Healthy Wealthy & Wise Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD
The Healthy Wealthy and Wise Podcast, with Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD is a monthly podcast that focuses on personal growth and development by exploring a range of topics related to mental and physical health, personal wealth, leadership, and interpersonal relationships. Dr. Choctaw draws on his 75yrs experience and 50 plus years of surgical practice since graduating from Yale University School of Medicine.
Each month, we strive to provide our listeners with mental, physical, and spiritual strength by giving actionable advice, tips, guidance, and information to help them achieve their own personal, professional, and spiritual goals. We consider the health of the mind, body, and spirit paramount as a single unit that provides a cumulative strength greater than the individual parts, to strengthen the whole person.
We appreciate the natural differences in need between men, women, adults, and children. We recognize that the power to be happy is within each of us and under our control. We embrace technology and identify how it is applicable to our daily success. We address the entire human experiences from generation z to the baby boomers.
We’re passionate about the total person, and helping our listeners build and lead a full, well-rounded and happy life. So, tune in every month for an inspiring, encouraging, and informative podcast!
Healthy Wealthy & Wise Dr. William T. Choctaw, MD, JD
Demystifying COVID-19: Dr. Choctaw's Deep Dive into mRNA Vaccines and the Future of Nasal Spray Immunizations
Get set to revolutionize your understanding of COVID-19 vaccines, as we go under the microscope with Dr. William T. Choctaw, a seasoned surgeon with five decades of experience. Our enlightening tête-à-tête will offer you a deep dive into the innovative world of mRNA vaccines, their mechanism, and its potential to change the face of vaccine pharmacology. Not just that, we'll also unravel the differences between influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, and how our body’s cells memorize and react.
Ever imagined a vaccine without needles? Yes, you heard it right. Together, we will explore the promising future of nasal spray vaccines and their ease of administration, especially beneficial for those needle-wary among us. Plus, we're also decoding the crucial differences between a common cold and flu, and why recognizing these symptoms can make a world of difference. The pivotal role of preventive measures - masking, distancing, and hand washing - is also on our list. So, tune in for this riveting discussion, as we dissect the science behind vaccines, their preventive power, and the groundbreaking advancements in the field of COVID-19 vaccination.
Healthcare Quality Leadership Education Group
Bernie Brown, ESQ
Author A Prosecutor's Analysis of Personal Supernatural Experiences
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The Host, Dr. William Choctaw; MD, JD, is a healthcare leadership expert, possessing a Medical Doctorate from the Yale University School of Medicine, and a Jurist Doctorate from Western University. Over a span of 50 years practicing medicine, he has served as Chief of Staff, Chief of Surgery, and as a member of the medical executive committee at Citrus Valley Medical Center over a 10 year period. Also, while practicing at Citrus Valley Medical Center, he served as Chief Transformation Officer, (developed a Robust Process Improvement/Lean Six Sigma program). Dr. Choctaw lectures nationally and internationally on medical leadership issues for hospital staffs, executives, and managers. He served as a Physician Surveyor on the Joint Commission. He's the author of 2 books, "Medical Malpractice: A Physician's Guide to the Law" and "Transforming the Patient Experience: A New Paradigm for Hospital and Physician Leadership, published by the Springer Publishing Co. He’s the President of Choctaw Medical Group, Inc., a clinical practice and medical legal consulting firm for medical staff executives, physician leaders, and hospitals.
Coming up on this episode of the HWWP.
Speaker 2:There is no vaccine that can kill the virus directly, and what I mean by that is that's not how vaccines operate. They don't go in and kill the virus or kill the bacteria or whatever.
Speaker 1:This podcast episode is sponsored by Choctaw Medical Group Incorporated. Also sponsored by Bernie Brown Esquire, author of a Prosecutor's Analysis of Personal Supernatural Experiences. A collection of fascinating stories awaiting your verdict Fact, fiction, fabrication or fantasy, available in paperback and digital formats. Go to THWWPcom to get your copy. Welcome to the Healthy, wealthy and Wise podcast with Dr William T Choctaw, mdjd, where the doctor helps you unlock your full potential by equipping you with tools and knowledge in the areas of health, wealth and wisdom, anchored in his experience as a business executive, a physician surveyor for the Joint Commission, a former mayor and over 50 years of experience as a general surgeon. You've got questions, he's got answers, so let's get started. Here's Dr William T Choctaw, mdjd.
Speaker 2:Good morning. I'm Dr William T Choctaw and I will be your host today. Welcome to the Healthy, wealthy and Wise podcast. Each month, we strive to provide you, our listeners, with mental, physical and spiritual strength by giving actionable advice and tips, guidance and information to help you achieve your own personal, professional and spiritual goals. We consider the health of the mind, body and spirit paramount, as a single unit that can provide a cumulative strength greater than the individual parts to strengthen the whole person. So today, sit back and enjoy and come along on a very exciting journey with us. Today, we're going to be talking about our COVID-19 spray vaccines coming soon. Our COVID-19 spray vaccines coming soon.
Speaker 2:As always, we like to start off with my beliefs. I believe life is about being of service to others. I believe knowledge is power. I believe leaders can change the world. We like to give you an outline. This basically tells you what we're going to talk about and, as importantly, it'll let you know when we're just about done. You know you're very, very busy people with a lot on your plate, and so we are very grateful and are pleased and humbled that you've chosen to spend a few minutes of your valuable time with us. We're going to talk about the new COVID vaccine that's coming soon and that may already be available. We're going to talk about the influenza versus COVID vaccines and how they differ both in terms of type, quality and methodology. We'll talk about messenger RNA and how this novel approach to the COVID vaccine has changed forever vaccine pharmacology going forward. And we'll talk some about prevention in terms of helping you to stay safe.
Speaker 2:Well, we know that every year now we have what we call a tri-endemic influenza, and what that means is we have a tri-endemic. We have three different types of viruses that may very well cause infection in any one of us in any given year. One is the respiratory sensitional virus, which does not affect a lot of people most of the young but does occur. The influenza virus, which is the most common, and then, of course, the coronavirus, the COVID-19 virus, and so we're going to look at how individuals can protect themselves, and we're going to primarily focus on the flu influenza virus and the COVID-19 influenza virus. Just remember the basics of what works for all of those is masking, wearing mask distance at least six feet apart if possible, and hand washing. Those basics have not changed and please keep that in mind.
Speaker 2:Survival from any type of viral infection, certainly in a pandemic, depends on prevention and treatment. Prevention is important to hopefully prevent others from getting it or preventing the individual from getting it again. Treatment is for you to get over the illness that you have. But it's important to keep in mind that vaccines primarily deal with prevention. The way I like to think about it is that it's a preventive prevention. There is no vaccine that can kill the virus directly. What I mean by that is that's not how vaccines operate. They don't go in and kill the virus or kill the bacteria or whatever. Basically, what they do, which is ingenious, is that they go in, the vaccines stimulate the body to produce antibodies or its own mechanism and the cells in the body basically kill the vaccine. Again, vaccines deal primarily with prevention and not treatment. We'll talk about treatment a bit later on in this discussion, but as we talk about vaccines, we're talking about prevention. Administration of the vaccines basically are two ways. We're talking about flu and COVID vaccines. Those two ways are needle with an injection in the arm, intramuscularly, and nasal spray. We're going to look at for this presentation. We're going to look at the delivery mechanism for vaccines Needle, the more traditional approach, or nasal spray we're primarily going to look at the regular flu that occurs every year in influenza and COVID-19, which has been with us for approximately the last four years.
Speaker 2:Let's start with the flu Now. We're all familiar with the flu. We've all had it over the last many, many years. But let's start even more basic. Before you get the flu, many of us get what we call COLS, c-o-l-d.
Speaker 2:What's the difference between a cold and the flu? Well, with the cold, you have mild respiratory symptoms. You may have mild fatigue. Onset tends to be gradual. You may have some headache or some nasal discomfort. With the flu, on the other hand, you take all those things and you've doubled them by five to 10 times. In essence, the way I like to think about it, a fluenza is a very, very, very serious cold. A fluenza is a very, very serious cold. Influencers are associated with severe symptoms, oftentimes muscle body aches throughout the body, usually with a sudden onset, and can involve a fever, exhaustion or loss of appetite. So, cold symptoms, flu symptoms let's go a little deeper Flu symptoms and let's compare them to what we're talking about with COVID-19, which clearly can get into respiratory difficulties, shortness of breath, inability to breathe and all the other problems that can be associated with that.
Speaker 2:So when we look at, okay, how do we prevent this from happening? So what is our basic prevention mechanism? Well, those mechanisms tend to be vaccinations and with the traditional injection, needle injection, we have to go to a facility, a medical type facility, either inpatient or outpatient, and they inject us with the medication With the nasal spray. You can do it at home. So this would be a huge lift for individuals who have to get vaccinations for COVID. So with the nasal spray, basically we're talking about no needles, basically no pain. That's really another step forward in this whole march toward providing better care for all of us.
Speaker 2:So far in this country there's only one nasal spray vaccine that's been approved by the FDA, the Federal Drug Administration, and that's for the influenza, that's for the flu. Presently, as of today and we're in September right now there is no known FDA-approved nasal spray vaccine for COVID. But those are coming and we'll talk about that a bit later. But let's look at the flu miss and what have we learned? Well, flu miss contains a weak and strain of the virus, of the flu virus, that's made into a spray that's injected into the nose, sprayed into the nose. That then triggers the nose and the body's response to improve its immune system and build antibodies to stop us from getting the flu. Let me say that again Flu miss is a nasal spray vaccine for the flu, only influenza that is injected into the nose, that triggers an immune response in the nose and the body to build antibodies that prevents us from getting the flu again or that particular strain of the flu.
Speaker 2:Contraindications to the flu miss, this nasal spray vaccine for the flu only one contraindication is pregnant women, and part of that reason obviously may be that the fact that you are injecting an old virus, a dead virus or something that may create problems for pregnant women. And the second is in patients who have an immune system, an immune protection system, that there's always a risk, obviously, if you're going to inject something in them, even though it may be weakened, but if they have a weakened system themselves, that may significantly increase their risk. So we've talked about the mechanism, the vehicle for vaccination. First with the flu, only one that has a spray. Now let's go to COVID.
Speaker 2:One of the things that you may not have recognized a few years ago a couple of years ago, basically, when the vaccines first came out with COVID is that they came about with the use of a novel new approach, and this was what's called the messenger RNA approach, and so let's take a closer look at that. Why is that such a big deal? One of the reasons it's a big deal is that vaccines used to take years to actually come online. It took years and, needless to say, we were all in a crisis talking about the world now, the world pandemic and so it was important to get those vaccines and get vaccines as fast as possible. So you had pharmaceutical and medical facilities working around the country, around the world, to come up with a safe and effective vaccine to save people's lives, and this was done.
Speaker 2:This was done and it was done because it was decided to use this new approach that, instead of the traditional way of using old virus or dead virus in small amounts to stimulate new antibiotic production, it was decided to use just a molecule of messenger RNA, which had nothing to do with the virus, just a molecule messenger RNA. Put that into a cell and then take that information that has been made in the cell and use that to stimulate the immune system. One of the things that this did, or confirm, is that our cells have memory. Think about that Our cells, cells in our body have memory. Now, we're made up of billions of cells, billions and billions of cells, but each one of them has memory that if you inject something into them directly or indirectly, as in the case with mRNA, that the cell can remember what message you left for them and can then actually act accordingly if they're invaded a second time.
Speaker 1:This podcast episode is sponsored by Choctaw Medical Group Incorporated. Also sponsored by Bernie Brown Esquire, author of a Prosecutor's Analysis of Personal Supernatural Experiences. A collection of fascinating stories awaiting your verdict Fact, fiction, fabrication or fantasy, available in paperback and digital formats. Go to THWWPcom to get your copy, absolutely extraordinary.
Speaker 2:So how does this mRNA stuff really work? What the coronavirus is like is one of those calls one of the causes of COVID-19 and was named for this crown-like spike on the surface called spike proteins. These are spikes that are on the virus itself and if you've ever seen pictures of the virus, it's like a ball with a lot of little spiky things on it. Well, that's important because there's those little spiky things that the vaccine can attack and does attack and ends up taking part of that material with mRNA. Put it into a normal cell and have that cell replicate that spiky protein type of substance and put it into the cell's memory so that the cell can then protect itself in future attacks. What's different about, again, this mRNA approach as compared to the traditional approach, is that this new approach does not contain any virus, small or large. This is completely novel or different from any virus. And the second thing is when the body responds. It can. Sometimes you may have like a mild reaction to the vaccine, just like you normally do with flu vaccine, but usually it's very mild a little fever, maybe a little headache, a few tears, but usually that goes away. But what I want you to remember is number one. Yourselves have memory. Number two I believe that the work of the scientists and doctors and epidemiologists and others that come up with this new mRNA process for vaccination for the coronavirus is just absolutely extraordinary. And so if we drill down a little more about this mRNA process, we notice that again, when the mRNA, messenger RNA that's what mRNA stands for goes into the cell, it does not go into nucleus.
Speaker 2:Now let's back up. Let's imagine that a cell is like an egg. The center part of the egg is the yolk, that's the yellow part. What's around the egg? Let's see if you fry it. What's around the egg is white material. We'll call that cytoplasm. And then, of course, the egg is normally in a shell before you crack it and put it in a pan. The messenger RNA does not go into the yolk part of the egg. It stays in the white part around the center of the egg. Why is that important? The center of the egg, the yolk, the nucleus is where the DNA is. That's where the message for life, that's where the distinction between each of us is developed and recorded. That's in the nucleus. This messenger RNA does this work in the periphery, in the white part surrounding the yellow yolk, and that's where it does its work. That's where it replicates and transcribes this foreign protein called coronavirus and strengthens the cell for future battle.
Speaker 2:At Yale University, at the School of Engineering and Applied Science, professor Mark Saltzman and others have been working on an mRNA, but as a nasal spray, instead of getting the injections for your vaccine based on mRNA. They, along with many others, I might add, there are other labs around the country, around the world, that are working on this and are working on a spray that allows you the same degree of protection using the same process, the mRNA process and basically the mRNA is able to attack this spiked part of the virus replicated within the cell in the cytoplasm, not in the nucleus and then allow that cell to then to be able to create its own antibodies, which are like foot soldiers that fight infection of any type. The idea of a nasal spray is very good and is attractive because it is injected directly into the nose, which is where the virus begins. We're certainly where it does most of its damage. It just makes sense that if you can take something and you put it where most of the virus lives or is going to be, that allows it to be even more effective. Keep in mind it's through the nose and the mouth, when we cough, sneeze, breathe, yell, sing, etc. Is how we spread the virus. There are many labs around the world that are working on nasal sprays as a vaccine for the Coronavirus of COVID-19. The lab in India, the codeogenics lab in the US University of Hong Kong lab in China and our own National Institute of Health here in the United States.
Speaker 2:One of the things that's very unique about this mRNA approach is that the package or the delivery system of this particular virus, this particular spray, and the information in this spray, the mRNA, is encased in a nano-particle delivery system. I know that's quite a bit, but nano means something that's real, real small. It's a special delivery system that prevents the particle from being injured or destroyed by the body Because, remember, the body does not like any foreign invasion. Anything comes into the body, the antibodies are going to be on alert and they're going to go after it. You have to couch it in a way that it can escape and slip through those normal defenses of the body so that it can be delivered into the areas of the lung and parts of the respiratory system that would then allow it to be in place to stimulate those same antibodies to fight future invaders, particularly coronavirus invaders. Transcription is an important part of what the messenger RNA does, just very, very quickly. Transcription just means it copies. It's able to copy information from this coronavirus, give it to the cell outside of the nucleus of the cell and allow the body to produce the same information and create antibodies to that information.
Speaker 2:A quick word about the most recent variant, the most recent variants name is ERIS. It is different from other coronavirus strains in that it is causing most of the new strains of coronavirus that we're now seeing, certainly in this country, since August. We're now in the month of September, but the good news about it, though, is that it does not appear to be that different from previous strains. Why is that important? That's good news, because it means that the vaccines that are based on last year's virus should be as effective, if not more effective, against the upcoming virus that we'll see, mostly in 2024. Remember, when you take the vaccine in October or so September, october, November the vaccine is effective and it peaks three months later. You're taking the vaccine during the fall to protect you for the virus that we expect to arrive January, february and March. The other thing about ERIS, the new variant, and this variant is a sub-variant of the Omicron variant. I'm sure some of you remember the Omicron variant a couple of years ago. It was the big, big change. This is a sub-variant of that, but again it does not appear to be too different from the Omicron. Consequently, we should be in good shape, hopefully with the vaccines that we come up with this year.
Speaker 2:The latter part of this year, I'm sure you remember the basic symptoms of COVID-19, fever, fatigue and cough. It starts off with the respiratory type symptoms, but it is clearly not limited to the respiratory area. It can cause diarrhea, gastrointestinal problems, abdominal pain, etc. Depending on the stage of the disease. Obviously, one of the reasons why it is so devastating is that it depends on what your preexisting medical condition is. If you have ongoing medical problems, and this usually will occur in those of us who are getting older, then that makes obviously the virus even more dangerous and makes treatment even more important. Speaking of treatment, again, leaving aside the prevention treatment, specifically treatment like Paxovid, which is a medication you can take as an outpatient, or Redemzavir, which is an IV medication that you can take also as an outpatient, have been quite effective in treating the symptoms of COVID if given early and inappropriately. We're in pretty good shape, but we want to stay ahead of the curve and kill or destroy this scourge before it takes more beautiful lives away from us.
Speaker 2:One of the things to keep in mind is that COVID does more than just affect the physical.
Speaker 2:There's been a huge emotional toll, both on patients and on caregivers, and on family members and friends.
Speaker 2:And remember, as I like to say, the mind, the body and the spirit are all connected and you cannot affect one part of that triangle without affecting all parts of that triangle. And so keep that in mind and be supportive and thoughtful of individuals who are going through stuff, particularly health care related stuff, and, even if you don't know the details, but just give a kind word, handshake, hug, smile, whatever Because sometimes that itself can be therapeutic and can be very helpful. In conclusion, flu mist right now is the only nasal spray vaccine that's been approved by the FDA and it's only available for the regular flu. All vaccines for COVID presently are given with an intramuscular injection. However, many, many labs around the world are working feverishly and most of them are in the second and third phases of development, so they should be getting close and not here to develop the nasal spray variety, which has many advantages that we've talked about earlier, and it is something that I expect to be available either the latter part of 2023, or in early 2024.
Speaker 1:This podcast episode is sponsored by Choctaw Medical Group Incorporated. Also sponsored by Bernie Brown Esquire, author of a Prosecutor's Analysis of Personal Supernatural Experiences. A collection of fascinating stories awaiting your verdict Fact, fiction, fabrication or fantasy, available in paperback and digital formats. Go to THWPcom to get your copy.
Speaker 2:And finally, I always like to end on my basic principles. I like to share this with you. I am a physician of faith. My first principle is God is in charge, and it's because of my faith and belief in God in my life that I have been able to do those things that I've been able to do, and have been able to receive help and support from others also. Secondly, I don't have any bad days. Principle number two I learned about 20 years, 30 years ago, that the days were good and bad, or bad whenever I said they were, and so I decided that I didn't need any more bad days. So my days are the good days are great days.
Speaker 2:Principle number three don't sweat the small stuff, and most stuff is small. I have learned that whenever things happen that most of times it's usually not nearly as bad as I think it is. So I'm working on putting things more in perspective and letting that dictate what my thoughts and what my actions are. Number four forgiveness is therapy, that whenever someone does or says something to me that I perceive as negative, I have learned to forgive instantly. It doesn't matter what the facts are, just forgive them. And finally, number four everything is a relationship. Relationships are based on three things Mutual respect, mutual trust, good communication. If you have those three things, you have a good relationship. If you do not, you have work to do. If you like to subscribe to these podcasts, I would encourage you to go to wwwbusfraudcom, to 1-0-1-0-0-3. And we would appreciate you becoming one of our subscribers. Finally, be the change you want to see in the world. Thank you and have a wonderful day.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to this episode of the Healthy, wet and Wise podcast with Dr William T Chokhtok, mdjd. Be sure to check out other great episodes covering areas of health, wealth and wisdom at THWPcom and, while you're there, be sure to check out the books, blogs and other literature in your preferred format, and don't forget to leave a review, subscribe, share and support the podcast that's at THWPcom. You've been listening to the Healthy, wet and Wise podcast with Dr William T Chokhtok, mdjd.
