SMH Friendly Faces

With the COVID-19 vaccines becoming more and more available to everyone, we asked some of our health care providers why they got the vaccine and what their thoughts are for our community.

For more information about COVID-19, the current priority list or to schedule your vaccine appointment online, please go to sheridanhospital.org or call our automated message line:  307.675.4471.

It may not be the most glamorous subject, but talking about colorectal cancer saves lives. Among cancer affecting both men and women, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Unlike many cancers, we have effective tools to help decrease the development of colorectal cancer and identify its presence at an earlier stage.

The risk of colorectal cancer increases with age, with more than 90% of the cases we see being diagnosed in people age 50 or older. There are many factors that are associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Some of these risk factors are related to lifestyle choices and are therefore modifiable. Maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, not smoking or chewing tobacco, avoiding heavy alcohol intake, and eating a balanced diet that limits intake of red or processed meat can all help decrease your risk of colorectal cancer.

Some risk factors cannot be changed. For one, colorectal cancer is more common as we age. It is also more common in people with a personal history of a certain type of colon polyp, called adenomatous, or a previous colon cancer. Being diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel disease, particularly ulcerative colitis, increases your risk. Most colorectal cancers are diagnosed in people who do not have a family history of colon cancer, but nearly 1 in 3 people who are diagnosed with colon cancer do have a family history of the disease. Only about 5% of cases of colorectal cancer are related to an inherited predisposition, but the rate of colorectal cancer is much higher in these individuals than in the general population, and it tends to develop at an earlier age. Two of the more common genetic predispositions are familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer (Lynch syndrome). Although we don’t understand why, African Americans have the highest colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rates of all ethnic groups in the US.

Colorectal cancer may cause symptoms as it grows. These symptoms include seeing blood in or on your stool, unintentional weight loss, a change in bowel habits and weakness or fatigue caused by a low blood count.

Screening is the practice of looking for cancer or pre-cancer in individuals without symptoms. Screening is incredibly effective when it comes to colorectal cancer because, from the time the first abnormal cells start to develop, it takes on average 10-15 years for those cells to become a colorectal cancer. Screening is one of our most effective tools for preventing colorectal cancer because it allows us to find and remove precancerous polyps and identify people who would benefit from more frequent screening. Screening can also identify small cancers that aren’t yet big enough to produce symptoms.

There are several screening tools for colorectal cancer, including tests done on your stool, radiographic studies and colonoscopy. The stool studies either look for evidence of trace blood that isn’t enough to be seen by the naked eye or look for altered DNA that can be associated with abnormal cells in the colon. Stool studies that look for blood need to be repeated every year if negative. A negative stool DNA test needs to be repeated every three years. A CT or virtual colonoscopy is a radiographic study that involves cleaning out the colon at home and then coming into the hospital for a CT scan. If any abnormalities are seen, the study needs to be followed up with a colonoscopy at a later date. If the study is negative, it should be repeated every five years. Stool studies and virtual colonoscopy are only appropriate for patients with an average risk of colorectal cancer. A colonoscopy is a procedure that is done using a small fiber-optic tube and air to examine the lining of the colon after a prep has been completed the day before.  Colonoscopy allows for the identification of polyps and removal, or biopsy if too large, at the same time as the procedure. Depending on the findings during the procedure and individual risk factors, colonoscopy may be repeated every year for high-risk individuals to a more typical range of 3-5 or 8-10 years.

Talking to your doctor about your risk factors can help identify the most effective and appropriate screening test for you. In general, screening is recommended between the ages of 50 and 75, though there are reasons to start earlier or stop later for some people. It is estimated that only about two-thirds of adults in the US are up to date with their colorectal cancer screening. Every year, about 140,000 people in the US will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and 50,000 people will die from it. Our best tool to decrease both of these numbers is screening. Talk to your doctor today.

Talk to your primary care provider about your risk factors.  If you don’t have one, check out Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Internal Medicine practice or call: 307.675.2650

By David Nickerson, MD – Medical Director of Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Urgent Care

Navigating the healthcare system can be difficult.  Even in a small town like Sheridan, there are multiple options for care and it may not always be clear where to start.  Sheridan Memorial Hospital offers three different points of access for general medical care.

Internal Medicine

The Internal Medicine Clinic is located in the Outpatient Center at 1333 W. 5^th Street and is the best location for treatment of chronic medical problems, such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, and diabetes.  There is also a focus on health maintenance and prevention.  The Internal Medicine Clinic uses the team model, meaning that you will have a primary doctor or advanced practice clinician but can also see one of the colleagues with whom they work closely if they are not available.  In addition, patients can also be referred on to the appropriate specialist, if needed.

For the safety of patients and staff, patients with symptoms that could represent COVID-19 (Fever, chills, body aches, cough, runny nose, sore throat, vomiting, diarrhea, headache, or changes in the sense of smell or taste) are currently being referred to the Urgent Care or Emergency Department.

To make an appointment at the Internal Medicine Clinic, patients may call 307.675.2650.

Urgent Care

Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Urgent Care recently moved to 1435 Burton Street, the former location of Bighorn Mountain Medicine.  It is the ideal location for immediate treatment of new medical problems, such as colds, flu, ear/nose/throat issues, musculoskeletal injuries, skin issues, urinary problems, stomach issues, and headache.  It is also the best place to be seen for non-life threatening COVID-19 concerns.

Laboratory and x-ray equipment are onsite and common prescription medications can be dispensed during your visit through local pharmacies.  Finally, if you have a medical problem and are unsure where you should be seen, the Urgent Care is an excellent starting place and can refer you to a specialist or transfer you to the Emergency Department.

No appointment is necessary at the Urgent Care and you may walk in or visit www.SheridanUrgentCare.com to save your spot.  The Urgent Care may also be reached at 307.675.5850.

Emergency Department

The hospital’s Emergency Department is located at 1401 West 5^th Street.  It is the best place for treatment of life-threatening medical problems and injuries such as heart attack, stroke, abdominal pain, dislocations, severe fractures, and severe pain.  Patients are prioritized based on the severity of their condition.  Onsite consultations from surgeons, cardiologists, internists, pediatricians, orthopedists, OB/GYNs, and other specialists can be obtained as appropriate, as are admissions to the hospital and transfers to larger facilities if needed.

When medical issues arise, knowing the most appropriate location to seek care can save you time and money.  We wish you the best of health, but Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s outpatient services are here and ready to serve you when needed.

For more information visit Urgent Care vs Emergency Room.

By Sierra Gross Stallman, MD – Medical Director of Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Internal Medicine Practice

We have all been affected by Covid-19, which is why we look for safe and effective ways To protect our families, communities, businesses and mental health by reducing disease burden, keep us from getting Covid-19, and allow us to resume social functions: Vaccines.

Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have been successful in developing Covid-19 mRNA vaccine. Researchers have been studying mRNA vaccines for decades, refining and accomplishing a standardized process for safe and timely production. Having this technology readily available to use allowed for rapid response to the pandemic in developing a safe and effective Covid-19 vaccine.  Even though scientists promptly replied to demand with scaled, standardized vaccine development, mRNA vaccines have been held to the same rigorous safety and effectiveness standards as all other types of vaccines to get approval or emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

What is mRNA? It is a messenger that provides information to our immune system.  Once recognized, our immune system uses the information as a template to produce antibodies that can detect and destroy the virus causing Covid-19 for future infections. This takes the body a few weeks to complete, so it is possible that a person could be infected with the virus and get sick from Covid-19 just before or just after vaccination because the vaccine has not had enough time to provide protection. Covid-19 mRNA vaccine does not contain live virus; rather, it has harmless protein pieces found on the virus’s surface. The vaccine is given as an injection into the upper arm muscle in two doses separated by ~21 days for Pfizer and ~28 days for Moderna.  This two-dose regimen conferred 95% protection against Covid-19 in persons age 16 or older. Side effects from the vaccine are similar to that of other types of vaccines and largely consistent with the appropriate response of the body’s immune system.  Transient and mild local reactions such as injection site tenderness, redness, fever, fatigue, headache, and joint pain can occur.   The CDC is monitoring reports of allergic reactions, and as of December 23, 2020, there were 21 cases of anaphylaxis out of 1,893,360 doses given.  Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening allergic reaction that can occur rarely after vaccination, with onset usually within minutes. All reactions were treated and recovered. Worldwide there have been over 44 million vaccine doses administered in over 50 countries.

Who should get vaccinated? The goal is for everyone to get vaccinated against Covid-19 as soon as enough vaccine is available.  Covid-19 can have severe complications, including hospitalization, admission to ICU, intubation or mechanical ventilation, or death, particularly to those at-risk.  At-risk persons include any adult older than age 65 and adults of any age with certain underlying conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and smoking.

Due to the limited supply of vaccines around the country, Wyoming has a phased approach to ensure equity in vaccine allocation and distribution. The prioritization list can be found here and on the WY Department of Health website.  Sheridan County is currently in phase 1b, including people who are 65 years of age or older. Sheridan Memorial Hospital is working closely with Public Health to distribute vaccines to our community as quickly and efficiently as possible.  We anticipate it will take about two months to get through this current phase based on allocation supply.

If you fall into this category, call 307.675.4471 to schedule a vaccination time.

As always, reach out to your healthcare provider with questions or concerns regarding your health and the Covid-19 vaccine.  Thank you, Sheridan, for sticking together, supporting our community, and doing your part to reduce the spread.

Through January 22, Sheridan Memorial Hospital (SMH) has provided COVID-19 vaccinations to approximately 1,000 people in Sheridan County. That includes SMH employees and the priority populations of essential workers and people over the age of 70.

The side effects from the second dose of the vaccination received can include arm soreness at the injection site, minor swelling, chills, fever, fatigue and headaches. A few SMH providers have provided a short video documenting their experience receiving their second dose.

Currently, all doses of the vaccine SMH has received or is scheduled to receive is already spoken for. This includes 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine scheduled for delivery on January 25 or 26.   

SMH is accepting calls to place essential workers and people over age 70 on a wait list. Once more information is available regarding additional vaccine, SMH will be working through the wait list to conduct call backs and schedule additional vaccination appointments.

If you have been designated an essential worker or are over the age of 70 and you want to receive the vaccine, please call 307-675-4471 and leave your name, date of birth and phone number. You will receive a call back within the next business day to be placed on the wait list.

Click here for more information on the COVID-19 vaccine in Sheridan County

Click here for the Wyoming Department of Health Phase 1a and 1b COVID Vaccination Priority List

By Erica Ridgeway, BSN, RN – Sheridan Memorial Hospital Trauma Program Coordinator

Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Trauma Program reviews cases for patients who have suffered a trauma of any kind.  Along with this, we review and develop policies and protocols to ensure best practices are followed and that each traumatic injury receives the most appropriate care.  We also work to provide education about current policies, changes in policies, and changes in best practices. This includes doing community outreach and information related to injury prevention.  By following these protocols, Sheridan Memorial Hospital has earned the designation as an Area Trauma Hospital from the Wyoming State Trauma office.

Injury prevention is an important part of a successful trauma program.  One of the most common traumatic injuries in any trauma registry are falls resulting in fractures, therefore making fall prevention and safety extremely important.

The National Coalition on Aging notes that one in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year.  Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury in older adults and are the most common cause of trauma-related hospitalizations for that population as well.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of five falls results in a serious injury such as a broken bone or a head injury.  More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling.

There are many conditions that can increase the risk of falls:

• Lower body weakness & impaired balance: As we age, many of us lose some coordination, balance and flexibility, oftentimes due to inactivity.
• Use of medications:  Some prescription and even over-the-counter medications can cause dizziness and dehydration, making you more likely to fall.
• Vision problems and changes:  In the aging eye, less light reaches the retina, thus making tripping hazards and obstacles harder to see.

If you have concerns about falling or other issues, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor or healthcare provider.  They can evaluate your risk of falling and help implement specific things you can do.  They can also refer you to a physical or occupational therapist who can help with balance and strength training. Tai Chi is an exercise that is often taught to help with balance and stability.  There are many fitness programs offered both in-person and virtually that are designed for older adults.  Additionally, some physical or occupational therapists will even come into your home and help assess safety and tripping hazards.

If you have had a fall or have a nagging ache, pain or physical impairment preventing you from going about your daily activities, Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Wyoming Rehab may be able to help you.   Their physical therapists offer free screens and treatment recommendations for non-emergent physical impairments and injuries.

Some things you may want to consider implementing in your home include:

• Get rid of things you could trip over and reduce clutter; rugs, in particular, can cause falls.
• Add grab bars inside and outside your tub or shower and next to the toilet.
• Put railings on both sides of stairs.
• Make sure your home has lots of light by adding more or brighter light bulbs.
• As the weather is getting colder, make sure you have appropriate footwear with a good grip.
• Devise a plan with family or friends for snow and ice removal around your home’s exterior.

So again, reach out to your healthcare team!  They can assess not only your risk of falling but also what steps to take to prevent a fall, as well as assess your ability to participate in a fitness program.  Implementing the appropriate safety and health measures can greatly reduce your risk of falls and injury.

Diabetes is different for everyone, at every age. As we celebrate National Diabetes Awareness Month, SMH focuses on the impacts diabetes has on one’s life and the challenges faced. Meet our own smiley, sweet Megan Ripley who works as a Chemo Nurse at Welch Cancer Center. Megan shared with us her Wellness Journey, with Diabetes, and we find it an important one to share with all of you as we navigate this month, together.

While many of us prepare for cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and copious amounts of pie, one-third of the US populations is concerned with managing their blood sugar while still enjoying their meal. With much to be grateful for this time of year, we take a moment to appreciate the stories and knowledge surrounding the staff at Sheridan Memorial Hospital. This Diabetes Awareness month, we are excited to share with you how one of our own employees faces and maintains her wellness while facing the everyday realities of Type 1 Diabetes.  Megan Ripley is an employee who has not only pursued wellness as a hobby, but has adopted it as her way of life. Even though she has to navigate through obstacles every day, from constantly maintaining healthy blood sugar levels to the everyday challenges of being a Chemo Registered Nurse, Megan strives to maintain her health and she does it all with a beaming smile on her face.

Megan Smith’s journey towards wellness started at the early age of 9, when she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, a hormone needed to allow sugar to enter cells in order to produce energy. At the discovery of her condition, she feared how diabetes might affect her everyday life. Megan often wondered about what restrictions she would have to implement into her daily routine, or what opportunities she might miss out on because of her condition. However, Megan was fortunate enough to grow up just outside of Cheyenne during her early childhood and because of this, she was able to attend the Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes. “The doctors and nurses at the center were great and they always had the most cutting edge technology so I was able to get the best treatment possible” Megan shares. The Barbara Davis Center didn’t just have an impact on Megan’s physical health, but they were also able to provide her with tools to help maintain and enhance her mental health. Megan explained “I always wanted to grow up to become a nurse, but with my diabetes, I didn’t know if that would ever be possible. When the nurses in the center found out this was a fear of mine, many came forward to share with me that they too suffered from diabetes, and they showed me how they navigated throughout their day as a nurse with diabetes. The team showed me that I could still be the person I dreamed of becoming and I really can’t thank them enough for all the help they have given me throughout the years.”

The team at the Barbara Davis Center helped to give Megan the confidence that she could still live the life she wanted, but now she needed to figure out how she was going to balance it all. Megan went to work finding what other methods and tools she could use in her life to stay healthy and happy. One of the struggles that Megan was immediately faced with was what kind of exercise regimens she could use. High Intensity Exercise wasn’t on option because even if Megan liked it in the first place, and she didn’t, it could cause complications with her blood sugar due to Adrenaline production. You see, when Adrenaline (Epinephrine) is released from nerve endings or the Adrenals it acts on the liver, promoting increased sugar production as well as the breakdown and release of fat nutrients which travel to the liver and are converted into sugar and ketones. Simply put, Adrenaline raises blood sugar considerably, which for diabetics such as Megan who can’t naturally produce insulin, can lead to Hyperglycemia, causing damage to the vessels that supply blood to vital organs. So any strenuous exercise that would cause a spike in Adrenaline was unsafe for Megan to participate in. And if that wasn’t a large enough hurdle, Megan also was trying to find a way to manage her diet so that she could still enjoy all the foods she enjoyed so dearly, without causing massive spikes or falls in her blood sugar levels.

Megan was committed to finding a solution. She knew what a great influence exercise and diet would have on her physical and mental state, so she never quit looking for answers. Eventually, she found resolution to her exercise dilemma when she realized just how much she liked doing long-distance, moderately paced cardio. Walking, hiking, and biking were also activities that Megan loved doing because they could be done with others. None of them required going to a gym, none of them would produce adrenaline if paced correctly, and all of them promoted muscle growth and weight loss. As for her diet, Megan discovered portion control, a dieting strategy that she could utilize in order to keep eating her favorite foods, by simply adjusting and managing the portion sizes of her meals throughout the day

Once Megan knew how she was going to balance her exercise and diet, all she had to do was find a way to consistently motivate herself to continue eating healthy and exercising on a regular basis. Her motivation to stick to her diet is basic: “If I eat right and stick to my diet then I can stay healthy, but if I’m not willing to maintain my diet then my physical health will be seriously negatively affected.” Megan’s motivation to exercise is a little less cut and dry. Megan relies, for the most part, on friends and family to help her stay motivated throughout the week. On week days, Megan’s biggest motivator is her Dog Laya who is always eager to remind her about their daily walk together, they rarely miss a day, considering Laya is known to not taking no for an answer. A few days a week Megan also gets the opportunity to go on walks with friends from work, who she also credits as being some of her greatest supporters. On the weekends, Megan is motivated by excitement and adventure with her husband John and of course, Laya. Megan is always eager to plan out her family’s adventures and you can bet they’ll be doing a whole lot of hiking, canoeing, backpacking, or fishing with a whole lot of fruit snacks to keep her fueled. Megan’s most recent adventure sent her on a rigorous 16 mile hike, with almost 2450’ vertical gain to the beautiful and secluded Lake Angeline, high in the Bighorn Mountains.

Megan’s advice to all those who have a desire to get well was this: “Start small and set goals that are attainable, all of us progress at our own rate and your rate is completely unique to you, so don’t compare yourself to anybody but yourself. If you need a donut, then eat a donut, but eat less of something else or just exercise more to compensate for it. It’s all about balance. Do not underestimate the power of thinking positively, mental health is just as important as physical health, and being happy and thinking positively can take you just as far as any workout routine.”

We’re so very proud to see how far Megan has come from where she once was and we can’t to see where she goes. We’d like to thank Megan for her inspiring story and providing such positive insight into living a balanced life with Type 1 Diabetes. We appreciate you leading by example and for showing us all what it really means to take wellness into our own hands. Sheridan Memorial Hospital honored to have you as a member of our staff and we are grateful for everything you have done and continue to do for this hospital. Thank you, Megan.

Your first impression when meeting Dr. Elise Sylar, the newest addition to the Internal Medicine team at Sheridan Memorial Hospital, may be that she is sharp as a tack. But the more you get to know her, the more you’ll come to realize that her heart is just as strong as her intellect. And although she may be brand-new to SMH, it’s clear that Dr. Sylar is by no means new to loving and serving the people around her.

Elise’s interest in healthcare began when she started volunteering at Camp Wapiyapi, a summer camp for children who have pediatric cancer in Estes Park, Colorado. There, Dr. Sylar formed close connections with campers and had the opportunity to leave a lasting, positive impact on the lives of the kids she interacted with. The experiences and memories Elise got from Camp Wapiyapi stirred an even greater desire to help and make a difference in the lives of others. So, when the time came for her to head to new horizons, Dr. Sylar was intent on entering the medical field, with hopes of specializing in pediatrics.

Following her graduation from Kelly Walsh High School, Dr. Sylar packed up and headed from her hometown of Casper to Laramie to attend The University of Wyoming, where she graduated with a degree in Physiology and a minor in Neurology. Before moving on to Med school, Dr. Sylar took a year to get some hands-on experience at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, researching CAR T-Cell Therapy in an Oncology Lab working to find a cure for Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Dr. Sylar then applied and was accepted into the University of Washington School of Medicine, and thanks to the WWAMI program, Dr. Sylar got to complete her first year of med school in Laramie. During her attendance at Med School in both Laramie and Seattle, Dr. Sylar was given the opportunity to study and practice in all fields of medicine. When the time came to decide what she was going to specialize in, she decided against her original idea of pediatrics. Dr. Sylar explained, “I always thought I was going to go into pediatrics, even when I finished studying at UW.  I was certain I wanted to become a Pediatric Oncologist.  Still, the longer I studied at the University of Washington, the more I realized why adult medicine was a much better fit for me.  My favorite part of healthcare is to form that connection between physician and patient.  It’s empowering to see people become more knowledgeable and further involved in their healthcare thanks to the advice and resources that I can provide them. The problem I had with becoming a pediatrician was I knew forming a good connection with a child would be a much more difficult process than with an adult. I also wouldn’t be able to see my patients take an active role in their health because they simply don’t have the ability to be independent the way adults do.”

Dr. Sylar finished up Med School with a focus on Internal Medicine, and now, and after finishing her 3-year residency at the University of Arizona, she’s excited to get started building relationships with her patients right here in Sheridan.

Dr. Sylar shared, “I was always planning on coming back to Wyoming after I finished my schooling, in part because of the WWAMI program, but more than anything, the reason I came back was that I wanted to give back. I felt like supporting rural healthcare was the best way I could give back to the state that has provided me with so much throughout my life.”

Sheridan became the ideal community for Dr. Sylar because it suited both her needs and her spouse’s needs. “Sheridan Memorial Hospital offers a very robust healthcare system, which surprised me considering how rural the community is, it houses lots of innovative technology and offers practices which you wouldn’t typically find in rural communities, like vascular surgery, for example. It feels like the perfect place for me to begin my career, and since Sheridan houses a reasonably sized airport, it provides my husband the opportunity to continue his career as a pilot,” she added.

Outside of her profession, Dr. Sylar loves to spend her time hiking, mountain biking, and road cycling. And with the Big Horn Mountains just a few miles outside of town, it seems like Sheridan truly is the perfect place for her and her husband Ken to both work hard and play hard.

 “I’m so excited for the opportunity I have to make a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of the people here in Sheridan.  And I’m even more excited to start building great relationships, not only with my patients but with all the kind and welcoming people here at SMH.”

Call 307.675.2650 and choose Option 4 to schedule your appointment with Dr. Elise Sylar in Internal Medicine today.

By Sierra Gross Stallman, MD – Medical Director for Sheridan Memorial Hospital’s Internal Medicine practice

With our sunny 90 degree days and all the attention currently on COVID-19, it seems impossible to fathom flu season is coming near.  Uncertainty about the future seems to be the one sure thing in the coronavirus pandemic.  However, a few things are clear: the virus is circulating through the population and flu season is only a few months away.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 62,000 people died and up to 740,000 people were hospitalized due to flu complications between October 2019 – April 2020.  Hence, it is crucial we continue to be aware of, attempt to prevent and treat the flu, especially now with the COVID-19 pandemic wreaking havoc in our world.

Flu and COVID-19 can share many, though not all, symptoms including fever, chills, cough, sore throat, muscle or body aches, headaches, and fatigue.  While as a community, we are working on limiting the spread of COVID-19 through multiple methods including proper hand hygiene, getting vaccinated is already an established prevention for flu. It is the best option to prevent, control, and decrease the socioeconomic burden of influenza.  The influenza vaccine is more important now than ever as the Novel Coronavirus continues to spread.    

Even though the flu shot is not perfect at preventing the flu, it can lower your risk of developing serious complications.  Flu vaccinations have been shown to reduce deaths, ICU admissions, and overall duration of hospitalization.  Within a population, the more people that receive the vaccine, the better it becomes at preventing the flu and its complications.  Therefore, everyone who is able to get the flu vaccine, generally those six months or older, should get vaccinated, not only for your own health, but also for those around you.  It is especially important for those at high risk of flu complications to get vaccinated, which includes: children 6 months to four years old, pregnant women, people older than 50, immunosuppressed individuals, and those with certain chronic diseases.  Keep in mind that many people who are at high risk for developing a serious case of the flu are considered high risk for severe complications of COVID-19.  In addition, health officials have confirmed that coinfection of flu and COVID-19 is possible and was seen at the end of the last flu season. 

To protect our community through this coming flu season, it is important to consider timing of vaccination.  Once people are vaccinated it takes about 14 days for the immune system to generate a protective response.  The standard flu shot cannot give you the flu as it does not contain live virus, though it is possible to catch the flu before your vaccine takes effect.   Studies have detected a steady decline in vaccine protection the months following administration.  By six months after vaccination, flu vaccine effectiveness can be reduced by more than half. Therefore, individuals should try to get the vaccine just before flu activity starts, so that they are optimally protected for the duration of the season.  Flu activity begins to increase in October and November, peaks between December and February and lasts until April and May.  CDC guidelines are currently recommending people get vaccinated in September or October.  This is based on data from previous flu seasons, suggesting tens of thousands of influenza cases and hundreds of deaths can likely be avoided if older adults wait until October to get their immunizations.  While COVID-19 has been compared to the flu in regards to symptoms, they are not the same, and the flu vaccine cannot prevent COVID-19.  With the Novel Coronavirus in our community and flu season coming upon us, getting the flu vaccine is your best first-line defense against getting sick.  Please help us protect you, your loved ones, and those around you.  Get vaccinated!