[Periodically, Family Care Centers will highlight the new, the cutting edge, and the curious – basically, the “Did you hear about this?” or “What do you think about that, doc?” medical stories. We love being lighthearted…but in light of recent events, this post is more serious.
All of the physicians and providers at Family Care Centers – including those at our newly renovated Fountain Valley Walk-In urgent care -- encourage you to take an active role in your own health, and to have informed discussions about your health options. As a starting point, we offer the following hard facts. – Peter Kim, MD, Executive Medical Director, FCC]
Measles and vaccines are in the news, again.
This time, they’re connected with a bright shining light that we all know: Disneyland, right in our own backyard. As of Monday the 19th, there are now 52 cases: 10 from Orange County and others including children visiting from out of state, from visits to the park between December 17th and 20th. Most of these have returned to their homes and are being treated. They’re also being closely followed by public health departments, since active measles spreads aggressively to other unvaccinated children and adults (with a 90% transmission rate, the CDC estimates that between 12-40 unvaccinated individuals will get measles from a single case).
A local physician wrote a blog post about his tragic experience as a young doctor, with a child who had measles. A week later, his post has had over 2 million views.
We forget, because we live in the modern era, what it was like before. But doctors, through their training, sense of history, and memories of their own patients, remember:
Before vaccines, there were over 500,000 cases of measles each year in America – that’s over half a million people. After vaccines: less than two hundred. That’s a greater than 99% reduction.
Before vaccines, there were over 16,000 cases of paralytic polio in the US – ever seen movies where the character’s son or daughter was in an “iron lung?” After vaccines: an estimated 1 case per year average. 99+% reduction, again.
Before vaccines, smallpox afflicted just under 30,000 Americans each year; if you have dime sized scar on your shoulder, that’s an old smallpox vaccine mark. Nowadays, smallpox only exists in germ warfare laboratories, and has essentially been eradicated not just from America, but from the rest of the world.
Worldwide, the numbers are even more impressive:
Tetanus – “lockjaw” – killed nearly 800,000 babies each year according to 1988 World Health Organization records. After vaccine programs, that number is now just under 60,000; a lot, but still an impressive 700,000+ infant lives saved per year.
Measles deaths – doctors treat and have living memory of children who die from measles – dropped from over 500,000 annual deaths in 2000 to just under 140,000 in 2010 due to vaccine efforts. Those nearly 400,000 lives saved each year means an almost 75% reduction in measles deaths.
Save a few hundred thousand lives here and a few hundred thousand lives there, and pretty soon you’re talking real humanity.
Every year.
You may not be impressed with numbers, you may feel that statistics can be twisted to prove anything, and many doctors would agree with you: there is some valid criticism out there about positions and recommendations “from medical authorities.” But facts are stubborn things, and the numbers on this issue are ginormous and shockingly clear.
Whether you think or feel your way to a decision, vaccines save heaps and heaps of lives. They are the one shining beacon of pride that doctors, scientists, politicians, philanthropists, and parents can point to and say, “We’ve saved millions of lives with that.”
Dr. Bunten is originally from Huntington Beach, CA. He attended high school in Tokyo, Japan, went to college at UC San Diego and then to medical school in the Midwest. He returned home to California for residency training in Family Medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. His immediate family all reside in Huntington Beach.
Dr Fishbein has been in the practice of family medicine for over 35 years in Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree from Southern Illinois University, medical degree from Chicago Medical School, and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Long Beach.
Dr. Kim is the Medical Director of Family Care Centers, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at Hoag Hospital, and a recipient of the Physicians of Excellence award from the Orange County Medical Association. He is Board Certified in Family Medicine, and has been practicing in our community for over 20 years.
Dr. Memon is a board certified Family Medicine physician and recently completed her fellowship in Geriatrics at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. She attended Saint George’s University, School of Medicine and completed her residency at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Her interest in medicine started at an early age and has since evolved into a passionate career.
Dr. Gina Nguyen obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Irvine where she graduated Suma Cum Laude. She went to USC Keck School of Medicine, and returned to UC Irvine for a Family Medicine Residency. Since 2005, she worked at Kaiser Permanente, VNCOC, and Family Care Center Urgent Care.
Dr. Williams is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Sports Medicine. He is a native to Orange County and returned home after completing his medical degree at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. After completing his residency in family practice he successfully completed a fellowship in sports medicine.
Dr. Hye Lee is a board-certified Family Practice Physician, affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Practice.She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at UC Riverside and earned her medical degree from Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center. Afterward, she did her internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in California and has been a primary care physician since 2005.
Dr. Coyne is a board certified family practice physician and a California native. He completed his undergraduate degree at UCLA before earning his medical degree at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Dr Coyne spent 6 years in the US Air Force at Andrews and Luke Air Force bases, eventually separating as a Major. He enjoys working with patients of all ages.”
Dr. Jay Friehling is a Family Practice physician who has worked in Orange County since 1981. Born in Florida, he received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and then earned a Medical Degree at the New York Medical College.” His healthcare interests include Diabetes, Geriatric Care, and Hospice Care.
Dr. Jennifer Shoquist is board certified in Family Medicine. Her special interest is woman’s health and her practice accepts patients from 6 years old to seniors. Dr. Shoquist received her M.D. degree at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston in Houston, Texas, and did her residency with Memorial Family Practice at memorial Southwest Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Tom is a board certified family medicine physician and native Californian. He received his bachelors of science with great distinction in biochemistry and honors in chemistry. Dr. Tom was awarded a Regents Scholarship to attend medical school at UC Irvine.
Dr. Yan attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her Family Practice residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. She joined Family Care Center in 2001. She chose Family Practice because she enjoys working with a wide variety of people and because it provides a unique opportunity for continuing care.
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