Hi Bill, and thanks for highlighting this timely article. I was talking with someone in the office this week about how the antiviral valacyclovir is showing potential benefit in terms of preventing dementia progression in a subset of patients. One theory is that reactivated or persistent herpesvirus infection can have neurodegenerative effects on the brain. Makes sense. Varicella zoster virus is also in the herpes virus family, and likes to hang out in the nervous system, so this shingles vaccination benefit in terms of dementia risk reduction has a plausible mechanism. I’ll do a post soon...
I always appreciate your wisdom and understanding of your patients . We need all the support and guidance you have to offer in order to live life to the max.
You persuaded me to get the Prevnar vaccine. I’d had the pneumococcal vaccine and still got pneumonia so I humored you. But I used to get pneumonia easily and now I’ve had colds and bronchitis but no more pneumonia!
From the manufacturer: PREVNAR 20® is Pfizer’s next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that includes capsular polysaccharide conjugates for the 13 serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F) already included in Prevnar 13®. The vaccine also contains capsular polysaccharide conjugates for seven additional serotypes (8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F and 33F) that cause invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and have been associated with high case-fatality rates, antibiotic resistance, and/or meningitis.
I just got my pneumonia vaccine and the nurse went though my record to confirm I was up to date on all the rest. We did the last Covid booster earlier this spring so that there will be a few months between it and any new one they recommend.
The hesitancy you highlight is so sad, if people knew how horrible death by tetanus or hooping cough can be, I don’t know, would that even change their minds?
People like Robert F Kennedy Jr. do so much damage with their anti-vaccine campaigns. I remember earlier in the pandemic hearing interviews of folks whose relatives died because they refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19 due to someone on the internet telling them not to. The loved ones they left behind sounded crushed and helpless and many expressed a desire to have someway to hold anti-vaxxers accountable. There should be a way.
Congratulations on the pneumonia vaccine! I usually joke with people coming in at 65 that it’s our birthday present to them. Of course there’s a bill to their insurance, so it’s kind of like when your young kid “gets you a bday present 😆” but you’re actually the one going through the effort and expense.
The unnecessary death, suffering, and disability from misinformation, and fear of mRNA as stoked by fringe doctors and politicians/leaders with megaphones should really expose them to liability agreed… it was just so out of step with evidence, guidelines, clinical trials, and standards of care. RFK might be a hero to some, but it’s a sad use of a powerful family name that could have been used for so much more.
Another possible reason to get some vaccines:
Shingles Vaccines Against Dementia & Flu Shots vs. Heart Attacks
https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/articles/shingles-vaccines-against-dementia-flu-shots-vs-heart-attacks?utm_source=The%20People%27s%20Pharmacy%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=542553f68d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2023_06_02_03_30&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_7300006d3c-542553f68d-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D
Hi Bill, and thanks for highlighting this timely article. I was talking with someone in the office this week about how the antiviral valacyclovir is showing potential benefit in terms of preventing dementia progression in a subset of patients. One theory is that reactivated or persistent herpesvirus infection can have neurodegenerative effects on the brain. Makes sense. Varicella zoster virus is also in the herpes virus family, and likes to hang out in the nervous system, so this shingles vaccination benefit in terms of dementia risk reduction has a plausible mechanism. I’ll do a post soon...
Wow, Bill this article is quite surprising and motivating, thanks for posting it😀
Tim and I just got our booster for our booster!
Nice! Consistent with CDC and Bobby Blackhat guidelines.
I always appreciate your wisdom and understanding of your patients . We need all the support and guidance you have to offer in order to live life to the max.
Thank you Deborah, I always appreciate the collaboration!
You persuaded me to get the Prevnar vaccine. I’d had the pneumococcal vaccine and still got pneumonia so I humored you. But I used to get pneumonia easily and now I’ve had colds and bronchitis but no more pneumonia!
Hi Sue, I hope it serves you well 😊
From the manufacturer: PREVNAR 20® is Pfizer’s next-generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccine that includes capsular polysaccharide conjugates for the 13 serotypes (1, 3, 4, 5, 6A, 6B, 7F, 9V, 14, 18C, 19A, 19F and 23F) already included in Prevnar 13®. The vaccine also contains capsular polysaccharide conjugates for seven additional serotypes (8, 10A, 11A, 12F, 15B, 22F and 33F) that cause invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), and have been associated with high case-fatality rates, antibiotic resistance, and/or meningitis.
I just got my pneumonia vaccine and the nurse went though my record to confirm I was up to date on all the rest. We did the last Covid booster earlier this spring so that there will be a few months between it and any new one they recommend.
The hesitancy you highlight is so sad, if people knew how horrible death by tetanus or hooping cough can be, I don’t know, would that even change their minds?
People like Robert F Kennedy Jr. do so much damage with their anti-vaccine campaigns. I remember earlier in the pandemic hearing interviews of folks whose relatives died because they refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19 due to someone on the internet telling them not to. The loved ones they left behind sounded crushed and helpless and many expressed a desire to have someway to hold anti-vaxxers accountable. There should be a way.
Congratulations on the pneumonia vaccine! I usually joke with people coming in at 65 that it’s our birthday present to them. Of course there’s a bill to their insurance, so it’s kind of like when your young kid “gets you a bday present 😆” but you’re actually the one going through the effort and expense.
The unnecessary death, suffering, and disability from misinformation, and fear of mRNA as stoked by fringe doctors and politicians/leaders with megaphones should really expose them to liability agreed… it was just so out of step with evidence, guidelines, clinical trials, and standards of care. RFK might be a hero to some, but it’s a sad use of a powerful family name that could have been used for so much more.
Yes, turning 65 is full of surprises😄. I agree with you about RFK Jr