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Beginning October 1, 2020, we will be reopening our South Durham office for routine and acute care visits. Please note any updates in your future clinic appointment with us. For your safety, we will continue COVID patient and staff screening as you enter the building. While we will provide an expedited process for you to see us at South Durham, we ask that you anticipate to arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled visit. More specific details will be communicated.
We strongly encourage all of our patients to receive an influenza vaccine this year. The options for influenza vaccine this year include either a quadrivalent vaccine or a high-dose quadrivalent vaccine. For patients over 65 or those with chronic illness, we prefer the high-dose quadrivalent vaccine. Because of potential shipment delays and increased demand of the high-dose quadrivalent, if the high-dose vaccine is not available, the quadrivalent vaccine is very acceptable and should not delay you from getting vaccinated.
Flu shots will be offered at scheduled office visits. For your safety and to reduce wait times, flu shots will also be offered at dedicated times. Appointments can be made by calling 919-660-6746. Your local pharmacy or residential health clinic may have the high dose quadrivalent vaccine available. No order is needed for the flu vaccine.
Over the next several months, you may experience symptoms of a respiratory illness and it will be difficult to differentiate between a common cold, influenza or COVID. They are caused by different viruses. Fever, cough or shortness of breath are the primary symptoms of COVID. Loss of taste or smell appears to be unique to COVID. The Center for Disease Control has a helpful article that list the similarities and differences between flu and COVID. https://www.cdc.gov/flu/symptoms/flu-vs-covid19.htm
Supportive treatment including rest and fluids is recommended for viral respiratory illnesses. There is currently no FDA approved treatment for COVID. Antiviral treatment for influenza may be appropriate for those at high risk for complication. Appropriate testing can help identify either influenza and/or COVID. Please contact your physician to discuss questions you may have.
To help monitor flu type symptoms, the Duke Community Health Watch program is available. It is a symptom monitoring program that improves the follow-up of patients during the pandemic response. Anyone with flu-like symptoms or concern for exposure to COVID-19 is free to enroll in this study. Symptoms are tracked twice daily for 28 days using a cell phone or computer. For additional contact information for this program, visit https://covidwatch.dukehealth.org or call 919-684-7979.
We want you to feel safe as you monitor and track your symptoms. Symptoms of shortness of breath may be associated with low oxygen levels and reflects an increased risk for complications. In addition to the use of a symptom tracker, we will be distributing a pulse oximeter that will help measure blood oxygen level and pulse rate. We will distribute a pulse oximeter (one per household) at the time of your flu shot. If you have already received your flu shot, please contact the office to get a pulse oximeter if you do not have one.
Be safe during the flu season by wearing a mask, washing hands frequently and maintaining social distancing. |
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