1 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to Wellness un Mass. I'm doctor Nicole Saffire. This 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,400 Speaker 1: is your weekly rundown. Well If I sound a little 3 00:00:08,440 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 1: bit tired this week, that's because I am tired. What 4 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: I'm tired of is I'm tired of talking about measles cases. 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,200 Speaker 1: Because that's right, measles cases. I've been talking about it 6 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,000 Speaker 1: for months now. They are continuing to rise across the 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: United States, and it's a reminder of something many of 8 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: us thought we have already sold. Measles was officially declared 9 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: eliminated in the United States and the year two thousand, 10 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: that is the year my first child was born. He 11 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:36,559 Speaker 1: is now almost twenty six. We've gone a quarter of 12 00:00:36,560 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 1: a century with the elimination status of measles. Our only 13 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 1: cases really were because of travel. That's essentially meant that 14 00:00:43,880 --> 00:00:48,800 Speaker 1: the virus wasn't spreading continuously in our country. But that status, 15 00:00:49,159 --> 00:00:51,839 Speaker 1: it's now at risk. In just the first months of 16 00:00:51,920 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six, more than one thousand measles cases have 17 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,959 Speaker 1: already been reported across the United States, with outbreaks spanning 18 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,640 Speaker 1: multiple states. Several states have reported their first cases of 19 00:01:03,720 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 1: measles in years. Last year, the country saw the highest 20 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: number of measles infections in more than thirty years, with 21 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: several large outbreaks, including one in Texas that infected hundreds 22 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: of people. 23 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 2: So why is this happening? Because I tell. 24 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,479 Speaker 1: You, twenty twenty six, we're on track to have even 25 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:25,559 Speaker 1: more well because measles is one of the most contagious 26 00:01:25,640 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 1: viruses we know. I know we've heard all about COVID, 27 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: but let me tell you, measles is even more contagious. 28 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:36,039 Speaker 1: If one infected person enters a room of unvaccinated people, 29 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: about nine out of ten can become infected. And it 30 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 1: sticks around for a while. It stays in the air 31 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 1: and services and everything else. And in our global world 32 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: of international travel, all it takes is a single case 33 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: to spark an outbreak. This week, the CDC's acting director, 34 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: doctor j. Bodicharia. He is newly acting director of CDC. 35 00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:01,680 Speaker 1: All of a sudden, you're here wearing a messaging change, 36 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 1: a bit of a movement shift when it comes from 37 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: the CDC and the Trump administration specifically addressing the measles outbreak. 38 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:11,639 Speaker 1: And I'll be honest, I'm here for it. I love 39 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:12,480 Speaker 1: the new messaging. 40 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:12,959 Speaker 2: Doctor J. 41 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:18,200 Speaker 1: Boicharia posted a message encouraging Americans to get vaccinated against measles, 42 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,080 Speaker 1: emphasizing that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent 43 00:02:23,200 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: the disease and for those who need a refresher, the 44 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 1: MMR vaccine you know measles momps Rebella. It's about ninety 45 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:35,239 Speaker 1: seven percent effective at preventing disease after two doses. These 46 00:02:35,240 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: are typically given in childhood. Now, vaccination doesn't just protect individuals, 47 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 1: it actually protects communities, especially infants, sign women, and people 48 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: with weakened immune systems who may not be able to 49 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: receive or don't respond to the vaccine. Now, history shows 50 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 1: the impact. Before the measles vaccine was introduced in nineteen 51 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:57,000 Speaker 1: sixty three, millions of Americans were infected each year and 52 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:02,120 Speaker 1: hundreds died annually. Yes, I understand millions infected, hundreds died. 53 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: So people are like, well, it's a very low percentage 54 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: of people that die. Let me tell you death is 55 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 1: not the only negative outcome of measles. It can have 56 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 1: permanent brain damage and it can affect a lot of 57 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:17,000 Speaker 1: other aspects of the body that is permanent. A lot 58 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:19,079 Speaker 1: of people can wind up in the hospital. It can 59 00:03:19,200 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: overwhelm the healthcare system, and again it can have lifelong 60 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:27,080 Speaker 1: severe consequences in the individual. You can't just based a 61 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 1: severity on death. You don't want death to be the 62 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: only outcome that is negative. No, absolutely not. There's so 63 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 1: much more than that. The reality is vaccination changed all 64 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:41,520 Speaker 1: of that overnight. But this conversation isn't just about measles. 65 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: It's about trust in public health. Let's be honest. Over 66 00:03:44,360 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: the past several years, Americans have seen intense debate over vaccines, mandates, 67 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: public health policy. You know, everything that went wrong with COVID. 68 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: And here's where the nuance matters, because as a physician, 69 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: I believe strongly in two things at the same time. First, 70 00:04:01,000 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 1: patients deserve the freedom to make medical decisions with their doctor. 71 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 1: I believe that is true. I never felt more strongly 72 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: about it since COVID. But second, they also deserve honest, 73 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: transparent information about what the science actually shows. The reality is, 74 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:18,640 Speaker 1: vaccines are not perfect. 75 00:04:18,920 --> 00:04:19,679 Speaker 2: There are risks. 76 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:24,599 Speaker 1: There will always be mild consequences to vaccines. There will 77 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: always be severe side effects to vaccines, albeit rare, they 78 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: do occur. No medical intervention is perfect. I talk with 79 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: patients every single day about the risks and benefits of 80 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: the intervention that we're doing. Vaccines are no different, but 81 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 1: when vaccination rates drop, preventable disease come back, and measles 82 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 1: is one of the clearest examples of that. We're seeing 83 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: it right now. We have seen declining vaccination rates since 84 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:58,239 Speaker 1: before COVID, and it has gotten significantly worse since COVID. 85 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,599 Speaker 1: We have to get back on track. We need to 86 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,039 Speaker 1: roll back a lot of the mandates, but we also 87 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: need to make sure that there is clear messaging that vaccines, 88 00:05:06,240 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 1: while they come with risks, they are overwhelmingly safe and 89 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,359 Speaker 1: they do prevent morbidit immortality from what would be a 90 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: preventable illness. And now, another quick health topic of the week. 91 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,159 Speaker 1: I just want to get this in here, although I 92 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: think vaccines are really the big topic of the week, 93 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:22,919 Speaker 1: but it's the fact that the FDA just issued a 94 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 1: warning letter to more than thirty telehealth companies for making 95 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:31,080 Speaker 1: misleading claims about compounded versions of popular GLP one medications. 96 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 2: You know, those popular weight loss medications. 97 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, they're saying, hey, guys, you know what these marketed 98 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:42,000 Speaker 1: online drugs that claim to be equivalent to medications like 99 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:45,359 Speaker 1: semi glutide. The FDA is saying, I don't think so. 100 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,920 Speaker 1: We don't believe that they have been safety and quality 101 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 1: to tested. They are not equivalent, and you actually have 102 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:53,800 Speaker 1: to be a little bit more honest in your marketing. 103 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:57,840 Speaker 1: FDA proved medications go through rigorous testing for safety, dosing, 104 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 1: and manufacturing standards. Compound medications that you get online or 105 00:06:01,960 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: at these compounding medspots or whatever it is can be. 106 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 1: You know, they can be appropriate in certain clinical situations, 107 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:11,600 Speaker 1: but they're not the same as an approved drug. Especially 108 00:06:11,640 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: since the rollout of trump are X, where you can 109 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: get the actual FDA approved medications at a significantly discounted price. 110 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: I'm not sure it really makes sense to be getting 111 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,839 Speaker 1: them from medspas, but who knows. My bottom line is, 112 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,040 Speaker 1: talk to your doctor before you take any of these medications. 113 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: I think the FDA approved ones are going to be 114 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:35,000 Speaker 1: safer because they have been quality tested, whereas the compounded 115 00:06:35,000 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 1: pharmacy ones you get from the medspas, I don't really 116 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 1: know what's in them, and it makes me a little 117 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,680 Speaker 1: bit nervous. But obviously, at the end of the day, 118 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 1: public health works best when science, transparency, personal responsibility, they 119 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,560 Speaker 1: all work together. Whether we're talking about measles, we're talking 120 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: about GLP ones we're talking about. 121 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:55,440 Speaker 2: Whatever it is, the goal isn't control. 122 00:06:55,560 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 1: It's protection, protection for our families, our communities, and the 123 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:02,800 Speaker 1: most vulner amongst us. I'm doctor Nicole Saffire and this 124 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 1: has been your Wellness on MASS Weekly Rundown. Make sure 125 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: you listen to Wellness on MASS on iHeartRadio, Apple podcasts, 126 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcasts, and I'll see you 127 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 1: next time.