Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Counterfeit Medications, Senior Care Tips, and Covid-19 Vaccine Changes

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Counterfeit Medications, Senior Care Tips, and Covid-19 Vaccine Changes · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

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  Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, here to bring you the latest updates in the world of health and medicine.
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  Today, we'll dive into a concerning development regarding counterfeit medications entering the
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  United States drug supply.
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  Let's get started.
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  Recently, the Food and Drug Administration has issued a warning about fake Ozempic drugs found
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  in the United States drug supply.
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  Ozempic, an injectable medication approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been a
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  target for counterfeiters.
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  Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, notified the FDA that several hundred units of
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  counterfeit Ozempic injections were circulating in the U.S.
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  market.
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  These counterfeit products were distributed outside of Novo Nordisk's authorized supply
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  chain.
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  The FDA has taken swift action, seizing the identified counterfeit products and advising
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  patients, wholesalers, retail pharmacies, and healthcare professionals to check any Ozempic
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  products in their possession.
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  Specifically, any medications labeled with lot number PAR0362 and with a serial number
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  starting with the first eight digits 51746517 should not be used, sold, or distributed.
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  Although six adverse event reports have been associated with this lot, none appear to be
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  directly linked to the counterfeit products.
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  However, the FDA and Novo Nordisk are conducting tests to determine the identity,
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  quality, and safety of these seized drugs.
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  The investigation is ongoing, and the FDA continues to emphasize the importance of
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  purchasing medications through legitimate channels.
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  Dr.
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  Brett Osborn, a neurosurgeon and longevity specialist, highlights the dangers of using
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  cheaper, counterfeit versions of medications like Ozempic.
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  He stresses that these knock-offs are often synthesized in non-medical environments,
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  lacking the necessary quality assurance and control, making them inherently risky.
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  Dr.
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  Osborn advises that pharmaceutical-grade versions should only be used when prescribed by
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  a licensed doctor.
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  Ordering medications online from unregulated sources poses significant risks, as these
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  products may not meet safety standards.
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  Dr.
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  Osborn warns against purchasing Ozempic or its knock-offs from online platforms without a
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  valid prescription from a licensed pharmacy.
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  He emphasizes that medications should be prescribed by qualified healthcare providers,
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  ensuring patient safety remains a top priority.
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  This situation serves as a stark reminder that while medications like Ozempic can be powerful
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  tools for managing health conditions, they must be used correctly and sourced responsibly.
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  Always consult with a healthcare provider who has the proper training and experience in using
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  these medications to avoid dangerous outcomes.
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  Charlie Boddie, a 66-year-old regular at the St.
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  John's Retired Citizens Association, believes aging well is all about mindset.
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  "Use it or lose it," he says with a grin, tapping his temple to emphasize the power of
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  the mind.
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  But Boddie, who was seen clutching a guitar at a seniors' jam session, acknowledges that
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  healthy aging is not just about hobbies and laughter.
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  Sometimes, it's about practical changes like removing stairs.
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  Marilyn Lythgoe, another member of the Retired Citizens Association, shares her experience of
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  making her home more accessible.
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  "We have a ramp outside our house," she explains.
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  "If anybody in a wheelchair wants to come visit, then our house is open.
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  Just as easy to build a ramp as it is to build a set of stairs, right?"
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  Susan Walsh, the seniors' advocate for Newfoundland and Labrador, supports Lythgoe's
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  proactive approach.
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  In a recent report, Walsh highlighted that nearly three out of four seniors surveyed had
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  not made any modifications to their homes to prepare for the future.
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  She pointed out the direct link between falls and the need to enter long-term care
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  facilities.
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  Many seniors, according to Walsh, face barriers such as cost, lack of guidance, and uncertainty
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  about where to start when considering home modifications.
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  "We know that seniors want to age at home.
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  Eighty-four percent reported this in our consultations," she said.
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  To address these challenges, Walsh is calling on the Newfoundland and Labrador government to
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  provide guidance and financial support for home improvements.
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  Walsh recommends the launch of a how-to guide and an awareness campaign to help seniors plan
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  preventative measures in their homes.
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  She also suggests the government introduce an interest-free loan program for home
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  modifications and cover the cost of small assistive devices like hand railings for
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  showers under its prescription drug coverage.
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  Walsh warns that the province's long-term care homes are already at capacity and will not be
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  able to accommodate the expected influx of residents in the next decade.
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  She urges the government to act quickly, stating, "They have a very small window.
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  They have about five years before we're going to see significant demand coming for more
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  institutional care."
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  Elaine Aylward, a director with the retirees' association, echoes the sentiment of planning
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  ahead.
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  At 69, she designed her home to be fully accessible over a decade ago.
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  "When I walked in the door, I said, 'the next step for me is Caul's,'" she reflects,
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  highlighting her commitment to aging in place.
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  Now, let's turn our attention to the ongoing discussions at the United States Centers for
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  Disease Control and Prevention regarding Covid-19 vaccination guidelines.
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  The CDC is contemplating a shift from its current universal recommendation for annual
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  Covid-19 shots for everyone aged six months and older, to a more targeted, risk-based approach.
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  This proposed change would align the United States more closely with the vaccination
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  strategies of other countries like the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
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  These nations focus their recommendations on older adults and individuals with compromised
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  immune systems, rather than the broader population.
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  Under this risk-based recommendation, the CDC would continue to advise two doses of the
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  Covid-19 vaccine annually for individuals over 65 years of age and those with weakened immune
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  systems.
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  This would also potentially extend to adults and children who are at high risk due to
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  increased exposure, such as healthcare workers or children in daycare.
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  The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the CDC, has been
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  evaluating this policy shift since November.
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  While there is significant support for a risk-based approach, some committee members
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  express concern about the complexities of communicating and implementing such a
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  recommendation.
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  Dr.
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  Denise Jamieson, a committee member, voiced her surprise at the consideration of a risk-based
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  approach, noting past challenges with implementing similar strategies in the United
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  States.
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  She also raised concerns about potential impacts on insurance coverage if the
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  recommendation is softened for certain groups.
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  Another point of debate is the definition of higher risk.
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  According to CDC data, a staggering 74 percent of adults have at least one health condition
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  that increases their risk for severe Covid-19.
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  Despite the decrease in Covid-19-related deaths, with the disease being the tenth
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  leading cause of death in 2023, it remains a significant health threat.
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  Dr.
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  Jamie Loehr and Dr.
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  Oliver Brooks, members of the committee, also shared their perspectives.
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  While supportive of the risk-based model, they acknowledged concerns regarding the feasibility
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  of its implementation and its potential impact on long Covid cases, which vaccination helps
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  prevent.
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  On the other hand, Dr.
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  Noel Brewer pointed out the lack of evidence suggesting that risk-based recommendations are
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  less effective.
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  Despite differing opinions, the majority of the working group studying the Covid-19 vaccine
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  recommendations for the upcoming fall and winter favor the transition to risk-based
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  guidelines.
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  The committee plans to continue its discussions and is expected to make a formal decision in
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  June.
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  As always, the goal is to ensure the safety and well-being of the population while adapting to
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  the evolving landscape of the pandemic.
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  And that wraps up today's episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  I hope you found these updates informative and helpful.
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  Join me again tomorrow for more insights into the world of health and medicine.
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  Stay safe and take care!