From: Robert Callen To: Dr. Maura Isles Subject: Re: Physical Exams
Apologies accepted.
I am perfectly aware that I have a bias against all doctors at this point, however your rather summary email rather gave the impression that you are stepping in to feel good about yourself since we never had to bother with physicals before.
You might want to ask questions before you send this type of emails, because this is not a group that volunteers information. Being in the sharing spirit, you should probably know that during the month of December, everyone was vaccinated for the following:
- Adenovirus: 2 tablets good for life (Anyone in the military in the past 5 years wouldn't need it) - Anthrax: 5 doses of vaccine (in the muscle): subsequent doses to be administered at 4 weeks and 6, 12, and 18 months after the first dose. Annual booster doses are recommended for ongoing protection. - Botulism: Investigational New Drug (IND) shot done annually - Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR): You need a second dose ONLY if you never got it. This includes also immunization for the Varicella (chickenpox) - Tdap (Diphtheria/tetanus/pertussis): a single injection of one dose (0.5 mL) by theintramuscular. Booster if necessary if at least 2 years have passed - Hepatitis A: injection every 6 months - Hepatitis B: 3 doses — with the second dose given 4 weeks after the first and the third dose 5 months after the second. (Only if you weren't vaccinated as a child or if you haven't taken the adult doses before) - Human Papillomavirus: three dose series administered at 0, 2, and 6 month intervals. Each dose is 0.5-mL administered as an intramuscularly injection in the deltoid, from 9 through 26 years of age. (unless you were vaccinated before) - Influenza: there are several types. Annual, plus there are 3 perennial. You need one shot each for the perennials if you didn't have before and one for the annual - Japanese encephalitis: two injection series administered 28 days apart with annual boosters (pregnant and nursing women can't be vaccinated) - Lyme Disease: Yearly shot - Meningococcal: Injection with booster ever 7 years (Robert, I'm sure you had it done, if you can't remember when, we'll do it again) - Plague: Primary vaccination consists of a series of three injections, boosters every 6 months - Pneumococcal: a one time 0.5 mL dose administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. (This you only get again if you reach 65) - Polio: Adults who have previously completed a primary series of 3 or more doses should be given one dose of IPV. (Again if you already had your adult dose, you don't need too) - Rabies: Administer three 1-mL doses of vaccine intramuscularly (IM) in the deltoid muscle, one each on days 0, 7 and 21 or 28. Boosters are only given if bitten) - Shingles: Pill only over 50 year old - Smallpox: droplet of ACAM2000 by percutaneous route every 10 years - Tuberculosis (TB): droplet every 10 years - Typhoid: one capsule every other day, for a total of four capsules. Boosters every 2 years - Yellow Fever: a single, 0.5-mL dose subcutaneously, boosters every 10 years. Not recommended for people over 65
Each of us has his own schedule. While Sam was handling the process, I don't know if people are keeping track and injecting themselves with the boosters, although there are very few that were needed in the past month.
Marks, the Hammond twins, Merlyn, Queen and you are the only ones who never received the shots, because Sam isn't here, basically, and he would have given you some time to get accustomed before giving you all of those shots. By the way, these were mandatory, so I don't know if you want to take over or let Vance tell people to give their own shots.
The kids have been following the standard recommended schedule. I'm including a copy, which is the same I sent all the other parents.
As you can see, we are a very self-sufficient group that has learned to deal with the lack of doctor (or an incompetent one as far as I'm concerned). However, having spent my adult life in the Air Force, I am well aware of the need of physicals. They are one of the necessary evils in life. I guess we can discuss what tests you want to run when you come to the house and we go from there.