Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / COVID flu combo vaccine, eye health tips, and social media laws for kids

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COVID flu combo vaccine, eye health tips, and social media laws for kids · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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Good morning, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chiao.
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I am your host, Doctor Chi-Ming Chiao.
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Each day, we bring you the latest updates on medical and health news from around the world,
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powered by artificial intelligence.
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Today, we have an exciting docket lined for you.
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We will be discussing a promising new COVID flu combo vaccine.
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The effectiveness of eye exercises and blue light blocking glasses, the impact of
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smartphones and social media on teen mental health, and how cannabis may help aging
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Americans manage pain.
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So let us dive right in.
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First up, we have some promising news from the world of vaccines.
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A combination COVID influenza vaccine is apparently one step closer to hitting the
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market.
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Moderna, the biotechnology company developing the experimental vaccine, announced on Monday
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that in phase 3 clinical trials, their mRNA 1083 vaccine achieved a better immune response
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than other vaccines.
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This combination vaccine includes MRna 1010.
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Moderna's vaccine candidate for seasonal influenza and MRna 1283.
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The company's next generation COVID 19 vaccine candidate.
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According to a press release Street's pursuit of a flu and COVID 19 combination vaccine,
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which could potentially change the way we manage the respiratory illness season.
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Francesca Sadia, chief medical affairs officer at Moderna, stated that with mrna 1083, They
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may be able to not only offer the convenience of dual protection in a single shot, but also
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provide enhanced immunity compared to today's standalone vaccines against the 2 respiratory
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diseases that place the largest burden on health care systems.
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Sadia continued to express hope that improved convenience would lead to improved compliance,
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thereby advancing public health and lowering rates of severe outcomes related to COVID 19
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and flu.
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Moderna is currently the only company with a positive phase 3 flu and COVID combination
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vaccine according to their press release.
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The phase 3 trial conducted by Moderna was a randomized double blinded study that included 2
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independent groups, each consisting of 4000 adults.
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One group included adults aged sixty five and older who compared the experimental vaccine to
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flu zone HD an enhanced influenza vaccine and spike vaccine, Moderna's currently licensed
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COVID 19 vaccine.
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The 2nd group which included adults aged 50 to 64 years compared MRna 10h3 to flu addicts, a
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standard dose influenza vaccine, and spike vaccine, In both groups, MRna 1083 resulted in
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statistically significantly higher immune responses against 3 influenza virus strains.
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H1N1, H3N2, and Bvictoria.
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And against SARS Cove 2.
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Amri Grammar a Virginia based immunologist who was not involved in the trial or the vaccine
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development, commented on the findings.
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Grammar noted that Maderna's results indicate that the dual SARS Cove 2 influenza
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immunization is no less effective than 2 single shots.
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This makes it simpler for more Americans to protect themselves from these 2 serious
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infections, especially those 65 and older.
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Who are most at risk for COVID and flu related deaths.
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In 2023, 90% of death from COVID and 70 to 85 percent of deaths from the flu were in those 65
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and older.
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Doctor Mark Siegel clinical professor of medicine at NYU Lagoni Medical Center and a Fox
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News medical contributor also shared his insights.
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He mentioned that Moderna has been working on combining a vaccine to fight both the latest
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coronavirus subvariant and the years flu strain.
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According to doctor Siegel, the phase 3 clinical trials look excellent, safe, and
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effective, with more antibodies made against both viruses than when either immunization is
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given alone.
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Doctor Siegel further explained that the effectiveness is likely due to the vaccine
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waking up the immune system to both viruses at the same time, causing a stronger, more varied,
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and more durable response.
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He emphasized that this is particularly good news for people who are wary of too many
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vaccines, even if they believe in them.
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The most commonly reported adverse reactions were injection site pain fatigue, myalgia, and
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headache.
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Overall, the experimental vaccine showed an acceptable tolerability and safety profile
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according to Moderna.
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As Amri Grammar pointed out, the phase 3 trial included thousands of people with a modest
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adverse event profile.
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But one can never predict rare adverse events.
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Doctor Segal also commented on the vaccine safety profile.
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Noting that contrary to some public pronouncements, this has been shown to be an
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overall very safe technology.
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Though it does cause short term side effects like a sore arm and rarely, something more
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pronounced or long lasting.
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Looking ahead, Moderna plans to present the phase 3 clinical data at an upcoming medical
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conference and submit it for publication.
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The company will also engage with regulators on the next steps.
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Furthermore, both Novavax and Pfizer BioNTech have ongoing clinical trials of SARS Cove to
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influenza vaccines.
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A spokesperson from Novavax mentioned that their phase 3 COVID 19 influenza combination
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study is on track to start in the second half of this year.
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Moving on to our next topic.
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Do eye exercises and blue light blocking glasses actually work?
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This has been a question on many people's minds as they seek ways to protect their vision in an
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increasingly digital world.
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Benjamin Botsford, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at UMass Chan Medical School,
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offers some insight into this matter.
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You may have seen advertisements claiming to eliminate the need for eyeglasses through
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vision therapy or vision training, essentially eye exercises, These exercises include putting
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pressure on or Chi-Ming the eye, eye movement exercises, or even straining to read by using
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the wrong prescription glasses to train the eyes.
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However, as a professor of ophthalmology and an eye doctor who has seen thousands of patients,
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Botsford States that no study to date shows strong evidence that these exercises can
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eliminate the need for glasses or offer any long term significant benefits.
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The science simply isn't there.
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This lack of evidence holds true for virtually all eye conditions and diseases, including
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common afflictions such as myopia or near sightedness, which refers to when closer
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objects are clear, but distant objects are blurry.
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It is also true for far sightedness, also called hyperopia, which happens when objects
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are clear in the distance, but blurry up close.
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In order these eye exercises help with presbyopia or the need for reading glasses,
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which generally begins at around age forty.
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With presbyopia, the patient is neither nearsighted nor far sighted.
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And requires no glasses for distance vision.
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Yet, as the lens of the eye becomes stiffer over time, the eye struggles to focus on fine
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print and smaller text.
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This decline will continue with age, and with it, the need for stronger reading glasses will
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increase.
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Although some methods claim to alleviate the need for reading glasses, there is limited, if
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any, evidence, to suggest benefit.
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That said, there are things everyone can do to maintain healthy eyes.
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For instance, All children should have a baseline eye exam during infancy and then
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again, between six and twelve months of age.
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They should have a 3rd exam between ages 1 to 3, and then a more formal exam between ages 3
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to 5 to check for I miss alignment.
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Ocular health, and the potential need for glasses.
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Failing to address eye misalignment or to provide glasses for a child who needs them, may
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lead to abnormal visual development or amblyopia, which is a weak, lazy eye.
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Progression of nearsightedness in children can be slowed by taking breaks and avoiding hour
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after hour on the phone or computer.
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Limiting up close reading time outside of school, screen time, or otherwise, may help
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slow the progression of nearsightedness in children.
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Prolong screen time can cause eye strain and dryness.
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Botsford suggests following the 202020 rule.
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Take 20 second breaks every 20 minutes to look 20 feet away from your device.
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Focus on relaxing the eyes and blinking.
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The occasional use of artificial tears, which can be bought over the counter at drugstores
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may help with dry eye.
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Spending more time outdoors is also good for your eyes.
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It has been correlated with a reduced incidence of nearsightedness in childhood.
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However, one caution staring directly into the sun, even briefly, is dangerous and can cause
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permanent retinal damage.
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Chow let us talk about blue light blocking glasses.
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Adds for these glasses claim they prevent headaches and eye strain and improve sleep.
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However, some studies, including a large randomized control trial, found that blue
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blocking lenses did not alter symptoms of eye strain.
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Additionally, there is only limited evidence to show that these glasses improve circadian
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rhythm.
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Be wary of supplements or natural remedies that claim to be a cure all for any eye condition.
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These assertions are not backed by rigorous scientific evidence and there is no proof they
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improve vision, reduce eye floaters, or eliminate the need for glasses.
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The same is true for claims that essential oils or other topical substances may improve vision.
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While omega threes have been previously touted for dry eye symptoms, there is no strong
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evidence that they help, although this does not discount their many other health benefits.
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One study did demonstrate that the progression of intermediate age related macular
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degeneration slowed in some patients after using over the counter vitamins, specifically
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the ARS 2 formula.
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However, these vitamins were not beneficial in patients with early or no signs of the disease.
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There are some ocular conditions where vision therapy may be recommended including issues
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such as misalignment of the eyes and trouble converging on objects up close, which can
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result in symptoms such as diplopia or double vision.
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Ultimately, these conditions are best addressed by your eye doctor and are unrelated to the
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need for reading or distance glasses.
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For overall eye health, a diet rich in vegetables and other healthy foods may help
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reduce the incidence of some eye diseases.
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Some studies also show that exercise is associated with a reduction in risk for
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developing glaucoma or age related macular degeneration.
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Cigarette smoking is associated with several eye diseases, including age related macular
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degeneration.
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So quitting or avoiding smoking is critical.
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Finally, do not rub your eyes.
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It can lead to increased irritation.
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Removing makeup at nighttime helps minimize eyelid irritation and do not sleep with contact
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lenses in.
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It can lead to corneal infections and other conditions that could damage your eyesight.
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A number of states are moving to regulate social media use among children and teenagers.
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New York State is the latest with a new law that would allow parents to block their
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children from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm.
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About 1 in 5 American adolescents report having anxiety and depression, and centers for disease
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control and prevention data show teenage girls are facing record levels of sadness and suicide
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risk.
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It all comes amid a larger conversation about social media and smartphones.
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On a recent morning in Durango, Colorado, students file into Mountain Middle School, but
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before entering, fourteen year old Julia Fernandez shuts off her cell phone and puts it
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in her backpack.
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So this school has a ban on cell phone use.
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How is that going?
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Julia Fernandez A student at Mountain Middle School says, I personally agree with the cell
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phone ban.
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We have a lot of people with anxiety and depression.
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But I feel like it gives it a pause.
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A day without a cell phone, it's just a pause because that is not the reason we have these
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issues.
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But it is a factor.
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Mountain Middle School first enacted the policy in 2013 when Shane Voss became head of the
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public charter school.
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Voss says we really wanted to teach students to dedicate their full energy and be present, and
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it started with the cell phones.
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8th grade teacher Emma Boone was fully on board with the policy after she observed how cell
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phones affected students at a former school she worked at.
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Boon recalls.
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If they did not know where to start with an assignment rather than turn to a friend to ask
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for help or ask me for help, they would just take out their phone and do something
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distracting to manage that discomfort.
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Boss says the ban has cut down classroom distractions and increased student achievement.
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But when it comes to mental health, he notes it is not a panacea to just look at phones and
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then all of a sudden, everything will be fine.
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I think there are a lot of factors that are attributed to this rise in anxiety and
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depression.
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But this has accelerated it.
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There is no question.
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School cell phone bands are becoming more common across the nation.
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Last year, Florida became the first to enact statewide phone bans during class at public
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schools.
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Several other states are considering taking similar action.
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Social psychologist, Jonathan Height, author of the anxious generation, has been a prominent
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voice in this debate.
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Heide argues that smartphones and social media are largely to blame for the youth mental
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health crisis.
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He states this is the first time that a generation has faced a threat entirely on
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social media.
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Hide points to evidence suggesting a direct correlation between heavy social media use and
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increased levels of depression among teenagers.
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There is direct correlational evidence that the more you use it, the more depressed you are.
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It is especially heavy users more than 4 hours a day.
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Those girls are three times more likely to be depressed than medium users.
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So it is anxiety and depression, also self harming suicide.
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All of those things skyrocket after 2012, he explains.
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Despite his strong stance, Height faces considerable pushback from other researchers.
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Doctor Michael Rich, director of the digital wellness lab at Boston Children's Hospital,
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studies the impacts of online media on kids' physical and mental health.
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Rich argues he ignores a lot of the positives that have come with these technologies that
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kids have learned how to use in very positive ways to connect with others over great
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distances to understand other cultures and other peoples.
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So beyond just not being able to get rid of them, we probably should not get rid of them.
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What we really need to do is help our children of any age use these powerful tools in ways
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that are healthy, smart, and kind.
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Donna Boyd, author of it is complicated.
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The social lives of networked teens also pushes back against HEIGHTS recommendations.
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Boyd argues, I do not think that a quick fix of taking the technology away or blocking people
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will do a darn thing.
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I think that is about assuaging the anxiety of middle upper class parents.
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Boyd adds the internet mirrors and magnifies the good, bad, and ugly I think it absolutely
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amplifies things.
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And so I think that we have to acknowledge that, yes, young people are genuinely
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struggling.
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But trying to make the tools for which they are simultaneously exposed to the world and the
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tools for which they are Chi-Ming out to people unavailable is not going to make the mental
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health crisis go away.
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Boyd, a mother of 3, warns that restricting technology could backfire.
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Disconnecting vulnerable teens from supportive online communities and making it more difficult
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for them to reach out for help during a mental health crisis.
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As a country, we have very few mental health resources for young people, and most of them
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require your parents insurance.
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And if your parents are a part of the problem or you are afraid of telling your parent that
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you are struggling, you are not going to ask them for therapy.
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I want to make certain that young people have the tools to be able to get help when they need
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it.
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She says.
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Jean Twenge, a psychologist at San Diego State University, frequently collaborates with height
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and has faced similar criticism.
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Twenge published Igen in 2017.
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A book arguing that spikes in teenage depression could be linked to smartphones and
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social media.
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She states it is 7 years later, and we have a lot more data and teen depression has continued
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to go up.
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And still, we need to wait.
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What are we going to wait for?
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Teen depression is now at 20%.
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Should we wait until it is half?
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Should we wait until it is a third?
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Today, 95% of American teenagers have access to smartphones, and about a third of them report
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being on social media almost constantly.
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However, several studies examining the impacts on overall teen mental health have produced
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mixed results.
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A report from the National Academy of Sciences in December concluded that contrary to the
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current cultural narrative that social media is universally harmful to adolescence, the reality
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is more complicated.
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Social media can offer both connections and a safe space for young people especially for
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lgbtq plus teens, but it can also encourage harmful behaviors and take the place of sleep,
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exercise, and other social activities.
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Additionally, frequent social media use may lead to worse body image for some teen girls
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and make them more vulnerable to eating disorders.
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Back in Durango, Colorado, Will and Amber Blanchard's 2 kids, nine year old Piper, and
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thirteen year old Ben, are not allowed their own phones.
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Will Blanchard explains we want to keep our kids engaged.
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We want them to be active.
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Just like the old saying, a tired kid is a good kid.
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The Blanchards believe this is what childhood should look like.
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Family bike rides to a nearby river where Bend practices fly fishing.
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An occasional selfie on a parent's phone is called for.
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The Blanchards are not anti technology, but they say in the absence of a smartphone, Ben
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has found an outlet in fishing, and he has gotten really good at it.
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Amber Blanchard says he finds tranquility in being in the water, and I just cannot imagine
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him finding tranquility in a phone.
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Both Ben and Piper attend Mountain Middle School where the no phone policy mirrors rules
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at home.
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But even at the age of nine, Piper says she has noticed TikTok use outside of school causing
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problems.
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I have been seeing kids in other classes in 4th grade that have been on social media, and they
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have been trash talking each other, and they have been not friends anymore.
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She says.
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Ben says he has little interest in social media, but does think he is close to being
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ready for a phone.
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For music, photos, texting, or, like, communication with your parents, or friends, or
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family, he explains.
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When asked if his parents have talked him through their reasons for not allowing phones,
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Ben adds, yes, yes, very much.
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I completely trust them.
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While the science on smartphones and social media is still up for debate, Will and Amber
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Blanchard say they are only worried about what is right for their kids.
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Will Blanchard concludes what is best for one family that is for them to judge.
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That is their choice, and we have ours.
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It is a choice millions of American parents are now struggling to make for their own families.
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Our final topic for today addresses an evolving issue in the realm of pain management for
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senior citizens.
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The Biden administration is working to classify cannabis as a Schedule III drug, which could
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potentially make it more accessible for medical use.
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This is a significant shift from its current classification as a Schedule Y substance, a
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designation it has held since the Nixon Administration.
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Schedule eye substances are considered to have no medical use and a high potential for abuse,
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placing cannabis in the same category as heroin, LSD, and ecstasy.
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According to a recent report by the society for the study of addiction, more Americans are now
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using marijuana daily than those who drink alcohol every day.
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One demographic that has seen a sharp increase in cannabis use is senior citizens over the age
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of sixty five.
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Many of these older adults are turning to cannabis as an alternative to prescription
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opioids to manage chronic pain, nausea from cancer treatments, and other ailments.
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Doctor Zachary Palace, a board certified geriatrician, has been vocal about the benefits
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of cannabis for the elderly.
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He stated there is very real psychopharmacology associated with cannabis, and I hadn't learned
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anything about that in medical school.
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As I started to learn more about it, I realized it's a medication that can really be used very
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safely in the geriatric population.
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Despite the promising benefits, many older Americans are facing difficulties accessing
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medical cannabis.
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Howard Kessler, founder of the Commonwealth project, is working to make medical marijuana
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more widely available, especially for senior citizens.
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Every day, we are letting people suffer when we don't have to.
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Kessler said.
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Other doctors are also specializing in treatment using cannabis.
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OBGYN, Doctor Mesh.
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Melanie Bone has reported daily success in treating senior citizens with marijuana.
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Her patients have shared that it helps them sleep better, makes them feel less drowsy
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compared to other prescription drugs, and has even allowed some to stop taking morphine or
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opioids altogether.
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1 of doctor Moe Bohn's patients remarked.
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For 40 years, I always had pain with something and now I don't have it.
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The reclassification of cannabis from a schedule I to a Schedule 3 substance would
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acknowledge its medical use while still recognizing potential risks.
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Robert Kent, former White House General Counsel of National Drug Control Policy explained that
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Schedule 3 means there is a medical use for the substance unlike Schedule 1, which is more
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restrictive.
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This move could open the door for more research and potentially make cannabis a viable
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alternative to opioids for pain management.
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I'm particularly interested in research where we can look at the use of cannabis as an
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alternative to prescribed opioids for treating pain and other medical conditions Kent said.
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He emphasized that one of the most promising benefits could be the reduction of opioid
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overdoses.
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Which continue to claim over a 100,000 lives annually in the United States.
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However, not everyone is convinced Kevin Sabette, president and CEO of smart approaches
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to marijuana, cautions that the rescheduling might not lead to the research boom many are
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hoping for.
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I'm not sure that rescheduling, a lot of people think we're going to have research falling from
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the sky as a result.
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I hope they're right.
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But I'm a little skeptical because I think it takes money more than anything for that
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research to happen.
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And so far, bio companies, they don't see marijuana as a super viable product, Sabahat
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said.
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Sabet's organization believes cannabis should not be a substitute for medicine before
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treatments are FDA approved.
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Maybe it's possible that the opioid manufacturers wouldn't want it.
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I think we're all open to it.
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Let's study it, but let's get the facts out right now.
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75% of people think that it's harmless.
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Sabay added.
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He also warned that cannabis can stay in the system for a long time.
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And may cause mental health issues.
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In contrast, Robert Kent pointed out that many senior are already using cannabis from
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dispensaries in states where it is legal.
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We should all understand there are seniors who are using They're going to these dispensaries
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in states that have legalized the use.
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And so it's already occurring.
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I think, actually, Howard's proposal would control it in more significant way.
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Kent said.
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The Commonwealth project proposes a large scale demonstration model in Massachusetts similar to
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Medicare.
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This initiative would see major payer providers guiding and educating caregivers paying for
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approved cannabis therapies for people 65 and over and recording the results.
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All it's going to do is in a structured, observed, and controlled way validate what we
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already know.
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Said former Blue Cross Blue Shield, Massachusetts CEO William Vanfossen.
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While the debate continues, it is clear that the potential reclassification of cannabis
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moved.
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That's all for today's episode of Morning Medical with Doctor Chow.
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I hope you found our discussion as insightful and informative.
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Join us again tomorrow for more updates on the latest in medical and health news from around
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the world.
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Until then, stay healthy and take care.