Before COVID-19 most of us didn’t know much about how vaccines worked. There were movies I saw in grade school, sponsored by Bell Telephone, that taught us about the world around us (I think you have to be over 70 to remember those movies). I remember they explained vaccines as a bunch of fake soldiers coming into your body, which caused your body to quickly build up real soldiers to blunt the attack. When your body found out the enemy soldiers were fake and didn’t need to be attacked, your body was left with this inventory of real soldiers that could beat back any real enemy soldiers that might attack later. It really wasn’t a bad way to explain vaccines to young people, but I suspect, because of COVID-19, we all know much more about how vaccines work and even how the new mRNA vaccines work. But, even with all this new information, many are still leery of many vaccines and, because of the freedoms we enjoy in this country, everyone has the right to make their choice.

The goal of my blog this week isn’t to try to convince you that vaccines are good or bad. By now, most of us have taken a stand on the vaccine issue and we’ve heard more than we’d like about each side. My goal in this blog is to talk about the choices each of us have and the decisions we need to make as fall and winter approaches. I will disclose that I’m a believer in vaccines, as you probably know from my earlier blogs, but I’ll try to pass on unfiltered information that I’ve gathered about where vaccines fit in as we look forward to the next few months.

For those of you who have decided that vaccines aren’t something you want for yourself, you should be taking extra precautions as fall approaches. Many scientists expect both COVID-19 and flu infections to increase as winter approaches. At the height of the pandemic, when we were all isolating and wearing masks, the number of flu cases dropped dramatically from their historical average. That will not be the case this year. This especially applies to older people, those who suffer from lung problems, have serious health issues and especially for those who are immunocompromised. The pandemic taught us how to avoid getting exposed and it is important that you take those precautions to protect yourself and your loved ones.

I also recognize that there may be those who have been vaccinated in the past for the flu, pneumonia, etc. but were hesitant about the new COVID-19 vaccines and decided against those vaccines. My hope is that you continue to stay up to date on the traditional vaccines that are available. There is a great web page that asks a few questions and then gives you a recommendation on what vaccines you need. I’ve given out this link before but here it is again  — link. I answered the questions and found out that I needed a dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine (Tdap). I thought that was only needed when you are young or stepped on a rusty nail . . . not so, we need the dose every 10 years. The vaccines recommended at this site are all the traditional, time-tested vaccines.

For those of us who have decided that taking advantage of all the vaccines available is right for us, we are faced with many choices about when we should be vaccinated. I’ve read multiple sources that state that the traditional fall flu vaccine, pneumonia and COVID-19 can all be administered at the same time. The most common combination is getting the second COVID-19 booster and flu shot at the same time. Note, if for some reason you are a vaccine believer but have not been vaccinated for COVID-19 do it now, don’t wait. The same goes for those who have received the initial COVID-19 shots and booster but haven’t received the second booster — go ahead and get it now.

Here’s my experience, which seems to be a very common scenario, and the choices I made as to timing. I had the initial two Pfizer shots and the subsequent booster. In January of this year both my wife and I got COVID-19. I felt poorly for about 36 hours. My wife had the shivers and then felt fatigued for around three days. We felt the vaccines did their job by greatly reducing the affect of the virus. Now that the booster has been authorized, we plan on getting it this week. We also decided to wait until late October or early November to get our flu shot so that it would be the strongest during the traditional times that the flu is most prevalent. Again, there is no problem with getting both shots at the same time, even in the same arm at different shot sites. I think some officials have pressed combining the two shots because the uptake on the second booster has been slow and they hoped that those who were in the habit of getting their yearly flu shot would go ahead and get the second booster at the same time since they were already at the doctor’s office. I’m a big fan of not trying to second guess human nature or “tricking” people into certain behaviors. I’d rather have everyone get unfiltered information and leave how people use that information to them. Whether you get them at the same time or not is up to you.

The important point I want to make is the fact that there are lifesaving vaccines available. It is our choice as what is best for each of us. Don’t let a busy life, a lack of transportation or procrastination be the reason we don’t act on our choice.

Best, Thair

According to an Imperial College of London study, the COVID-19 vaccines saved almost 20 million lives around the world in the first year. I can’t comprehend the deaths of 20 million people. Each one of those 20 million have people who loved them and people they loved. They each had people who depended on them. They each had a purpose on earth that would have been cut short if it weren’t for the vaccines. We were so lucky to have those lifesaving vaccines.

While these new vaccines were developed in an unprecedented short period of time, we have had other vaccines that have been around for a long time that we seem to be taking for granted. Remember the days when vaccinations were for newborns and kids getting ready for school. Measles, diphtheria, smallpox, and polio have largely become diseases of the past because of vaccines but they were primarily for children. I want to focus on important vaccines that protect adults.

Pneumonia, the disease that in the past was a killer of the elderly, can be controlled and prevented by a vaccine. Shingles, a painful disease, can be controlled with a vaccine. Older adults are encouraged to get the tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine booster to renew their resistance to those maladies. Another killer of older people is the flu. The estimate for deaths caused by the flu for the 2017/2018 season was 61,000. Each year we can get a vaccine that greatly reduces the impact of the flu, yet less than 50% of us get that lifesaving shot. This goes against what happened during the pandemic.

94% of the adults between the ages of 65 and 74 were fully vaccinated against COVID-19 during the pandemic. What changed, why did 94% of us choose to get the COVID-19 shot but, historically, 50% of us chose not to get vaccinated against the flu? It doesn’t seem to make sense. It is true that we reduced our visits to the doctor as we sequestered ourselves and our mask wearing during the pandemic reduced the spread of the flu, but what is going to happen this fall? We’re mostly not wearing masks so we are more vulnerable. Will we come to our senses or will we return to that embarrassing condition where half of us don’t get vaccinated?

Here’s an idea, since it looks like we will get another booster approved in the next few weeks that will protect us against the COVID-19 variants, why don’t you just ask your healthcare provider to give you the flu shot also? And if you want to get real crazy, why don’t you review your vaccination history with your doctor and catch up on all your vaccinations? So, how do you know what vaccines you need . . . glad you asked.

Here is a link to a website that asks you questions and generates what vaccinations you need. I went through the process, and it has given me a great start on what vaccinations I need but it also brought up more questions. What vaccinations have I already had? I’ve changed my primary physician three times in the last three years, once when I moved and a second time when I found a doctor that better met my needs. Where are my immunization records? What about when I got my flu shot last year at a pharmacy? Did they pass my immunization record to my primary doctor? I don’t recall if they even asked the name of my doctor. This brings me to something else we need to do to keep us on track – keep our own record of all of our immunizations. I bet you have been like me and carried you COVID-19 immunization record with you over the last two years. Mine is kind of worn around the edges from being in my wallet. I even took a picture of my record in case I lost my wallet. We need to use this same dedication in keeping track of all of our immunizations. It may be the only place where a complete and accurate record of all your immunizations exists. Think back, when was the last time your doctor asked you to go over all your immunizations? As of five years ago some doctors’ computer systems didn’t have a place for tracking adult immunizations. It’s a valuable thing to have.

If you’re like me, you can’t remember all of your past vaccinations. Here is another web site with some hints on how to find past health records and also a place to download a form that you can use to track you immunizations. Whatever you do, begin now to track your shots. If you get poked, write it down. It will be so fun the next time you cut yourself or step on a nail and the doctor asks when you last had a tetanus shot and you can tell her/him the exact date.

It’s National Immunization Awareness month. Let’s build on the momentum of being the best COVID-19 immunized age group and become the best immunized age group for all of our recommended immunizations, along with having the best record of our immunization history. It’s a lifesaving goal.

Best, Thair