Topics
- Let’s Talk Health with Dr. Dana Neutze and Karina Olivo-Holzl
- Lifestyle Medicine
- Clinic Update
- UNC Family Medicine’s Impact
- Meet Our Team
Feel free to email us at familymedicine@med.unc.edu with any suggestions or concerns!
Let’s Talk Health with Drs. Dana Neutze and Karina Olivo-Holzl – Flu Season
What is Influenza Virus (aka the Flu)?
Influenza (otherwise known as the flu) is a virus, which is a tiny piece of genetic material wrapped in a membrane with special proteins that can help identify and classify different viruses. The influenza virus affects the respiratory system, which includes the nose, throat, and lungs. It is contagious, meaning it can be spread from one person who has the flu to another. There are four types of influenza viruses. Types A, B, and C can infect humans, while type D mostly affects cattle and can possibly spread to other animals.
The influenza A and B viruses are the ones most commonly seen in people and cause seasonal outbreaks each year. Only influenza A viruses are known to cause flu pandemics. A pandemic can happen when a new type of influenza A virus develops and spreads easily among people who have little to no immunity to it.
Prevention
Getting a flu vaccine is a good way to protect yourself from the flu virus, as well as from other similar flu viruses. However, seasonal flu vaccines do not work against influenza C or D viruses or against animal flu viruses like those from birds that can infect humans. Also, flu vaccines don’t protect against other viruses that can cause similar flu symptoms.
Current Flu Vaccine
For the 2024-2025 season, the flu vaccines in the United States will be trivalent, meaning they will protect against three flu viruses. The B “Yamagata” flu viruses, which were included in previous quadrivalent vaccines, have not been seen in people since March 2020. Therefore, they are not part of the current trivalent vaccine. However, the trivalent and previous quadrivalent vaccines are expected to offer good protection against the current flu viruses in circulation. These vaccines are designed to protect against three types of flu viruses: A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and B (Victoria).
Who May Get the Vaccine?
Everyone aged 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every year. Different vaccines are available for different age groups. It is especially important for those who are at high risk for complications from the flu, such as people aged 65 and older, pregnant women, those with heart or kidney issues, and young children. You can learn more about this from the CDC. Getting vaccinated helps lower your chance of getting very sick, needing hospitalization, or even dying from the flu.
When to Get the Flu Vaccine?
Right away! Flu season started in October, and flu activity peaks between December and February. For more information about when certain groups should get vaccinated, check out the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.
Lifestyle Medicine – Respiratory Illness Infection Prevention Tips
Since viruses that affect the respiratory system have similar symptoms and risks, the prevention strategies are also alike.
With the holidays approaching and more people being indoors together, it’s important to take steps to prevent illness. Remember, when you take care of yourself, you help keep your whole community healthy!
Clinic Update: Holiday Schedule
The winter holidays are right around the corner! We wish everyone a happy and safe season.
UNC Family Medicine’s Impact: Researching COVID Vaccine Uptake
Assistant Professor Nadja Vielot, PhD’s analysis of the Prevent COVID-U trial in 2021 reveals key insights into COVID-19 vaccine uptake among young adults, in an article published in the journal Vaccine.
The study found that 79% of participants in a group that educated patients and gave participants the option to seek vaccination at any time in the future ended up getting vaccinated, compared to just 16% who declined vaccination initially and were not given education and the option. Preventive behaviors like mask-wearing and avoiding large gatherings were linked to higher vaccination rates in both groups. Other strong predictors of vaccination included attending in-person classes, having COVID-19 relevant medical conditions, and practicing preventive behaviors.
Vielot states, “Individuals who initially decline COVID-19 vaccination can be convinced to vaccinate, particularly if they are already practicing other forms of COVID-19 prevention. Continued outreach and education from the scientific community can combat low vaccine confidence.”
Vielot is an epidemiologist with research interests in infectious diseases, vaccine-preventable diseases, and global health. She was awarded a 2024 grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which aims to improve HPV vaccination rates in rural North Carolinians to reduce the drastic urban-rural disparities in HPV cancer incidence and mortality.
Meet the Team – CMAs!
Our Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) and Medical Assistants (MAs) are many times the first line of care you encounter at our clinics. We celebrate our CMAs at The UNC Family Medicine Centers at Chapel Hill, Carraway Village, Durham, and South Durham for their compassion, professionalism, hard work, and focus on delivering quality patient care. We appreciate the work of our Medical Assistants for their skill and their dedication to excellent care!
Pictured: (Back Row) Destiny Crisp, CMA II; Ashley Cates, CMA II; Rosa Ordonez, CMA I; Lakenna Saunders, CMA III; Fiona McLean, CMA III; Afia Lake, CMA I; Lauren O’Connor, CMA II; Amanda Vanhalem, CMA II; Kiara Woods, CMA I; Jalyse Harrell, CMA I; Erica Chavis, CMA III; Tasha Robinson, CMA II
(Front Row) Bettsie Enrique, MA Apprentice; Cindy Rivas, MA Apprentice; Zaray Turnbull, CMA III; Amanda Maudlin, CMA I
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