A Conversation about COVID vaccines with Dr. Dan McCarter of National Director of Primary Care Advancement of ChenMed

Dr. Dan McCarter was born and raised in a small town. His mother was a registered nurse. At the age of 12, he administered insulin shots to his diabetic grandmother who had bad eyes. He ended up with this responsibility because there were times his mother was working at the hospital and couldn’t do it herself. As a result, this led to a desire to serve others and practice medicine.Today, he is the National Director of Primary Care Advancement of ChenMed and practices in Virginia. 

Despite the favorable benefits of the COVID-19 vaccination being backed by science and medical professionals, many people are still dubious and afraid to get the shot. That is why Dr. Dan McCarter and ChenMed work together to educate individuals, especially senior patients who are in dire need of immunizations right now.  Dr. Daniel McCarter discusses the necessity of immunizations for everyone in this episode of Cafecito with Rosie. 

ChenMed values building relationships with its patients by assisting them and getting to know them on a personal level. As a result, nationally 70% of the patient population received flu vaccines. In addition, nationally 70% of patients are from minority groups, and 30% are eligible for Medicare or Medicaid, indicating that they have a low income. Chenmed’s patients are mostly senior citizens with moderate to low incomes. As a result, when they decide to open community vaccination clinics, they do so in a community that requires immediate assistance. Dr. Dan shared an experience with a patient that had to travel 20 miles to get a vaccination, which was a huge challenge for him as he didn’t have transportation. Fortunately, the clinic was able to arrange transportation for the patient to receive his vaccination as well as medical consultation. 

Vaccination is important, according to Dr. McCartner. He stated that everyone should get immunized as soon as feasible, and that they must do it in a fair manner. He also mentioned that, despite the fact that most vaccines are 95 percent effective against severe diseases, there is still a 5% chance of hospitalization. Wearing a mask is still required to protect unimmunized people from contracting the virus. Even Dr. Dan always wears a mask to protect his patients, who are mostly seniors.

In a few months, CDC would propose a less rigorous approach to wearing masks. If there are only 10 people at a family event, Dr. Dan says it’s fine to go as long as everyone gets vaccinated. If there are people who aren’t members of the household, protocol like wearing masks should be strictly followed. To be fully immunized, Dr. Dan recommends waiting two weeks after the second dose of Moderna or Pfizer vaccine and two weeks after the first shot of Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

People of color, according to the data, are hesitant to get vaccines. It’s a reasonable concern, especially for African Americans, who have good reason to be wary of the government. People of color, on the other hand, are more likely to catch and spread the virus because they tend to live in more crowded areas. Since people of color were included in both the intervention and placebo groups during the vaccine trial, Dr. Dan assures us that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are safe for them.

”What is the most effective vaccine?” Rosie inquired before the end of the episode. Dr. Dan replied that the best vaccine is the one you get first, and the least effective vaccine is the one you don’t get. Dr. Dan said that his 74-year-old sister-in-law received Moderna and his 72-year-old sister, who resided in West Virginia, received Pfizer. He emphasizes that both Pfizer and Moderna are 95% effective, so it makes no difference which brand you choose. Dr. Dan reminded the listeners that they should never wait for the brand they want; instead, they should take the first available option.

 

#Immunization #Vaccine #Covid19 #Senior #HealthCare #Medicare #Medicaid #Doctors
#Patients

 

Dr. Dan McCarter

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