Since new strains of COVID-19, XBB.1.5, and the variant before it, JN.1, are the dominant strains infecting people, the CDC recommends people ages 12 and older to get the latest mRNA vaccines for COVID-19: Pfizer COMIRNATY bivalent, Moderna’s SPIKEVAX, or NOVAVAX. The older vaccines, including the bivalent boosters last year have been discarded, no longer used.
The previous bivalent vaccines targeted Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 and the original SARS-CoV2 viruses. The latest vaccines are effective against the new XBB.1.5 and JN.1 strains, and also against the other earlier variants of SARS CoV2 viruses.
These new vaccines are for those whose previous boosters were given more than 4 months ago or earlier, whose protection has waned.
The CDC and Yale infectious specialists and a host of other medical centers are reminding people that the latest strains are more easily transmissible, and that although the symptoms are milder, the infection today can still lead to hospitalization and death. And there is also the complication of developing Long COVID, a debilitating chronic sequela of this viral infection which could last for years.
The CDC reported more than 200,000 deaths since January of 2022, 600 of them adolescents and ages 19 and younger.
The risk and danger of COVID-19 are far from over. Let’s not be complacent or arrogant. Wisdom and humility to this stealth enemy of our time can save lives, including ours and those of our loved ones’.
Cybercrimes
There has been more than 125 percent increase in cyber-attacks globally since 2020. The most common type is Phishing (attacked impersonating someone else via email or other electronic means to steal information), with more than half a million victims in a year. Nearly 1 billion emails were hacked and data breaches cost businesses an average of 4.35 million two years ago, and about half of American internet users were affected that same year, about 97 victims per hour. There were 236.1 million ransomware attacks globally in the first half of 2022. Poland has the highest score in its ability to fight cybercrime. UK has the highest number of cybercrimes, followed by the USA. The 3 types of cybercriminals are pure hackers, identify thieves and cyber terrorists.
Using strong passwords and changing them often, not opening any emails or calls from strangers, and having high degree of suspicion index, including not opening your door to people you are not expecting, or strangers at your door, and not opening emails even if the sender has a famous logo asking for your personal data are some useful safety tips. And as important is having a home security alarm system and security cameras around your home, which will scare potential home invaders. A popular inexpensive DIY system is SimpliSafe, and wifi-security cameras linked to cellphones are available for much less than $100, for monitoring your home while away, even abroad. In this day and age, these security measures are vital to our peace of mind, for mental health.
Sudden Infant death
Sudden Unexplained Infant Death (SUID) is still a nightmare to parents, especially to mothers. In the United States alone, there are about 2,300 babies (usually between 1 and 4 months old, more commonly boys) who die from Sudden Unexplained Infants Death each year.
This happens in spite of “knowledge of and intention to follow safe sleep guidelines for infants, mothers often engaged in non-recommended sleep practices,” a series of small focus groups and surveys showed.
This study also revealed that “among 25 mothers, 80% reported holding or rocking their infant to sleep, and 76% reported feeding their infant to sleep,” as reported by Lara McKenzie, PhD, MA, of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and colleagues.
While all of the mothers in the survey displayed knowledge of the ABCs (Alone, Back, Crib) for safe infant sleep, many do not follow these recommendations by the AAP [American Academy of Pediatrics], which increases the infant’s risk of SUID [sudden unexplained infant death].”
“Nearly all of the mothers (92%) reported using at least one product not approved as infant sleep space by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, including a car seat (56%), swing (48%), and/or an infant carrier worn on an adult’s body (40%),” according to the report.
Using terms such as “suffocation,” may help parents understand the risk better and thus follow the AAP guidelines for safe sleep for infants.
Smoothies for health
Instead of those marketed fruits and veggies capsules, which are processed products, smoothies taken once or twice a day, using various types of berries, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, chia seeds, finely crashed walnut, acai powder, protein collagen powder (optional) and pineapple juice as the liquid mixer, are fresher, and more effective, as vigorous antioxidants, and “pain-reliever” for those with arthritis. This is a healthy beverage that has eliminated the need for pain pills among many arthritis patients after drinking it for 8 weeks or more. (And, of course, as always, in contradiction: soft drinks of any kind are toxic to our body).
Veggies called Nightshades (Solanaceae family) are inflammatory food items which aggravate arthritis. They are: tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplants, various peppers (but not peppercorns), curries, paprika, potatoes (but not sweet potatoes), Goji berries, Ashwagandha. Those with arthritis are advised to avoid these food items.
The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people to live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation, or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable to or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
