| January 6, 2021 – COVID-19 Vaccination Update: PPMA has been in contact with several pharmacies to collect information regarding the availability and distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine. Here is what we know at this point: • The earliest pharmacies will be receiving the vaccine is mid-to-late-February. If there are plenty of vaccines available, there will be no restriction on who can get it. However, if that particular pharmacy has limited vaccines, then the following will take effect: • Pharmacies will contact patients in their database strictly based on age and not on need nor diagnosis. • Pharmacies do not know nor take into consideration underlying diseases (example: a 50-year-old with metastatic cancer or diabetes or lung issues that would make them more susceptible to the disease would not be notified first). • The first to be notified will be patients 75+ years of age. • Pharmacies will notify patients based on the availability and supply of the vaccine. • Pharmacies will continue to contact patients by age, younger and younger, as they go down their own list. • The distribution is run by each individual pharmacy and the State of California – not the Federal Government. We are investigating if an Rx or Doctor’s note can help in any way. Your health and continued safety are of the utmost importance to us. We will continue to share information as we obtain it. |
| January 4, 2021 – COVID-19 Vaccination Update: As of today, PPMA does not have the COVID-19 vaccine and we do not know if we will be able to receive any to give to our patients. We are working closely with a concierge pharmacy to try to obtain some doses of the vaccine but they have told us February is the soonest we might receive them, if at all. Please contact your local pharmacy (like CVS, Walgreens, Costco, etc.) to see if they are on the CDC list and are able to distribute. In our opinion, there is no significant difference between the Pfizer/BioNTech and the Moderna vaccines. We recommend you take whichever one is first offered to you. We will keep you posted with any new information. We wish you the best of health and that you continue to be safe and protected. |
| December 12, 2020 – COVID-19 Vaccine Phased Distribution: As always, we want to keep you up-to-date and informed on the COVID-19 status and what to expect. Regarding the progress on a vaccine, please be aware that given the limited initial supply of COVID-19 vaccines, distribution will be limited at first and increase over time. Determinations will be based on reaching critical populations to reduce morbidity and mortality rates due to the transmission of COVID-19. Based on the National Academy of Sciences Prioritization, here is what to expect: PHASE 1 A. JUMPSTART • High-risk health workers • First responders B. People of all ages with comorbid and underlying conditions that put them at significantly higher risk • Older adults living in congregate or overcrowded settings PHASE 2 • K-12 teachers and school staff and child care workers • Critical workers in high-risk settings — workers who are industries essential to the functioning of society and at a substantially higher risk of exposure. • People in homeless shelters or group homes for individuals with disabilities, including serious mental illness, developmental and intellectual disabilities, and physical disabilities or in recovery, and staff who work in such settings • People in prisons, jails, detention centers, and similar facilities, and staff who work in such settings • All older adults not included in Phase 1 PHASE 3 • Young adults • Children • Workers in industries and occupations important to the functioning of society and at increased risk of exposure not included in Phase 1 or 2 PHASE 4 • Everyone residing in the United States who did not have access to the vaccine in previous phases For more information, please visit https://occovid19.ochealthinfo.com We are available to you 24/7 for questions and concerns. Please call our office. We are being inundated with communication by text, email, and phone so we ask that you have patience and know that we will respond to every request. We wish you the best of health and that you continue to be safe and protected. |
| December 7, 2020 – Important Update Regarding the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19): As you are aware, the state of this pandemic is fluid and constantly changing. As always, we are available to you 24/7 for questions and concerns. Due to the recent spike in COVID cases, we are trying to limit the number of patients who come into the office. As an essential business, we would like to remain open and not have to close our doors. To limit exposure, we’re doing office visits by telemedicine appointment unless otherwise indicated. If you are feeling sick or experiencing any symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath, please contact us by telephone, text, or email – do NOT come into the office. Please remember that many of our patients are elderly and have illnesses that place them at high risk for an adverse outcome. Your physician is available to you by phone or FaceTime and telemedicine consultation. Please call the office at (949)566-8179. We are being inundated with communication by text, email, and phone so we ask that you have patience and know that we will respond to every request. Thank you for your partnership in your healthcare. |
| December 2, 2020 – An Important Update to our Patients Regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19): The COVID-19 pandemic has been stressful and isolating for many people. More than 1 million new cases were recorded in the United States over the past week. We want to assure you that the physicians and staff of PPMA continue to monitor the situation on the medical front regarding COVID-19 and want to keep you abreast of the situation. Vaccines for COVID-19 have certainly been all over the news. Here is an update: There are currently three vaccine candidates that have completed phase 3 trials. Two have applied to the FDA for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), the vaccines created by Pfizer/BioNTec and Moderna. They are both RNA vaccines. If approved by the FDA this will be the first time that a vaccine using this technology will be made available for humans. If you would like to learn how these vaccines work, watch this 3-minute video. The third vaccine created by Oxford University and Astra Zeneca is further behind and uses a more standard vaccine technology. We will only consider the RNA vaccines for now since those will come to market first. Q. When will these vaccines be available? A. The FDA has scheduled an open session meeting of the Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) on 12/10/2020 to discuss the EUA of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in individuals 16 years and older. If the FDA approves the vaccine, we expect that announcement to come some days after their meeting. Pfizer has said they will begin shipping the vaccine the day after it has been approved. We expect the first doses to be given sometime in the second half of December 2020. Q. How effective are the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines? A. Both vaccines are about 95% effective in preventing serious COVID-19 illness. Each vaccine was given to 15,000 people (total 30,000 people…the other 30,000 people received a placebo). Only one person in the Pfizer/BioNTech group and none in the Moderna group developed serious illness. Stated another way, only one person out of the 30,000 people who received the vaccine developed serious COVID-19 illness. Many more people in the placebo group became ill with COVID-19 and some developed severe disease. Q. How are these vaccines administered? A. Both vaccines are given by intramuscular injection, no different than how influenza or tetanus vaccine is administered. Each is given in 2 doses. The Pfizer vaccine is given 21 days apart; the Moderna is given 28 days apart. Q. How safe are the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines? A. Both vaccines were studied for at least two months looking for side effects. The safety data has not been released yet but news reports state that there were no serious side effects in either vaccine study. The reported side effects include soreness, redness, and/or swelling at the injection site, headache, fever, and fatigue. We will continue to monitor this. Q. How will it be distributed? Who will get offered the vaccine first? When and how can I get it? Who should receive it? A. These questions have not been answered yet, but we know that it is recommended that healthcare workers and residents of skilled nursing homes and long-term care facilities will be the first to receive the vaccine. Because the Federal Government will pay for the vaccines, they will oversee distribution. We at PPMA do not expect to receive a shipment and therefore we do not think you will be able to receive your vaccine from us. It is recommended that all people over 16 years, including those who have had COVID-19, should be vaccinated. Q. Dr. Weiss & Dr. Van Meter, based on what you know now are you planning to receive the vaccine yourself? A. Yes. We want to formally review the safety data once it is published and will update you about this progress. For more information, we recommend that you watch this six-minute video of Dr. Anthony Fauci speaking from the White House on Monday, November 30, 2020. Click to watch video. ATTENTION MEDICARE PATIENTS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all of our lives in so many ways and one of those is that fewer of us are visiting our doctors’ offices and taking care of our medical needs and paying attention to our health. If we have not seen you in 2020, it is important that we still communicate with each other on your health condition and needs. If you have not filled out this Annual Health Form in 2020, please download this document. It is an auto-fillable form so no need to print. When complete, save it to your computer and email it to info@privatemds.com. Don’t hesitate to call the office at (949) 566-8179 if you have any questions. Be aware that the influx in calls, texts, and emails may affect response times, so we ask that you have patience and know that we will respond to every request. |
April 6, 2020 – Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
As we now enter the second month of the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), we want to keep you up-to-date on the situation and offer helpful advice and encouragement. Each week we will share a video from one of our physicians to keep you in the know and equipped with the latest information.
It is important not to forget the importance of maintaining the strength of our immune system in order to fight this virus. Make sure to take antioxidants, especially Vitamins A, C, and D.
Also, make sure you are. getting enough sleep. Try to avoid staying up late. Turn off the television and read a good book instead. Consider going to bed earlier and getting 7 to 8 hours. of good sleep.
Please continue to follow the CDC guidelines about Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) to protect yourself and others. Wash your hands frequently, keep social distancing, and sheltering in place as you can. Especially during this week of Passover and Easter.
While we are still unable to see patients in-office while “stay home” recommendations are in order, our doctors and staff are available for phone calls, emails, and TELEmedicine appointments. Please call the office at (949) 566-8179.
We wish you a Happy Passover and Blessed Easter. May you continue to stay healthy, safe, and protected.
Dr. L. Richard Van Meter, MD, FCCP
Private Physicians Medical Association (PPMA)
Learn more about Dr. Van Meter here.
Remember to get current, accurate information about Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) from reputable sources, such as:
· CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
· WHO: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
· Hoag Hospital, Orange County, CA): https://covid19.hoag.org/