Bill Ruzicka, ARNP

02/24/2022

One of the things that arose from this pandemic is the increase in Telemedicine and the ability to reach more people from the comfort of their home or work.

With Redefined Health Clinic (which is all Telemedicine) we have a new offer...

Schedule your 15-minute Complimentary Consultation in the next 24 hrs. Then, receive 10% off your 1st month of treatment if you choose to join one of our membership programs.

Limited Time only. Expires 3/2/22!

Schedule your 15-minute Complimentary Consultation in the next 24 hrs. & receive 10% off your 1st month of treatment if you decide to become a member.

Limited Time only. Expires 3/2/22!

02/03/2022

"Not exempting those with prior infection was always unfair; now it is unscientific as well."

I first shared this research last week - that surviving a natural COVID-19 infection provides excellent natural immunity. Or if one had a natural infection + the original 2-series vaccine = "Hybrid immunity."

Since the CDC is now recognizing the effectiveness of prior infections, it is time to update vaccination policies for schools or work-entry requirements. That should include federal, state, and county governments. Yes, data now supports the original hypothesis that those with natural immunity should have equal status as those that are vaccinated.

Now that CDC recognizes the protective effect of prior infection, it is time to update vaccination policies and school or work-entry requirements across federal and state or county governments.

12/23/2021

5 quick tips for a Healthy Holiday season starting today.

As we prepare for Christmas and the coming new year it's never too late to start thinking about your health. Here are some simple tips to get you a leg up on staying healthy this season:

http://redefinedhealthclinic.com

10/05/2021

No matter which side of the vaccine debate you're on, this is too good not to share.

08/26/2021

As a clinician, of course, I recommend the vaccine. But I am never going to scream at someone to get the vaccine, or shame them or ridicule them. It should entirely be their choice. But I do want them to know there is overwhelming data showing the differences in symptoms, hospitalizations, and mortality in those that are vaccinated vs unvaccinated. I have had otherwise perfectly healthy patients die from COVID. To see their families mourn. To hear the regrets of not getting vaccinated is heart breaking. Sadly, there is no turning back the clock.

"She knows that people, when they are fully functioning and living their lives, never think it will happen to them. Every day she goes to work, she is reminded that this just isn’t true. 'The risk is so much higher getting COVID than getting vaccinated,' Boni said. 'I believe people are trying to make the best decisions for themselves. I just want them to understand: This is a preventable illness. This doesn’t have to happen to anyone anymore.'"

ICU nurses caring for COVID-19 patients struggle to make sense of where we find ourselves.

08/23/2021

Welp, as predicted last week, here we are - full FDA approval of Pfizer vaccine. Expect that Moderna will be right on it's heels as well.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday granted full approval to Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 16 years and older.

08/15/2021

Good morning all. Just a couple of quick updates for you all regarding...you guessed it, COVID vaccines.

Good news on the vaccines for school-age kiddos (ages 5-12) front. Pfizer and Moderna have both expanded their study size to an additional 3000 patients each. Results are expected in that age group in September. That will likely be the gate opening to provide vaccinations nationally. Ages 2 to 5-year-olds will be 1-2 months later, then 6 months to 2-year-olds in the Nov-January timeline.

Further, new information about the DELTA variant than any other variant we've seen so far. Here are the highlights:

- Viral swabs from the back of throats in people infected with the Delta variant is 1000x higher than other variants.

- The ability of earlier variants to spread person to person was about 2-3 people. The Delta variant is about 7-8 people.

-"The viral loads in the throats of vaccinated persons who become infected with delta rises at identical rates as in unvaccinated persons, but only for the first few days. After five days or so, the viral loads in the vaccinated person start to quickly drop whereas those in the unvaccinated person persist." This means a shorter time to be able to transmit the virus in vaccinated people. [Original variants were 7-14 days].

- We have known that the COVID vaccine creates an antibody response called IgG. In effect, the virus still attaches to your oral and nasal mucosa, but the IgG antibodies are like a guard dog waiting on the other side of the door when a burglar breaks in. It clears it up before the person gets very ill or even notices it at all. The vaccine creates the IgG response.

- Vaccine shows an 8x reduction in the development of symptomatic disease in people testing positive. 25x reduction in hospitalization, and 25x reduction in death.

- People are questioning "If I'm vaccinated, why do I need to keep wearing a mask?" Above, I noted a 5 day period of viral transmission in people that are vaccinated. It's because of that 5 day period of possibly infecting 8 others that some agencies are recommending masks again. What I don't know is how that number looks in adults compared to school-age children. Remember, the mask was NEVER about protecting you. It was about protecting others. Just like a surgeon in the OR. They wear masks to prevent spray into the wounds of patients. It doesn't eliminate it, but it CERTAINLY reduces the exposure.

As you know, there will be more to come.

Stay safe out there. Get vaccinated. And let's get back to even more normalcy.

08/11/2021

**Long post**

COVID and this Delta variant are very real. It's not a made up illness to scare or control the public.

* We are running at all time highs locally in our regional hospitals with ICU occupancy. The ER occupancy has long wait times.

For those with other health issues (heart attacks, COPD, diabetes problems, surgical emergencies, labor, etc.), remember, those other health problems don't wait for COVID to go away. They still occur.

I have seen couples who are pregnant that both contract COVID. Mother has to postpone her scheduled c-section due to her positive test, and her otherwise healthy husband is now intubated on a ventilator in the hospital.

I have learned of a perfectly healthy 40+ year old patients who have had to be life flighted to Seattle for ICU needs are are now on heart-lung bypass (ECMO) to try and save his life.

Unfortunately, all of the patients I'm talking about above are unvaccinated.

** Schools are getting ready to open in less than a month. We can only vaccinate kids 12-years or older. What about those younger kids. If northern trends follow what we're seeing in the south where schools have already opened, more kids under vaccine-eligible age are becoming severely sick - some needing hospitalization.

If we still had phases in place this year like we did last year, I can guarantee that the Gov would have schools close to start this year.

What are we going to do in our counties to help decrease the spread of this Delta variant to kids that aren't vaccine eligible when school starts? Will all teachers and staff be vaccinated? Will you as a parent get the vaccine?

Our ER and ICU departments are seeing younger children needing hospitalizations. This Delta variant is stronger and more unpredictable than others.

*** Unfortunately some people are still becoming infected after the vaccination. Remember, this vaccine was NEVER 100% effective. To help prevent the spread we ARE NOT doing enough as a community to help reduce it's spread.

Compare last year to this year, our numbers were already on a downward trend at 52 cases/day. As of Aug 9 this year we were at 152 cases/day.

Benton, Franklin, and Walla Walla Counties have the 3 worst vaccination rates in the state. It's not surprising that these 3 counties are some of the highest not just in Washington, but in the Pacific NW.

We are at a point as a community we need to make a tough decision. Is it more masking? I wish it wasn't so, but I'm seeing that as the need.

Certainly vaccination rates need to improve.

If there is any medical recommendation I could give you today to mitigate the current problem we're facing, it would be to first get vaccinated.

I can't ask for this enough. I chose to get the vaccine for myself, my family, my patients, and my community.

I ask that you consider those that aren't yet eligible for vaccines. The kids under 12, those that are immunosuppressed. Do it for your community. Do it so our kids can get back to school, that want to get back to sports, that want to re-open our businesses.

If we were to have vaccine rates higher than what we currently have, I firmly believe that we wouldn't be where we are now.

The best defense is a strong offense. Lets be offensive and get vaccinated. I assure you that the vaccines are very safe and very effective.

Compare the mild side effects you may get from the vaccines to the long lasting life changes from a natural infection are vastly different.

If you have questions about the vaccines, please ask the questions to your primary care provider. Ask me.

I want out of this pandemic as much as you. I am tired of hearing about another infection, another ICU admission, another death.

It is time for us to be adults and do what is right for each other.

A well-known Tri-Citian is warning folks about from his hospital bed. He says if he pulls through, he *will* be getting the .
"It's not anything to mess around with," says his wife, Tina. "It's real."
🚑 STORY: http://ow.ly/h1DU50FPiVV