EPISODE 8:  This episode is about the big news out of Pfizer that data shows its vaccine is safe and effective for kids 12-15.  It has yet to be published or submitted to the FDA, but likely middle schoolers will be able to be vaccinated before going back to school in the fall.  I spoke with Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Michelle Medina, she’s the Associate Chief of Clinical Operations within Cleveland Clinic Community Health.  She’s also a pediatrician.  I asked her about what this means and what parents need to know. 

There’s no way in health you want to google this info just anywhere.  You can read more about the study at Pfizer’s website.  Also check out guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics.  I put links to both websites in the description of this podcast.  

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram @monicarobins.  Check out stories and video podcasts on my YouTube Channel and please subscribe too.  Also like my Facebook page, Monica Robins (WKYC) to learn about upcoming podcasts and health news. Find more info on WKYC’s social pages and YouTube channel as well as wkyc dot com for comprehensive COVID-19 coverage.  Have a healthy day.

WEBSITES: Pfizer

https://www.pfizer.com/news/press-release/press-release-detail/pfizer-biontech-announce-positive-topline-results-pivotal

American Academy of Pediatrics https://www.aappublications.org/news/2021/02/02/aap-covid-vaccine-guidance-020221

Monica Robins is not a medical doctor.  All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.  Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.

EPISODE 7:  Is COVID vaccine safe for pregnant women?   

There’s been a lot of concern among pregnant women on whether or not to get the COVID vaccine.  Studies are ongoing but data is still limited.  The CDC says the vaccine should be made available to pregnant women, and the World Health Organization recommends women in high risk professions should get it, such as healthcare workers.   In this episode, Monica talks to two Cleveland Clinic Doctors.  Dr. Tosin Goje is an OB/GYN and infectious disease specialist and Dr. Carli Lehr is a pulmonologist specializing in lung transplantation.  Dr. Lehr received the vaccine back in December while she was pregnant.  She just delivered a healthy baby boy.  She explains why she chose to vaccinate. 

WEBSITES:  CDC  https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations/pregnancy.html

ACOG https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2020/12/vaccinating-pregnant-and-lactating-patients-against-covid-19

SMFM  https://www.smfm.org/

Monica Robins is not a medical doctor.  All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.  Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.

This week we’re looking at the hidden dangers in your medicine cabinet.  Do you take your vitamins and supplements the right way?  Or, are you just wasting your money?  This mostly unregulated industry is worth more than $31 billion in the U.S.  But there’s a lot we don’t know about vitamins and supplements, and in some cases, even our doctors can’t explain what we need to know.

Dr. Fady Abdlrasul, Pharm. D. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy Practice at Northeast Ohio Medical University.  He’ll tell you what you need to look for in your vitamins, supplements and herbals, what will help you during the pandemic, which vitamins and supplements can be a bad mix with your medication and dozens of other great tidbits of info you didn’t know you actually needed.

WEBSITE: Nutrition.gov

Monica Robins is not a medical doctor.  All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.  Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.

While many of you may be waiting for your federal stimulus check, there’s another part of the American Rescue Plan that may impact you, especially if you use the federal marketplace for your health insurance. Congress included a $34 billion dollar expansion to the plan that applies to those needing COBRA and they changed the subsidies, so there’s a chance you may be able to pay less for coverage.  I talked with insurance broker Tim McNichols at LIG Solutions to help us figure out what’s included and who should benefit.

WEBSITES:  healthcare.gov

Ohio Department of Insurance Licensed Agency locator https://gateway.insurance.ohio.gov/UI/ODI.Agent.Public.UI/AgentSearch.mvc/DisplaySearch

Tim McNichols – LIG Solutions 866.230.0222 www.ligsolutions.com

Monica Robins is not a medical doctor.  All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.  Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.

The pandemic has become a goldmine for scammers trying to rip off health insurance and banking information from those desperate for a vaccine or anything relating to COVID-19. In fact your healthcare information is a huge doorway to identity theft. In this episode, Devoted Health benefits advisor, Kent Jacobs, discusses what you need to know about your Medicare, Medicaid and Insurance info, how to keep it safe and what to do if you've been scammed.

WEBSITES: mymedicare.gov

Monica Robins is not a medical doctor.  All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.  Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.

When actor, Chadwick Boseman, died of colon cancer in August 2020 it brought to light a deadly trend. Why are more men of color dying from this type of cancer and why is it also impacting more young men? In this episode, Monica talks to Dr. Suneel Kamath, a GI Medical Oncologist with Cleveland Clinic about what younger men need to understand about their bodily bathroom functions and the importance of being your own best advocate by understanding the often “hidden” symptoms. Follow @monicarobins on Twitter and Instagram and Facebook Monica Robins (WKYC) to learn about upcoming podcasts and health news.

Monica Robins is not a medical doctor.  All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.  Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.

Dr. Grace McComsey is Vice President of Research and Chief Science Officer at University Hospitals in Cleveland. Currently she and her team are conducting about two hundred clinical trials on potential treatments for COVID-19. Some you’ve probably heard of and you might have wondered whatever happened to those that used to be in the headlines. Also she always gives great insight into how to turn your medicine cabinet into a COVID arsenal.

Monica Robins is not a medical doctor.  All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.  Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.

It's not everyday you get all three CEOs of Cleveland's biggest medical centers to chat for an hour about the pandemic, future of healthcare, job creation, health disparity, vaccines and advancements thanks to COVID-19. In this exclusive interview Monica talks with Cleveland Clinic President and CEO, Dr. Tom Mihaljevic, MetroHealth President and CEO, Dr. Akram Boutros and University Hospitals Cleveland President and CEO Dr. Cliff Megerian. The systems may be in competition, but the pandemic brought them together for an unprecedented collaboration. WEBSITES: my.clevelandclinic.org MetroHealth.org and UHHospitals.org

Monica Robins is not a medical doctor.  All content presented in this program is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.  Always seek the guidance of your personal doctor or qualified healthcare professional with any questions regarding your health or medical condition.