Get children the flu vaccine this year; eat early in the day
Q: I’m reluctant to get my kids, ages 2 and 9, the flu vaccine, but this year our pediatrician says it’s required -- at least by his practice. They’ve never had the flu and I don’t want the flu shot to make them more vulnerable to COVID. What do you think I should do? -- Jessie G., Joplin, Missouri
A: A lot of folks are hesitant to get the flu shot for their kids (and themselves). A new study from the University of Colorado
School of Medicine found that 6.1% of parents are hesitant to give their children routine childhood vaccines, but a whopping 25.8% are reluctant to have them get the influenza vaccines.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says compliance is even lower. In the 2018-2019 flu season, vaccination coverage with at least one dose was 62.6% among children 6 months through 17 years. That means 37.4% of parents had their kids skip it.
As the saying goes, “He [or she] who hesitates is lost.” And there is a lot to lose if you hesitate to get your kids the flu vaccine, especially this year. Getting children (and adults) the 2020-2021 shot can reduce the risk of simultaneous infections or consecutive infections with the influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2. We fear kids risk severe illness, even death, if they get the two viruses around the same time. The CDC estimates that last year, flu vaccines reduced children’s doctor visits for the illness by 55%.
Furthermore, the flu shot does not increase the risk of contracting COVID-19, as some on social media have claimed. For data and details, go to FactCheck.org. The vaccine also cannot give you the flu -- neither the injection nor the nasal spray contains viruses that can reproduce or infect a person. So please talk to your pediatrician about getting your child 6 months and older a flu shot. (Some children require two shots, four weeks apart). And Mom and Dad, get yours too!
Q: My wife and I like to have dinner late, after the kids have eaten and we’ve put them to bed. But now she says she’s going to eat dinner at 6 p.m. with the kids, because she wants to lose weight. Can you help me talk her out of eating dinner earlier? -Steve D., Chicago
A: Sorry, Steve, but your wife is onto something that’s very important for you (and everyone) to pay attention to, whether you want to shed extra pounds, stabilize blood glucose or just maintain your health.
A new study in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism backs up what we’ve been saying for about two years (check out Dr. Mike’s recent book, “What to Eat When”): You want to eat 75% of your daily calories before 2 p.m., and you want to finish eating for the day more than three hours before bedtime.
One of folks’ biggest mistakes is eating most of their calories late in the day, with a heavy dinner and latenight snacking. The When
Way is about flipping that around. And once you have your early, light dinner, you want to start a period of fasting that is 12 hours or longer (7 p.m. to 7 a.m., say). Over time, try to extend that to 14 to 16 hours (7 p.m. to 9 a.m. or 11 a.m.). That allows your body to use the food you eat most efficiently, avoids glucose spikes and promotes better sleep.
In the study, two groups of folks were given exactly the same calorie count for dinner. One group ate at 6 and one at 10. Both groups went to bed at 11. The folks who ate later had a 10% reduction in fat burning, higher cortisol levels while they slept (not restful), an 18% higher glucose level and increased weight. So there’s your proof -- now tell your wife how smart she is and see what you can do to adopt this eating schedule too!
Mehmet Oz, M.D. is host of “The Dr. Oz Show,” and Mike Roizen, M.D. is Chief Wellness Officer and Chair of Wellness Institute at Cleveland Clinic. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Oz and Dr. Roizen at youdocsdaily(at sign)sharecare.com.