Flu, COVID, RSV, & Shingles Vaccines in Older Adults: Ken Schmader and Sharon Brangman

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GeriPal - A Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine Podcast 46 min 2 speakers 3 chapters transcribed 9 hours ago
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Eric Widera 0:00
This podcast is not see me eligible. If people do want to learn more about see me eligible podcasts, Alex, what do they do?
Alex Smith 0:07
They can go to JerryPal dot org backslash CME.
Eric Widera 0:12
And on to the show. Welcome to the JerryPot Podcast. This is Eric Wadera. This is Alex Smith. And Alex, we're going to be talking about vaccinations just in time for respiratory viruses. I was going to say flu season, but there's more than flu going around. Um, who do we have with us to talk about this?
Alex Smith 0:31
We are delighted to welcome Ken Schmader, who's a geriatrician and researcher, who studies zoster influenza and other infections. He's director of the Duke Pepper Center and past chief of the Division of Geriatrics at Duke. Ken, welcome to the GeriPal podcast.
Kenneth Schmader 0:46
Thanks, Alex. An honor to be on.
Alex Smith 0:48
And we're delighted to welcome back Sharon Brangman. I think for the third time or so, she's almost approached that jacket level that they have on SNL, a frequent guest. Um, Sharon is a geriatrician researcher, a SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus and Emeritus Chair of the Department of Geriatrics at SUNY Upstate Medical University, and is co author of a paper in JAGs that's forthcoming about Sharon, welcome back to Jerry.
Sharon Brangman 1:17
All right, nice to see you again.
Alex Smith 1:19
Good to see you.
Eric Widera 1:20
So we got a lot to talk about. We're gonna be talking about flu, COVID, RSV. I want to build in some time. I know it's not about the respiratory virus season, but shingles too. Uh so we got a lot to talk about. But before we jump into that and the AGS vaccine initiative, Sharon, I think you have a song request.
Sharon Brangman 1:37
Well, seeing as how I just got my COVID and flu shot last week. Why don't we talk about hit me with my best shot?
Alex Smith 1:46
That's great. I won't ask ya why it says that's perfect song.

Who are the expert guests and what are their backgrounds?

Unknown 1:52
All right, here's a little bit. Were you a real tough cookie with a long history Of breaking little hearts like the one in me? That's okay, let's see how you do it. Put up your dukes, let's get down to it. Hit me with your best shot. Why don't you hit me with your best shot? Hit me with your best shot and fire away.
Eric Widera 2:26
Perfect song.
Alex Smith 2:28
Perfect. That's great. I think at AGS I did uh I'm not throwing away my shot. Oh, we'll get to that. That was in relation to the RSV. I think I disagreed with Eric and Ken about their conclusions on that one. I was much more pro vaccination. Yeah.
Eric Widera 2:43
Yeah, we'll talk about that because that was an initial study. We could talk about the there was one concern that Ken brought up with that, but we'll talk about that when we get into RSV. Can I just ask before we dive into flu COVID, RSV and shingles? Cher, I'm gonna start off with you. You know, we've had you on for other things like Alzheimer's and dementia. you're helping be part of this initiative around increasing vaccinations in older adults. Like has this been a longstanding focus of your career? Like what why how did you kind of get involved in this and why?
Sharon Brangman 3:16
Well, like most geriatricians, I have seen older adults have very bad outcomes who didn't get vaccines. So I have been very pro-vaccine for a long time. And the emerging information, which I know we're gonna talk about, that shows that it may reduce your risk of dementia is just an added bonus. But I used to feel kinda like Dr. Death in December and January every year because I had all these patients. Patients dying from flu. And, you know, getting a flu shot can really reduce that from happening. So I was very happy and excited to be a part of this project. Uh, along with Tim Atsaf, we were the co-PIs to help geriatricians increase the amount of immunizations that our older adults are getting, the amounts and types.
Sharon Brangman 4:02
We focused primarily on flu and COVID.
Eric Widera 4:05
Okay. And Ken, this has been a long standing focus of yours. What got you interested in vaccines?
Kenneth Schmader 4:11
Well, I had a strong interest in infections from the beginning of my career and uh it really came about for a clinical need, and that is improving care of older people with herpesosterone postopitic neuralda. Believe it or not, when I got in the game, there was no treatment or prevention for it. Shows you how old I am.

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