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Topics

Paul G. Auwaerter, MD, MBA; Paul P. Doghramji, MD, FAAFP; Aruna Subramanian, MD

Cases and Conversations™: Applying Best Practices to Prevent Shingles in Your Practice

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP sat down with Medical Economics for an exclusive Q&A. 

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP explains the CDC's latest vaccine recommendations 

Study finds spreading medical misinformation is low on the list of reasons for disciplinary actions against physicians in recent years.

COVID-19 medical misinformation prompts much hand-wringing, but little hand-slapping for docs

At the Financial Times Global Pharma and Biotech Summit 2024, a panel discussed the potential of mRNA technology in developing cancer vaccines amid distrust from the public.

Vaccines in the post-COVID-19 world: Distrust amid promising developments

AAFP president discusses teaching newer physicians, expanding voices in medicine, and the upcoming flu season.

Doctors, patients and medicine benefit when family physicians serve as mentors

CDC leaders remind doctors they are the front line clinicians to get shots in arms for fall respiratory illness season.

Physicians can influence patient decisions on vaccines against flu, COVID-19, RSV

The CDC's latest recommendations for COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccines

Starting the vaccine conversation as respiratory illness season ramps up

Approaching the vaccine conversation after the COVID-19 pandemic

Addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation

Why should patients seek vaccinations from family physicians over retail pharmacies?

The importance of maintaining the physician-patient relationship

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently 

, including additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain patients and expanded recommendations for pneumococcal vaccinations. 

, a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and medical director at Integrated Health Partners of Southern California explains what's changed, talks general 

 hesitancy and misinformation and emphasizes the importance of the physician-patient 

Videos

The CDC has revised vaccine guidelines, introducing extra COVID-19 vaccine doses for specific groups and broadening pneumococcal vaccine recommendations. Dr. Jay W. Lee, a board member of the AAFP and medical director at Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, elaborates on these updates. He addresses general vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, underscoring the critical role of the physician-patient relationship in navigating these challenges. The updates aim to enhance patient protection and improve public health outcomes through informed vaccination practices.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, explains the CDC's recently updated recommendations for COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccinations and explains how to best handle patient concerns and misinformation.

What everyone needs to know about the CDC's latest vaccine recommendations - and how to approach patient concerns

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, explains the importance of a usual source of care and the physician-patient relationship in overall care.

Dr Jay W Lee Medical Economics Interview Clip 6

, a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and medical director at Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, talked about why it's important to maintain lasting 

 with patients, and how it can improve trust and overall care.

Building enduring patient relationships is crucial for enhancing trust and improving healthcare outcomes. Strong patient-physician connections foster open communication, leading to better understanding of patient needs and more personalized care. These relationships also contribute to increased patient satisfaction and adherence to treatment plans. By prioritizing long-term engagement, healthcare providers can create a supportive environment that encourages patients to actively participate in their health management, ultimately resulting in improved health outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, explains the importance of consistency and maintaining a relationship with a patient over time.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, explains why family physicians should still offer vaccines, despite alternatives.

Dr Jay W Lee Medical Economics Interview Clip 5

, a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and medical director at Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, explains the significance of family physicians administering 

, despite a growing number of alternative options. 
Importantly, he cites the 

 patients have with their family physicians, and how that contributes to increased levels of trust and the ability to both ask and answer questions. 

Family physicians play a crucial role in vaccine administration, even with the rise of alternative options. The established relationship between patients and their family physicians fosters trust, enhancing communication and understanding. This trust enables patients to feel more comfortable asking questions and receiving answers, which can lead to higher vaccination rates. The personal connection and continuity of care provided by family physicians are significant factors in maintaining effective vaccination practices and ensuring patient compliance.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, advises family physicians to continue offering vaccines, explaining the benefits compared to alternatives.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, talks addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

Dr Jay W Lee Medical Economics Interview Clip 4

, a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and medical director of Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, talked about how physicians can best respond to patients who express concerns regarding 

Physicians are encouraged to engage empathetically with patients expressing vaccine concerns, addressing misinformation with evidence-based information. Building trust through open communication and understanding patient perspectives is crucial. Physicians should stay informed about the latest vaccine data and guidelines to provide accurate information. Utilizing motivational interviewing techniques can help guide patients towards informed decisions. Collaboration with public health entities and leveraging community resources can enhance vaccine confidence and uptake. Continuous education and training for healthcare providers on effective communication strategies are essential in addressing vaccine hesitancy.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, shares how physicians should properly approach patient concerns regarding vaccines.

Addressing vaccine hesitancy and misinformation 

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, explains how the approach to the vaccine conversation differs in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr Jay W Lee Medical Economics Interview Clip 3

 conversations differ in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how physicians should best approach them, with respect to the 

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the dynamics of vaccine conversations between physicians and patients. Physicians are now tasked with addressing heightened vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, necessitating a more empathetic and informed approach. Building trust is crucial, as is understanding patients' concerns and providing clear, evidence-based information. Physicians should leverage their role as trusted healthcare providers to foster open dialogue, emphasizing the importance of vaccines in preventing disease. Effective communication strategies are essential to navigate the complexities of vaccine discussions in the post-pandemic landscape.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, explains how physicians should approach the vaccine conversation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, discusses how to approach the topic of vaccines during respiratory illness season.

Dr Jay W Lee Medical Economics Interview Clip 2

, a member of the board of directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and medical director at Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, shares his approach to the 

 conversation with patients at the start of respiratory illness season. Consistency and an ongoing 

Dr. Jay W. Lee emphasizes the importance of consistency and a strong physician-patient relationship in vaccine discussions, particularly at the onset of respiratory illness season. As a board member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and medical director at Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, he advocates for a proactive approach in addressing vaccine hesitancy. By fostering trust and maintaining open communication, physicians can effectively guide patients in making informed decisions about vaccinations, ultimately enhancing public health outcomes and reducing the burden of respiratory illnesses.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, talks about appropriate and effective ways of initiating the vaccine conversation during respiratory illness season.

Jay W Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, discusses the CDC's latest vaccine recommendations

Dr Jay W Lee Interview on vaccine recommendations

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently 

, a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) board of directors and the medical director at Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, discussed the most recent changes to these recommendations, including additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain patients.

The CDC has updated its recommendations for COVID-19 and pneumococcal vaccinations. These changes include additional COVID-19 vaccine doses for specific patient groups. Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, a board member of the AAFP and medical director at Integrated Health Partners of Southern California, elaborated on these updates in a recent interview. The adjustments aim to enhance protection for vulnerable populations and align with evolving epidemiological data. Healthcare providers are encouraged to stay informed about these updates to ensure optimal patient care and vaccination strategies.

Jay W. Lee, MD, MPH, FAAFP, discusses the CDC's latest guidelines regarding the COVID-19 vaccine and expanded recommendations for pneumococcal vaccines.

What is the current situation with the COVID vaccine, and what are come common objections?

Is pandemic-era misinformation still a problem - and how can objections be overcome?

How has COVID vaccine hesitancy affected other vaccines?

 have been proven to be safe and effective, but many patients still harbor concerns. These concerns can affect whether they give the vaccine to their children, or even their opinions on childhood vaccines. 

Steven. P. Furr, M.D., president of the AAFP, discusses the current status of the COVID-19 vaccine uptake, reasons behind hesitancy, and what physicians can do to 

Physicians need to understand the reasons behind COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy so they can better address it.

How to overcome COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy

 The study that we looked at examined the impact of using a high-dose influenza vaccine on vaccine effectiveness against a range of outcomes. It’s one of the approaches that has been taken to improve vaccine effectiveness and immune responses in seniors. There are certainly new vaccine technologies in development. But Dr. Russell, looking into your crystal ball, what future developments would you like to see in our influenza vaccine development? What does the future look like for influenza?

 I’m not completely sure where it will go, but one of the things with flu technology is that it’s relatively slow. They usually decide which strains are going to be in the flu vaccine sometime in the late winter. And with a lot of the egg-based vaccines, it still takes a long time to grow. We aren’t necessarily nimble enough to be able to say, “There’s a brand new strain.” And some years, they guess wrong. It would be great if we could figure out a way to truncate that so we could be more likely to guess right. I’d like to see that.

It would be great if there were a universal vaccine, so that if it’s a miss, it isn’t so left to the vagaries of which H3N2 or H1N1 strain is going around, and something that might apply if a brand new strain fell out of the sky. Those would be some of the things I’d be excited about, along with a vaccine that wouldn’t necessarily require administration every year. If you look at things like Healthy People 2000 or Healthy People 2020 [U.S. 10-year benchmarks and objectives], when you look at things like the pneumococcal vaccine that you might be giving every 10 years or maybe giving once, it’s easier to achieve that particular metric when you’re only having to give a one-time vaccine. We have to go back to the well and start over again every year with regard to getting our population vaccinated.

 There’s definitely still room for improvement. Before we wrap up for today, what other take-home messages or implications can you take from our discussion?

 For the people who might be doubters of the high-dose flu vaccine, it’s hard to argue about a study that looked at 22 million people. That isn’t a study of 3,000 people that could be impacted by the vagaries of a thousand different things. It studied 22 million people and looked at the population and outcomes we care about. That’s a really powerful thing. Maybe we can put this to rest and concentrate on some of our other clinical questions in the influenza space.

 That’s all the time we have today. I’d like to thank Dr. Russell for joining us and all of you for tuning in for this very interesting discussion ahead of this year’s influenza season. Thank you so much.

 Dr. Lee, it was great to be with you today. Thank you.

Jason Lee, M.S., Ph.D.(c), and John J. Russell, M.D., discuss the future of influenza vaccination and provide key takeaways from the study.

Future of Influenza Vaccination and Takeaway Points

 Obviously, we’ve been talking a lot about influenza, but we can’t forget about COVID-19. We’re still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we wouldn’t expect it to disappear this fall. What are your thoughts about cocirculation of both COVID-19 and influenza? Also, from a practice perspective, how do you treat patients who may be coming in with both flu and COVID-19 and having to juggle the different vaccinations on top of all of that?

 We’re looking at the study out of Wuhan, China, very early on, but the twindemic never came. There were some studies in April out of Northern California that talked about 20% of people having multiple viruses early on, but we haven’t seen the full force of it. But some of the good changes that have come out of it include moving multiplex testing into primary care offices. If I’m unsure whether this person has COVID-19, influenza, or RSV [respiratory syncytial virus], if I can do one swab and have an answer, that might be really helpful. Maybe I’d use some of the new medicines we have for COVID-19. Maybe I’d use some of the medicines we have for influenza. I don’t have a treatment for RSV, but having a diagnosis makes it much less likely that I’m going to give someone antibiotics that they don’t necessarily need. Moving diagnostic testing from the ED [emergency department] to a primary care office can lead to better care for our patients.

Vaccine experts discuss coinfection with COVID-19 and influenza.

Vaccines

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