3 Vaccines to Consider This Fall.pptx

1. 1 LOS GATOS, CA | CAMPBELL, CA | SARATOGA, CA

2. 2 3 Vaccines to Consider This Fall

3. 3 Introduction Leaves are falling, the weather is getting cooler, and with the change of the seasons, Americans face an increasingly complex landscape of respiratory diseases and seasonal issues. However, it does not have to be quite as dismal as it sounds, as there are many vaccination options that are available. Traditionally, the advice in years past has been relatively simple: get a flu shot.

4. 4 The Flu Vaccine: Your Fall Essential The advice revolving around the flu shot remains unchanged. “Everybody should be getting a flu shot,” emphasizes Dr. Paul Offit, a prominent expert in vaccines. If you are eligible as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), meaning you are six months of age or older and do not have any extenuating circumstances preventing you, you should absolutely be getting this vaccination. Due to the fact that the effectiveness of the flu vaccine fluctuates from year to year, getting a seasonal flu shot gives you a boost (between 40-60%) in preventing flu illness. Despite the variable effectiveness, getting vaccinated is crucial due to the fact that by protecting yourself, you are in turn helping the more vulnerable populations who are more susceptible to severe illness, hospitalization, and even death to stay safe.

5. 5 The Ongoing Challenges of COVID-19 This vaccine is being classified as a vaccine versus a booster, due to the ever-changing variants of COVID-19 (much more like the flu.) In June, the FDA’s expert vaccine panel recommended an update from the then-current vaccine targeting Omicron variants BA.4 and BA.5 to focus on a new variant from the XBB family. Some believe healthy individuals who have completed their primary vaccine series and received at least one booster dose may not require another booster. This decision is mostly due to the fact of the robust T-cell response generated by the earlier vaccines which is still strongly working against new variants.

6. 6 Here is what Dr. V has to say about getting your COVID-19 vaccine: Based on my 20 + years as a physician, I am a firm believer in vaccinations. In addition to the initiatives for clean drinking water, an effective wastewater management system, and the advent of antibiotics, vaccines have had an unimaginable positive impact on avoiding serious illness and saving lives. My family, my mom, and I have received every vaccine for which we have been eligible. I would advise all of my patients to make sure you are vaccinated. However, expanding of booster recommendations may depend on evolving data regarding virus mutations and hospitalization rates among vaccinated individuals. Vulnerable populations should keep a close look at the most up-to-date recommendations for added protection.

7. 7 RSV: A New Addition to Your Seasonal Vaccine Lineup With the protection of our oldest and youngest populations in mind, two types of preventative measures have been approved: For Older Individuals: Pfizer has an FDA-approved vaccine for individuals aged 60+ and more information on this new vaccine can be found here. Monoclonal Antibody for Infants: Recently Sanofi and AstraZeneca have developed nirsevimab, a monoclonal antibody approved for babies under eight months old. If you have any questions about your unique situation be sure to advise your obstetrician and/or pediatrician.

8. 8 Got Questions? Reach Out! We know here at Los Gatos Doc that the vaccination landscape can be one of a very intricate design, and that each of us has different needs when it comes to our own recommendations. When you are ready to schedule your seasonal vaccines with a primary care physician in Los Gatos, Saratoga and Campbell, CA, or even just to have your questions answered, give us a call today: 408-502-6040 and we will discuss the best ways for you to safeguard not only yourself but our community at the start of this new season.

9. 9 OUR KEY PHILOSOPHY “ ” What I try and do with every patient I see, in the first few minutes, is just let them say what’s on their mind and there’s a lot of study that show we don’t do that enough in medicine. These are small things that you can’t pick up really from just filling out a form. That’s why it’s really important to spend time, talking and listening and building that relationship. ~ Dr. Arun Villivalam, M.D.

10. 10 SERVICES WE PROVIDE 01 05 Physicals – All Ages Blood Work A regular physical provides a record of your overall health and can be a useful tool in identifying any changes in your health.  Blood work is an important resource to help determine any conditions that could be causing the symptoms that are bringing a patient to the doctor, 02 06 Lifestyle / Stress Management Chronic Care Management Learn to manage stress by scheduling a wellness checkup and learn preventive strategies. Get medical care for preexisting or long term illnesses, such as asthma, hypertension, depression and cirrhosis.  03 07 Wellness Visits / School Physicals Women’s Health Best primary care physician in Los Gatos provides Womens Health screening from our practice in Los Gatos, CA A regular check up provides the opportunity to monitor your child’s growth and development and to safeguard against any potential issues.  04 08 Men’s Health Medicare Annual Wellness Visits Men’s health screenings will catch any conditions in early stages where preventative medicine can be used to treat or manage a condition before it progresses. Medicare encourages its members to review their health annually, and to take care of any potential medical concerns before they develop into something more serious. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque enim nisl, vulputate quis mi sed, dapibus hendrerit turpis. Praesent at volutpat neque, ut rutrum odio. Sed quis tincidunt dui, in vulputate arcu.

11. 11 MEET DR. ARUN VILLIVALAM Dr. Arun Villivalam is a concerned and caring family physician and primary care doctor serving the community of Los Gatos, CA. Dr. Villivalam attended Thomas Jefferson University, where he received his medical degree, and completed his residency in family medicine at Cook County Hospital.