🎙️FindMyVaccine is back with infectious diseases physician, Dr. Zain Chagla, who joins us from Toronto in studio.

As we head into Fall 2024, it's not just the leaves changing-we cover the latest updates on COVID-19, new variants, new boosters, and new messaging we head into respiratory season. 🦠

In this episode, we cut through the noise and dive into what you need to know.

❓ Why is this surge happening again? We'll look at the data from this past summer's outbreaks and discuss why it's crucial to stay on top of this evolving situation.

🛡️ Booster blues? Vaccine uptake is still low among at-risk populations, and there's a new booster in town. But how do you communicate that effectively to patients without sounding like a broken record—or worse, adding to the confusion?

💡Navigating patient conversations around booster recommendations 🛑 and why the message has shifted. Get practical tips for identifying high-risk patients and translating NACI recommendations into action. It's not just about age; it's about timing, awareness, and making sure your patients understand why the next dose matters.

📅 Plus, we discuss how to prioritize COVID vs. flu vaccines. 

🎧 Tune in for the latest on COVID, and more, with expert insights and a touch of humor.

Key Concepts:

• COVID Surge Alert: Hospitalizations and test positivity are up again 🦠📈
• Vaccine Timing: Why it’s crucial to get your COVID shot now, with flu and RSV lurking around the corner. 🎯💉
• Cross-Neutralization Explained: How the new COVID variants differ and why updated vaccines still provide protection. 🧬🛡️
• COVID Therapeutics: Paxlovid effectiveness in the context of new variants🏃‍♂️📅
• Patient Conversations: Strategies for helping patients understand their risks and prioritize getting vaccinated. 🗣️👩‍⚕️

Dr. Zain Chagla

Dr.Zain  Chagla, MD MSc MD, FRCPC  is an associate professor at McMaster University, co-medical director of infection control at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton and a consultant in infection control at Woodstock General Hospital. Dr. Chagla is also a teacher at McMaster University where he won a clinician teaching award in internal medicine and a young investigator grant for his work in supporting undergraduate medical education at the University of Namibia. 

Dr. Chagla also has a Master of Science in infectious diseases and a diploma in tropical medicine and hygiene from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. 

As an infectious disease specialist, Dr.Zain Chagla has given media interviews on the COVID-19 pandemic and published several op-eds on testing, disease elimination, and public health interventions. He  has contributed to local, provincial, and federal policy planning, and to several clinical trials on COVID-19 therapies. He has published works on COVID-19 research, epidemiology, testing, and infection control. He is involved with a  prospective cohort study looking at respiratory physiology and radiologic features of patients post covid with persistent symptoms over time, including those with long covid and those who were critically ill.