3-22-21:  Our office is overwhelmed with calls and questions about Covid.   There is one website Dr. Birdwell recommends to patients, and that is www.ValleyCovidHelp.com.  It is relatively current, and the format is actually usable.  www.CDC.gov is another option, but it's not as easy to navigate or find information as www.ValleyCovidHelp.com.

Many people call asking if they should get the vaccine or not.  "Will I get sick?".  "Is it experimental?".  "What are the long term side effects?", "Should I/my Dad/my Mom get the vaccine?", etc...  There are a lot of questions, concerns and fears over the vaccine, and we hear them all.  We have had hundreds of patients who have taken the vaccine at the Department of Health and elsewhere, and so far, most have reported few to no side effects. 
This is what Dr. Birdwell has to say about the vaccine and what to keep in mind when deciding:


"The vaccines currently available are considered experimental.   We will not know the long term effects for years to come.  However, the vaccines appear to be effective for building antibodies to the COVID-19 virus and this helps a person fight an infection and may prevent hospitalization for those that are at high risk for complications.  It is reasonable for a person over 65 years old and for those with multiple risk factors to get the vaccine. 
The decision you make regarding the vaccine is a personal choice, but it comes down to how much risk you have of becoming ill enough to be hospitalized should you be infected."


We do not carry the vaccines in our office.  The vaccines currently available require equipment and storage considerations we cannot accommodate at this time.

Dr. Birdwell always recommends the Madera County Department of Health as where to get the vaccine.  There are plenty of other facilities like your local pharmacy or your insurance health plan, that also offer the vaccine, but we can't keep up with them all.  They often run out of the vaccine or change the offering location.