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Tag: COVID-19

  • Myth Busters: Monkeypox is the Next COVID-19

    Just as it seems like we are transitioning back to (a new) normal after the height of of COVID-19,  another illness is beginning to cause concern.

    Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by an infection with the monkeypox virus and is similar to smallpox. Beginning in January 2022, the United States, as well as many other countries around the world where monkeypox has not historically been reported, have been experiencing an outbreak of the disease. Understandably, this increase in numbers, as well as news coverage of the disease, has many wondering: Is this the next COVID-19?

    “There are many things that set COVID-19 and monkeypox apart,” explains White-Wilson Immediate Care Nurse Practitioner Mary Jean Middleton. “First and foremost, monkeypox has been around for decades whereas COVID-19 was a novel virus, first seen in late 2019. Therefore, we have significantly more research on monkeypox available to us than we did in 2020 for COVID-19”

    According to the CDC, monkeypox was first discovered in animals in 1958 and the first recorded human case occurred in 1970. Until recently, the majority of monkeypox cases were found in central and western Africa. Occasional cases were found in travelers who had been to countries where the disease usually occurs or in imported livestock, but the transmission was generally minimal.

    “One of the hardest parts of fighting COVID-19 was the fact that we knew little about it,” says APRN Middleton. “We had to quickly learn how it spread, how to prevent it and if it could be cured before we could really make any headway against it. With monkeypox, we have decades of experience and research to work off.”

    Like COVID-19, monkeypox can occur in patients of all ages and can be spread through respiratory droplets and bodily fluids as well as physical contact with infected people and items. However, the duration of the contact and exposure to respiratory droplets plays a role in the spread of monkeypox.

    “The current data shows that for monkeypox to spread from one person to another, there must be direct, prolonged exposure to respiratory secretions and bodily fluids,” say APRN Middleton. “That means you have to be in extremely close proximity to the person for a while, such as is the case with intimate contact or physical affection. A cursory pass by a person is not going to infect you nor is being in their presence for a few minutes. This is why the majority of the monkeypox cases we see are the result of close contact, like that between intimate partners. That’s a big difference from COVID, where the virus was spread unknowingly during quick interactions or in public spaces.,” she continues. “Add in the fact that only symptomatic people can spread the virus and infections are visible to those who are infected and to others, and you can see while it is much easier to get COVID-19 than monkeypox.”

    A person with monkeypox can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.

    Signs and symptoms of monkeypox as well as pictures of monkeypox rashes can be viewed on the CDC website. Perhaps one of the biggest differences between the two diseases lies in the availability of vaccines.

     “As I am sure we all remember, COVID-19 vaccines didn’t even exist until late 2020,” she says, “with most people unable to receive them until Spring of 2021 through FDA emergency-use authorizations. For monkeypox, there are two current vaccines with full FDA approval that have been on the market since the 2010s. So, we are able to get ahead of this before it gets bad like in the case of COVID-19.”

    While monkeypox vaccine eligibility is determined by each state’s department of health, most recommend a monkeypox vaccine for people who have been exposed to monkeypox or who may be more likely to get monkeypox, including:

    • People who have been identified by public health officials as a contact of someone with monkeypox.
    • People who know one of their sexual partners in the past two weeks has been diagnosed with monkeypox.
    • People who have had multiple sexual partners in the past two weeks in an area with known monkeypox transmission.

    “To sum everything up, I understand why people would be concerned with an outbreak of monkeypox following so closely behind COVID-19,” concludes APRN Middleton, “but you really don’t have much to worry about. We, as a country, are so much more prepared to fight monkeypox than we were with COVID-19, in part because of the lessons we learned over the past three years.”

    As always, if you have any concerns about your risk for monkeypox or think you may have been exposed, we at White-Wilson Medical Center are ready to help you through.”

    This Myth Is Busted!

    Mary Jean Middleton, APRN is a registered Nurse Practitioner caring for patients at the White-Wilson Immediate Care and Family Medicine clinics in Destin, Florida. Learn more about her approach to patient care here.

  • The Path to Herd Immunity

    Over the last month, vaccines tasked with arming us against COVID-19 have begun arriving around the country, bringing with it much excitement that we might soon be rid of the global pandemic that has plagued us. While it may be a while before the public-at-large is able to receive the vaccine, the topic is hot among dinner tables and water cooler conversations.

    One popular term making its way around these discussions and onto the news is ‘herd immunity.’  Also known as ‘population immunity,’ herd immunity occurs when a large percentage of a community becomes immune to a disease, inhibiting its ability to spread to the point where the whole community, even those within it who are not immune, are protected from the disease. This is especially beneficial in cases where a community consists of people who are at increased risk from a disease, such as newborns and the immunocompromised.

    It is easy to see why ‘herd immunity’ is an exciting prospect. After almost a year of restrictions and precautions, we are all ready for things to get back to normal, but it won’t be an easy path.

    “For herd immunity to occur a large percentage of the community’s population needs to be immune, either through vaccination or previous infection,” explains Dr. Gregory Stepp of the White-Wilson Family Medicine Clinic. “This percentage varies by disease with the more contagious diseases having a higher percentage to meet.  For example, measles, a highly contagious disease, requires approximately 94% of a population to be immune for herd immunity to occur. It is a tall order, but as we have seen in the case of measles, polio, mumps and chickenpox, it is possible through vaccination programs.”

    Because the virus that causes COVID-19 was previously unheard of and scientists continue to learn about it, the threshold for herd immunity (HIT) that needs to be met is unknown at this time. Many experts anticipate that number to fall somewhere between 50% and 90%, meaning the majority of people in a community will need to be immunized against the virus for herd immunity to be achieved.

    “If we all get on board, this is doable,” says Dr. Stepp, “especially with the vaccine becoming available.”

    The availability of a vaccine often makes a huge difference when it comes to achieving herd immunity.  Without a vaccine, we would have to rely on a large number of the population becoming sick with and recover from COVID-19. Depending on the disease, that can be extremely risky.

    “It is very clear to us that COVID-19 can cause severe illness and even death in certain instances,” Dr. Stepp elaborates. “Waiting to meet the HIT through natural infections will result in more suffering and death than is necessary, not to mention, the increased strain it will put on our already overstressed health care system. Vaccines are a way to circumvent these issues.”

    There is also the hurdle of vaccine hesitancy. As is the case of any vaccination, some segment of the population will be opposed to it, whether it’s for ethical or religious reasons or because people are uncomfortable with the speed at which this vaccine was developed. According to Pew Research Center, approximately 60% of the U.S. population reports that they will or probably will receive a COVID-19 vaccination once it becomes available. And while this does fall within the range of the estimate HIT, it leaves little room for error.

    “I understand that the idea of a vaccine can be scary, especially one that has been created so quickly,” says Dr. Stepp. “However, it is important to know that everything the research tells us is that this vaccine is safe. While getting control over the virus is the ultimate goal, safety is and has always been at the forefront of the discussion. We have proof of this. Millions of people around the country have received the vaccine and of those million and very few instances of severe side effects have been reported. “

    “There is a lot of misinformation out there and it can be hard to know what is correct,” he continues. “But don’t just take my word for it. Ask your doctor and the medical professionals in your life. Get multiple opinions from people who know the science and not just your peer group. That way you are making the most informed decision one way or another.”

    “Herd immunity would be an excellent way to fight back against COVID-19,” Dr. Stepp explains, “but there is still the chance that it may not happen. That is why it is important to continue taking precautions like the ones we have been. This disease is still very new to everyone and while we know more than we did in March, there is much yet to learn. As scientists and doctors continue to do their part, I urge you to continue to do yours as a show of support.”

    Dr. Gregory Stepp is a board-certified family medicine practitioner at White-Wilson Medical Center in Fort Walton Beach. Click here to learn more about Dr. Stepp and his approach to patient care.

  • Myth Busters: If I Receive My COVID-19 Vaccine, I No Longer Have to Wear a Mask.

    It’s finally a new year. And as with every new year, it comes with new hope that we can leave the past behind us and usher in a better and brighter tomorrow. After the difficult year that was 2020, this has never been truer.

    Luckily, leading the charge toward a happier and healthier 2021 is the COVID-19 vaccine, which, in recent weeks, has started being administered throughout the nation. The excitement for the vaccine is certainly palpable, with the belief that receiving it will mark a return to normal and the end of quarantining, social distancing and wearing masks. While that is a goal in the long run, it won’t be an instantaneous change.

    “Even if you do receive the COVID-19 vaccine, you should continue to take precautions when it comes to protecting yourself and others from the disease,” says Dr. Chinh Vien Van of the White-Wilson Immediate Care Clinic. “It won’t be an on-and-off type of situation. Time is a necessary component as well.”

    Vaccines work by stimulating your body’s immune system to develop antibodies used to fight virus.

    “This process takes time,” explains Dr. Van. “It could be a week, it could be a month or longer, and during this time, it is possible that you may contract the virus and become sick. Further, both COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA require two doses to reach full effectiveness, administered either 21 days or 28 days apart. This also leaves time where you’re not fully protected you may become infected.”

    Another aspect working against an instant fix is the vaccine’s level of effectiveness. Initial studies have shown high levels of effectiveness in the approved vaccines’ abilities to reduce/prevent severe illness. Less research has been done on the vaccines’ effectiveness in preventing a person from being able to transmit the disease. Scientists believe that it is likely for the vaccines to have some effectiveness at preventing transmission, but more study is necessary and even then, it is very unlikely that number will be 100%.

    “There is always a chance that you or someone you know will fall into that percentage of exception,” says Dr. Van. “It is better to be safe than sorry and to use all the tools we have available to guard yourself and your loved ones from infection.”

    “I have no doubt there will be a day that we can be rid of these increased restrictions,” he continues. “Whether it is in a few months or a year will, in part, depend on our willingness to continue taking protective measures while everyone waits to receive the vaccine. Until that time, we must all keep wearing our marks, social distancing and avoid gatherings to slow the spread of this virus.”

    This myth is busted.

    Dr. Chinh Vien Van is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and practices at the White-Wilson Immediate Care Clinics in Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, Navarre and Niceville. White-Wilson Immediate Care Clinics are open seven days a week in Fort Walton Beach. Click here to learn more about Dr. Van and his approach to patient care, and view his video bio.

  • Florida’s Stay-At-Home Order and What That Means For Your Doctor’s Visit

    As you may already be aware, at midday on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a mandatory stay-at-home order for the entire state of Florida. The order, which went into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, April 3, 2020, requires all persons in Florida to stay at home and limit their movements and personal interactions outside of the home to those necessary to conduct essential activities.

    While there may be some confusion regarding what is or isn’t an “essential service,” you can rest assured that medical visits, such as those you might have upcoming with a White-Wilson health care provider, will not be affected by the order. This means that you may travel to and from your doctor’s office for visits without being in violation of the new executive action.

    At White-Wilson, we have been working diligently to develop and introduce new programs that allow patients to access their trusted health care providers while also limiting the risk of potential exposure to COVID-19. Such programs include the implementation of remote check-in for all appointments. This new process means that patients are taken straight from their car to a freshly sanitized exam room. This minimizes contact with others and protects against potential exposure. We have also separated our Fort Walton Beach Immediate Care Clinic into two treatment areas, one for sick patients and one for well patients.

    Furthermore, for those patients who do not wish to leave their homes, we are hard at work developing a Telemedicine program that will let patients connect with their health care provider virtually. We are currently testing these capabilities with a number of patients and hope to make it available on a broader scale very soon. As more information becomes available regarding this program, updates will follow on our website and social medical pages.

    The health and trust of our patients is something we greatly value. Please know that we are taking every precaution to limit any exposure to COVID-19 at our clinics so that you may confidently receive the medical care you need, even during these critical times. We encourage you to abide by all state orders, continue to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and lastly, remember that if you need us, White-Wilson is here for you.

    If you feel that you may have been exposed to COVID-19 or are experiencing fever, flu-like or respiratory symptoms, please stay at home and call the White-Wilson Pandemic Information Line at 850-314-6300.