While children consistently show higher VE (up to 2-fold higher in some analyses), adults—particularly those ≥65 years—demonstrate lower effectiveness but face higher baseline risk of severe complications. The modest VE in adults (26-49% against outpatient illness) still translates to substantial public health benefit given the high attack rates and complication risks in this population.

Children receive substantially greater benefit from annual influenza vaccination compared to adults, with vaccine effectiveness approximately 1.5-2 fold higher across all outcomes. During the 2023-24 season, VE against outpatient illness was 59-67% in children 6 months-17 years compared to 33-49% in adults ≥18 years, and VE against hospitalization was 52-61% in children versus 41-44% in adults.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine annual influenza vaccination for all persons aged ≥6 months who do not have contraindications, which includes all adults aged 19 years and older.

A new recommendation for the 2025-26 season specifies that all adults should receive seasonal influenza vaccines only in single-dose formulations that are free of thimerosal as a preservative. This represents an update from previous seasons and applies universally to the adult population alongside children aged ≤18 years and pregnant women.[1]

The universal recommendation for adults reflects the substantial burden of influenza-related morbidity and mortality across all adult age groups, despite the moderate vaccine effectiveness of 26-49% against outpatient illness and 35-44% against hospitalization discussed earlier in this conversation. The preferential recommendation for enhanced vaccines in adults ≥65 years addresses the lower vaccine effectiveness and higher complication risk in this population.

12/30/2025

We pulled the data for the Flu Vaccines - Here are the Pediatric statistics by the Numbers -

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual influenza vaccination for all children 6 months and older without medical contraindications. Vaccination is particularly important for children at higher risk of complications, including those younger than 5 years, those with underlying medical conditions, and those with obesity. Unvaccinated children face substantial risk from influenza.

Up to 10% of all pediatric hospitalizations during winter are attributable to influenza, with the highest rates in children younger than 5 years, especially infants under 6 months.

Hospitalization rates in children 0–4 years range from 16 to 91.4 per 100,000, while rates in 5–17 year-olds range from 4 to 30.3 per 100,000. Among hospitalized children, 17.8% develop pneumonia, 21.6% require ICU admission, and 5.3% need mechanical ventilation.

Up to 80% of pediatric influenza deaths occur in unvaccinated children 6 months and older. Annual reported pediatric deaths have ranged from 37 to 207, though statistical models suggest actual deaths may be substantially higher—up to 724 in the 2023–2024 season. Influenza vaccination reduces the risk of influenza-associated death by 65% overall and by 51% in children with underlying conditions.

So, vaccination provides substantial protection. Pooled vaccine effectiveness is 46% against outpatient illness and approximately 57% against hospitalization, with higher effectiveness in fully vaccinated children and those under 5 years. Vaccinated children are 68% less likely to be hospitalized and 42% less likely to visit the emergency department for influenza-related illness. Vaccination reduces the risk of severe, life-threatening influenza requiring ICU admission by three-quarters.

Natural influenza infection induces broader CD4 T-cell responses, particularly to internal viral proteins like nucleoprotein, compared to inactivated vaccination, but this does not translate to superior protection as vaccination provides robust antibody responses against circulating strains.

Children with specific underlying conditions and those receiving live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) face the highest risk of vaccine-related adverse events, though serious harms remain rare.

Contraindications to LAIV include children aged 2-4 years with asthma or wheezing, immunocompromised children, those with anatomic or functional asplenia, children receiving aspirin-containing medications, and those with cerebrospinal fluid leaks or cochlear implants. Severe allergic reactions to previous influenza vaccine doses contraindicate both inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) and LAIV, though allergist evaluation may determine whether future vaccination is appropriate.

Annual influenza vaccine effectiveness in children ranges from approximately 40-60% against medically attended illness, even in well-matched seasons. Pooled estimates across nine seasons (2011-2020) show 46% effectiveness against outpatient influenza illness overall. During the 2023-2024 season—when circulating viruses were antigenically well-matched to vaccine strains—vaccine effectiveness was 52% in children 5-17 years and 65% in children 6 months-4 years against symptomatic illness.

At the end of the day - The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends annual influenza vaccination for all children 6 months and older without medical contraindications. This recommendation stands despite moderate vaccine effectiveness (40-65% against outpatient illness) because the substantial reduction in severe outcomes—including hospitalization, complications, and death—far outweighs the rare risks of vaccination. While natural infection induces broader cellular immune responses, this does not translate to superior protection. Natural immunity wanes substantially—declining to half of peak levels within 3.5-7 years—and homotypic protection lasts only 1-2 years. Meanwhile, unvaccinated children face hospitalization rates of 16-91.4 per 100,000 in those under 5 years, with 17.8% developing pneumonia and 21.6% requiring ICU admission.

12/29/2025

Local Influenza Update -

Based on the most recent surveillance data, H3N2 subclade K viruses are currently dominating the flu season, accounting for 89% of H3N2 cases.

The current vaccine may have reduced effectiveness against this circulating strain as the H3N2 subclade K virus contains a mutation not present in the 2024-2025 season, suggesting potential antigenic mismatch. However, definitive vaccine effectiveness data for this season are not yet available & the actual degree of protection remains undetermined.

Uncomplicated Influenza illness typically resolves within 1 week in healthy individuals, though cough and malaise can persist for more than 2 weeks.

12/29/2025

Nearly five million flu cases have been reported nationwide, the CDC estimates, and at least 1,900 people have died from the virus. "CBS Saturday Morning" ha...

12/29/2025

We're Open Mon & Tues - going to be a tight schedule this year a a Flu Strain has hit hard in the U.S.

A mutated strain of influenza A, H3N2 subclade K, is surging worldwide, sparking concern about a severe flu season in the U.S. Here's what to symptoms to look out for.

12/27/2025

We're Open Monday & Tuesday next week.
Dec 29 & 30.

12/20/2025

Merry Christmas -
Closed Next week for the Holidays.
Open Mon - Tues, Dec 29 & 30th.

12/14/2025

Weekend at The Cove is always nice - especially at Christmas.
We met Gigi Graham, Rev. Graham's eldest daughter.
She has a million wonderful stories.....

Great Fellowship. Merry Christmas!

12/14/2025

The systematic review and meta-analysis of 48 trials involving 94,245 individuals show little or no effect of GLP-1 RA treatment on the risk for obesity-related cancers.