Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / RSV Booster Study, Sugar Tax Impact, and Healthier Thanksgiving Tips

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RSV Booster Study, Sugar Tax Impact, and Healthier Thanksgiving Tips · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Welcome back to another episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chi-Ming Chow, your daily
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  update on the latest medical and health news from around the world.
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  I'm Doctor Chi-Ming Chow, your host, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the
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  University of Toronto.
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  Today, we're diving into some new research on the respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and
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  how it affects older adults.
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  A new study suggests that some older adults might benefit from a booster shot of the RSV
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  vaccine.
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  While current guidelines recommend a single dose for older adults, there's limited
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  long-term data on how long that protection actually lasts.
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  This study, which focused on United States veterans, found that the effectiveness of the
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  vaccine slid from over 80 percent in the month following vaccination to about 60 percent after
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  18 months.
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  This decrease was even more pronounced among the immunocompromised, where effectiveness fell
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  from 75 percent to 40 percent.
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  The researchers, led by Doctor Kristina Bajema from the VA Portland Health Care System,
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  conducted a large observational study on veterans aged 60 and up.
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  They found that the vaccine's real-world effectiveness against documented RSV infection
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  dropped from 82.5 percent in the first month to 59.4 percent by month eighteen.
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  Among immunocompromised individuals, the effectiveness fell sharply from 75.2 percent to
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  39.7 percent over the same period.
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  The findings suggest that while the vaccine offers strong initial protection, there is
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  significant waning over time, especially for those with compromised immune systems.
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  The study's authors suggest that the potential benefits and risks of a second vaccine dose in
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  certain groups should be examined.
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  They believe that boosters could be beneficial for high-risk groups, such as the
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  immunocompromised.
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  The study also showed stronger protection against serious RSV-related outcomes like
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  hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions.
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  For instance, vaccine effectiveness against hospitalization was 88.9 percent at one month
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  and 57.3 percent by month eighteen.
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  Similarly, effectiveness against intensive care unit admissions was 92.5 percent initially,
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  dropping to 71.9 percent over time.
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  In an accompanying editorial, Doctor Anna Hung from Duke University and Doctor Lona Mody from
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  the University of Michigan highlighted the importance of this study.
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  They emphasized that while boosters may be needed, the current focus should be on
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  encouraging vaccination among older adults, especially those 75 years and older and those
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  with underlying health issues.
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  Despite the recommendations, less than half of adults 75 and older and just 38 percent of
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  high-risk adults aged 60 to 74 have reported receiving an RSV vaccine, according to recent
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  CDC data.
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  The study emulated a randomized trial design, comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated veterans,
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  and found that the adjuvanted RSV prefusion F protein-based vaccine was more effective over
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  18 months compared to the bivalent RSV prefusion F protein vaccine.
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  It's important to note some limitations of the study, such as the potential for incomplete RSV
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  infection records and the predominantly white male veteran population, which may impact the
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  generalizability of the findings.
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  However, the study provides valuable insights that could help shape future vaccination
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  guidance.
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  The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association is raising alarms over two critical issues facing
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  the veterinary sector in Canada: medicine shortages and staff burnout.
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  These challenges are not only affecting veterinarians but also impacting pet owners who
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  are struggling with rising costs of pet medications.
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  In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Inoka Gamage, a seasoned veterinarian with over two decades of
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  experience, highlighted the intense pressures faced by veterinary professionals.
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  At her practice, Fairlight Veterinary Services, the workload is relentless, with long hours and
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  emergency cases that cannot be turned away, leading to widespread burnout among staff.
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  The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's president, Tracy Fisher, spoke at a news
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  conference in Ottawa, emphasizing that supply shortages are driving up the prices of
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  essential pet medications, such as antibiotics, sedatives, and vaccines.
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  Fisher called on the federal government to regulate these costs and address the shortages.
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  According to Fisher, part of the problem stems from changes to Health Canada's registration
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  process, which have made it more challenging to bring medicines into the country.
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  The association has proposed several measures to alleviate the strain on veterinarians,
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  including reducing bureaucratic hurdles and costs, establishing a national testing center
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  for faster accreditation of foreign-trained veterinarians, and increasing mental health
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  support for veterinary teams.
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  Sabrina Fagnou, a veterinary technician in Saskatoon, voiced concerns about the impact of
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  these issues on client relations.
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  She noted that pet owners often express frustration at the clinic staff for the high
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  prices and limited availability of medications.
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  Fagnou pointed out that these frustrations are exacerbated when alternative medications are
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  significantly more expensive due to shortages.
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  The financial strain is further compounded by provincial taxes on veterinary medicines in
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  Saskatchewan, which increase costs once the medicines are brought in from Alberta.
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  Inoka Gamage expressed her concerns about these tax hikes, suggesting that provincial relief
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  could help reduce some of the financial pressure on veterinary practices.
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  Additionally, Canada's Competition Bureau has indicated that pet owners should have more
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  options regarding where they can fill prescriptions, such as at various pharmacies.
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  However, the availability of these drugs in Canada remains a pressing issue before such
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  changes can be implemented.
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  Let's discuss the potential impact of the sugar tax on your favorite drinks.
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  With rising concerns about public health and the cost of living, governments around the
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  world are considering measures like the sugar tax to curb the consumption of sugary
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  beverages.
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  The idea is to disincentivize the purchase of these drinks by making them more expensive,
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  thereby encouraging healthier choices.
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  In countries where a sugar tax has already been implemented, we've seen a mixed response from
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  both consumers and manufacturers.
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  Some beverage companies have chosen to reformulate their products to contain less
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  sugar, thus avoiding the tax.
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  Others have opted to maintain their original recipes, passing the increased costs onto
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  consumers.
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  The economic impact of the sugar tax can vary significantly depending on several factors,
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  such as the tax rate, the types of drinks included, and consumer behavior.
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  For instance, in the United Kingdom, the introduction of a sugar tax led to a
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  significant reduction in sugar content in many soft drinks.
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  However, the cost of these beverages for consumers did not necessarily decrease, as
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  companies adjusted their pricing strategies.
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  If you're wondering whether your favorite drink might cost more in the future, it largely
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  depends on how your local government chooses to implement or adjust such taxes.
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  It's also worth considering how beverage companies respond, whether by changing their
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  product formulations or pricing structures.
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  Ultimately, the goal of these measures is to promote better health outcomes by reducing
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  sugar consumption, which is linked to various health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart
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  disease.
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  While the financial implications are important, the broader public health benefits could be
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  significant, potentially leading to long-term savings in healthcare costs.
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  With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many of us are thinking about how to make our
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  holiday meals not only delicious but also healthy.
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  One approach to consider is making your meal "blue zone"-friendly.
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  For those unfamiliar with the term, "blue zones" are regions of the world where people
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  live significantly longer and healthier lives.
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  These areas include places like Okinawa, Japan and Sardinia, Italy, where plant-based diets
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  are the norm.
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  National Geographic fellow and author Dan Buettner has been studying these blue zones for
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  years, and he offers some practical tips on how to incorporate these healthy eating habits into
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  your Thanksgiving feast.
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  First, Buettner suggests inviting the "three sisters" to your meal.
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  In the context of Thanksgiving, this refers to beans, corn, and squash, which are traditional
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  Native American staples.
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  These foods are not only nutrient-rich but are also found in the diets of people in blue zones
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  like Costa Rica's Nicoya region and Greece's Icaria island.
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  Next, you can spotlight vegetables in your side dishes.
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  Blue zone diets are rich in leafy greens such as mustard greens, collards, and wild arugula.
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  Adding a simple herb-heavy salad or roasted seasonal vegetables can lighten up the
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  traditionally heavy Thanksgiving meal.
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  For example, Buettner shares a recipe for honey-roasted carrots, which combines carrots
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  with olive oil, lemon juice, and honey, roasted with spices for a delicious and healthy side
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  dish.
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  Moving on, Buettner recommends calling in the whole grains.
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  Instead of using refined grains, try incorporating whole-grain alternatives like
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  sourdough, barley, or wild rice.
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  These options help keep blood sugar levels stable and keep you fuller with fewer calories.
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  Even classic dishes like mashed potatoes can be updated with healthier ingredients, such as
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  using olive oil and fresh chives instead of butter and cream.
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  When it comes to dessert, Buettner advises rethinking the sweets.
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  Rather than indulging in a variety of pies, consider offering baked apples or roasted
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  squash.
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  These naturally sweet options provide a satisfying end to the meal without the excess
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  sugar.
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  In blue zones, people often enjoy a single, simple sweet after meals, which aligns with
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  healthier eating habits.
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  Finally, Buettner emphasizes the importance of strengthening ties with family and friends
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  during the holiday.
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  A "blue zone" Thanksgiving goes beyond just what's on the plate.
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  It's about the connections and activities that surround the meal.
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  Consider playing games, sharing gratitude stories, or including elders in the cooking
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  process.
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  After the meal, take a walk together instead of heading straight for the couch.
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  It's these social interactions and physical activities that contribute to longevity and
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  well-being.
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  As we wrap up today's episode, I hope these tips inspire you to make your Thanksgiving meal
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  not only memorable but also aligned with healthier, blue zone principles.
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  Thank you for tuning in to Morning Medical with Doctor Chi-Ming Chow.
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  I wish you all a happy and healthy Thanksgiving.
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  Goodbye for now, and join me next time for more updates on the latest in medical and health
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  news.