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Originally Posted by Cybersprings
Touche' but dammit you over came my resistance to posting.
Please try to ignore my long history of sarcasm and take these as a serioius questions. I truly have no idea what the answers are.
You had a full career as a doctor. The RSV vaccine is new, but I am guessing RSV is not.
So, how much education would the average family doctor have received in the last year or two on RSV and the vaccine?
Do they go back and take classes on it?
Or do they do their own research?
What research materials do they have access to that the average person does not as a result of their professional status?
If one doctor tells their patient "RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. You are in excellent health and have no co-morbidities that would cause you to be at increased risk other than being 60, therefore lets wait a couple of years before you get the vaccine and make sure it is truly safe over the long run" and another Dr. said
Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms. Most people recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious. But better safe than sorry.
Would they both be right? Or would a doctor never make one of those two statements?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu from NYC
Good post and waiting for Golfing Eagles to respond. Would like to ask him another question. Have you or members of your family gotten the vaccine so far or are you planning too? As I mentioned earlier in this thread it is a question to ask of our doctor later this month at our next appt.
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Ok, that question is legitimate enough to warrant a serious answer.
I've been retired 8 years and have not yet looked into the new RSV vaccine, although I believe it is a traditional viral vaccine, unlike COVID. Also, the apparent discovery/infection of adults with RSV is new to me----it has historically been considered a disease of infants and newborns. Personally, I haven't decided whether or not to get this vaccine---but as I already advised everyone else, I'm going to discuss it with my physician, who will be up to date on it.
No, physicians don't "take classes" on every new vaccine or medication. Usually reading the product insert is adequate. There is a publication call "The Medical Letter" that generally does a short review of new meds and vaccines. Beyond that, most of us subscribe to either PubMed or Up to Date----2 professional medical sites that are extremely valuable (not the lay person versions).
Could you get different advice from 2 doctors? Of course---there is an old joke that put 10 doctors in a room and you'll get 10 different opinions, especially with something new. But most vaccines and new drugs are pretty thoroughly tested before they gain FDA approval---no, they're not always 100%, especially when there is an urgent need and they rush something through, but in general they do a good job.
As this develops I'll probably look at the incidence and prevalence of RSV in the over 65 population, and try as best I can to determine if it's for real or just hype.