The meaning of dire straits is a desperate or extreme situation. One could consider the world right now in dire straits, but the human condition always emerges better and stronger when tested; and so it is, I hope, for us. The band, Dire Straits, is one of my favorites, and the leader, Mark Knopfler, is arguably one of the world's best guitarists. Check this out if you love listening to guitar. The song, Sultans of Swing, was performed live and is on their album, Alchemy.  So, let's use emotional alchemy, take what we have now, and change it into a better situation.

From the CDC website:

Today (October 19), CDC’s Director Rochelle P. Walensky, M.D., M.P.H., signed a decision memo allowing Novavax monovalent COVID-19 boosters for adults.

This action gives people ages 18 years and older the option to receive a Novavax monovalent booster instead of an updated (bivalent) Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster if they have completed primary series vaccination but have not previously received a COVID-19 booster—and if they cannot or will not receive mRNA vaccines.

Vaccine/booster information:

• Months ago, the US Government purchased 170 million doses of the mRNA bivalent booster from Pfizer and Moderna.  The decision to make this purchase was based on data from testing on mice; at that time, there had been no human testing data available.
• A very recent article published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that the bivalent mRNA booster is not better than the original monovalent booster.  Remember, the bivalent booster was designed to protect against the original COVID-19 strain as well as Omicron.
• Currently, Omicron is not the predominant variant.  There are offshoots that are being referred to as "Scrabble variants", so in my opinion, the above purchase may have been premature.
• When the FDA recently approved the Novavax booster, it was approved for anyone who wanted it as a booster. Subsequently, the CDC issued their recommendations for use of the Novavax booster (see above).  To date, there has been no published scientific explanation for limiting the use of the Novavax PSV booster.

What should I do now?

• If you want to see the Novavax vaccine, be made more available, call your Congressional Reps and Senators, write to the CDC, and make some noise.  I have made numerous inquiries and calls to people I know and there is some agreement that this decision is disappointing and sad.
• If you have not gotten any COVID vaccines at all, you can get the Novavax vaccine now as a primary 2-shot series.
• If you have gotten the 2-shot mRNA vaccines, but have never received any booster, you can get the Novavax now as your booster.
• However, if you are like me and have had the 2-shot mRNA series (Moderna or Pfizer) followed by one or more mRNA boosters, the CDC prohibits you from getting the Novavax booster.
• If you need to be aggressively protected from COVID, I am happy to discuss if the mRNA booster is right for you so reach out.
• In dire straits, things eventually improve, and when they do, you will hear from me.
• Unfortunately, we do not have access to pharmacy availability, so you'll need to call around if you qualify.

Finding Your Wellness podcast sponsored by the Columbia Association:

• This month, I spent 30 minutes with my friend and colleague, Dr. Mike Roizen, where we discuss his new book, The Great Age Reboot.  Will age 90 be the new 40?  With the speed at which science and medicine are moving, I think it can!
• Click here to listen to the podcast, it is well worth the time!

On a musical note: Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits

On a lighter note: Happy Halloween from my grandsons and my dog!

As a reminder, I'm no longer sending out daily updates and instead, I'm updating you periodically. I continue to enjoy writing these updates. Initially, these were only sent to my patients, however, I've been humbled to learn that, through social media, these writings have been forwarded and re-forwarded to many. This has brought me great joy to know that this simple act of sharing facts, thoughts, opinions, and hopes has touched you in some way. Hopefully I've been able to reassure you, maybe make you smile and laugh, soothe your worries, and comfort you. And maybe, just maybe, I've helped you to be in the moment!

Reach out. Stay connected. Stay home. Save lives. The power of one. Be well.

Feel free to forward this on: spread the word, not the virus.

HAO

24/7

Harry Oken, M.D.

Adjunct Professor of Medicine

University of Maryland, School of Medicine

Office 410-910-7500

Fax   410-910-2310 

Cell   443-324-0823