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Every year, the influenza virus infects thousands of people throughout the US. This year, the flu epidemic has been more burdensome because of the pandemic.

Flu leads to hundreds of hospitalizations and deaths every year. To combat this, thousands of people get the influenza vaccine. But is it safe to get a flu shot during the pandemic? Yes, here are four reasons why.

Keeps You Healthy

Flu symptoms include cough, body aches, and fever that can prevent a healthy person from going to school, work, or run errands for a week or longer.

The best way to prevent catching the influenza virus is to get a flu shot every year. Influenza vaccination can prevent thousands of flu-related hospital visits and illnesses every year.

According to the CDC, flu vaccination during 2019 and 2020 prevented 3.69 million doctor’s visits, 7.52 million illnesses, and 6,300 influenza-associated deaths.

Beat the Flu Bug

Influenza vaccination can lower the number of times people visit the doctor due to flu. Many research studies show that flu vaccination effectively dilutes the severity of flu among people who get vaccinated and still get infected.

Care for Others

Once you get the flu shot, you are indirectly preventing others (who are older and dealing with various health conditions) around you from getting the flu. Children younger than six months cannot get a flu vaccine, and you protect them too from getting the virus by getting an influenza vaccine.

Help the Doctors

Getting an influenza vaccine in 2021 is crucial because a flu shot can help protect you and those around you, reducing the burden on hospitals during the pandemic.

Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms? Get Tested Today!

Good Hearts Testing is a COVID-19 testing facility in Miami offering Antigen and PCR testing. We provide same day results for drive-thru COVID test and corporate COVID test. Book an appointment and get accurate covid testing.

Here is everything you need to know about the COVID-19 Vaccine

Here is how you can stay active during quarantine.

COVID-19 can show mild to intense symptoms. Here are three different types of COVID-19 cases.

Mild case

Mild coronavirus symptoms include mild nasal congestion, sore throat, faint muscle ache, low-grade fever, and a slight cough. After you’ve been exposed to the virus for two or more days, you may also experience chills, headache, and shortness of breath.

If you’ve lost your sense of taste or smell, it may be a good sign that you have contracted the coronavirus, and it’s not the common cold. This loss of taste and smell can come very abruptly.

Young individuals who don’t have any underlying health conditions tend to feel sick for a few days before they start to feel better. Even if they feel better and don’t have severe symptoms, doctors recommend that they stay isolated for at least two weeks from the time they developed the symptoms.

Mild caseMild to Moderate Case

Mild to moderate cases may experience fever and respiratory problems. Patients with mild to moderate symptoms get nighttime sweats, fever, and an unsettling dry cough. They can also feel pressure in their chest and shortness of breath. It makes them feel very weak, and a task as small as getting a glass of water may require them to put in a lot of effort. It can take longer for such cases to fully recover. People can feel sick for several weeks before they can regain their stamina and strength.

A critical time for COVID-19 patients is the period between day six and ten. During this time, they either start to feel better or continue to feel terrible with regards to their symptoms. The first ten days can predict the kind of a turn the virus will take. The virus can cause inflammation in your lungs, liver, and kidneys.

Moderate to Severe Case

The main reason why COVID-19 patients end up in the hospital is due to respiratory issues and low levels of oxygen. However, low levels of oxygen saturation don’t mean that you’re severely ill. Some patients don’t go to the ICU or need ventilators, while others do.

Those who have underlying health conditions such as diabetes, cancer, lung or heart disease, or obesity are at greater risk of developing severe symptoms.

Experiencing Symptoms? Get Tested Today!

Good Hearts Testing isa COVID-19 testing facility in Miami offeringAntigen and PCR test. We provide drive-thru COVID testand corporate COVID test with same day results. Book an appointment with us and get accurate covid testing.

With the pandemic still raging on, we need to keep taking conscientious preventative measures like washing hands, wearing masks, and social distancing along with getting tested for the virus.

The FDA has issued an emergency use authorization for several COVID-19 tests. But which test is the best to detect the virus? Let’s find out.

Molecular Tests (PCR tests, nucleic acid tests, viral RNA tests)

How is it done?

It’s done through throat swabs, nasal swabs, and tests of bodily fluids like saliva.

Where can you get this test from?

At a hospital, a testing facility, at your home, or in your car. According to the FDA, you don’t need to have a prescription to get a molecular test.

What does this test look for?

Molecular test tests for SARS-CoV-2, a virus which causes COVID-19. The specimen will be added to a thermal cycler along with special chemicals so that the RNA of the virus can duplicate itself. If that happens, the cycler will show a fluorescent light and it will mean that the test is positive.

How long does it take to get the results?

The time depends on the testing facility’s capacity. You can have the test results within a few hours, but usually, they take a day. At Good Hearts Testing, we promise same-day results.

Are the tests accurate?

Your test may show a false negative (when you have the virus, but the test shows otherwise) if the infection has stayed in your body for long. A research study showed that the probability of a false negative was 20% when the virus was five days old and 100% when the virus just entered the body.

It’s less likely that you get a false positive (when you don’t have the virus, but the test shows otherwise). A false-positive result is often a consequence of lab contamination. To ensure accuracy, testing services use nasal swabs as they result in fewer false negatives than other sampling methods.

Antigen Tests

How is it done?

It’s done using a throat or a nasal swab.

Where can you get this test from?

At a hospital, a testing facility, at your home, or in your car. You don’t need a prescription for a home antigen test.

What does this test look for?

This test looks for antigens, which are protein fragments, on the virus’s surface to determine the presence of a pathogen that causes COVID-19.

How long does it take to get the results?

The technology used for an antigen test is similar to a rapid strep or a pregnancy test. Therefore, the results may be available within minutes. At Good Hearts Testing, we promise results in fifteen minutes.

Are the tests accurate?

Antigen tests often result in false negatives. Therefore, the FDA doesn’t favor antigen testing as the sole determinant of the virus. As antigen testing is less expensive, quicker, and doesn’t need complex technology to perform compared to molecular testing, health experts recommend individuals to get tested repeatedly for better results.

Antibody Tests (serologic testing)

How is it done?

The testing service takes a sample of your blood either from your vein or through a finger prick.

Where can you get this test from?

At a hospital or a testing facility.

What does this test look for?

This test can detect antibodies that your immune system has produced as a response to the virus. The test will look for one of these two antibodies:

IgM (immunoglobulin M) antibodies made in the earlier period of the infection
IgG (immunoglobulin G) antibodies made after the IgM antibody and lasts for longer

How long does it take to get the results?

Results come in a few days.

Are the tests accurate?

Conducting an antibody test in the early stages can result in false negatives because it takes around one or more weeks for your immune system to create antibodies. Research shows that antibodies can disappear within few months. While the test shows that you’ve been exposed to coronavirus, there’s no proof that you have long-lasting immunity.

Get Tested Today

Good Hearts Testing provides a COVID-19 testing facility in Miami. Whether you want to take a drive-thru COVID test, travel PCR test, antibody test, corporate COVID test, or group COVID test, we offer quick results. You can get our Antigen test results within 15 minutes. For accurate covid testing, book an appointment at our testing center today.

What I have learned in the first two weeks of the Omicron outbreak

This update was prepared by Dr. Mario Quiros. Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician

What I have l learned

I just finished working 7 of 8 days in the Emergency Department in Miami, FL and experienced Omicron firsthand. I am writing this update to share what I have learned, hopefully ease some tension, and give readers a realistic expectation of what is to come. Omicron seemed to have hit out of nowhere. We literally went from seeing very little Covid -19 cases at the end of November to being inundated with patients the week of December 13th. All of the sudden several of my friends were getting ill at the same time, nearly all of them vaccinated. At the time it was still felt that the majority of circulating Covid -19 cases were still attributed to Delta, but I knew something different was going on. I have never seen so many completely vaccinated (many with a booster dose), previously infected patients, and patients who had been infected and were also vaccinated become ill in such a short period of time. We knew Omicron was starting to circulate in our communities but the rate it has eclipsed Delta as the dominant strain of Covid-19 in Miami was astonishing. We now know that Omicron makes up over 73% of Covid-19 cases nationwide and over 90% of cases in certain regions. Omicron is likely responsible for 90-95% of Covid-19 cases in Miami-Dade county currently. How is Omicron Different from Delta? Most of my patients have tended to be younger, vaccinated, and/or previously been infected with Covid-19. Typically new waves start in younger healthier populations so we will learn more about how it effects older patients and patient with more co morbidities over the next few weeks. Patients:

Generally had mild symptoms compared to the Delta surge over the summer which hit unvaccinated patients particularly hard. However a large proportion of infected patients were fully vaccinated which we did not see with Delta
Had more upper respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, congestion, sore throat, laryngitis, burning in the chest, and bronchitis
Did not lose their sense of taste and smell like we were seeing commonly with other variants
Had little pulmonary (lung) involvement. Less of our coughing patients had pneumonia on their chest X rays or abnormal breath sounds on exam.
Were much less likely to be hypoxic (low oxygen levels) compared to prior variants.
Omicron patients were more likely to have their asthma exacerbations triggered by their infection Prior strains caused pneumonia at a high rate but normally did not trigger asthma. Omicron has been causing more bronchitis than pneumonia and this bronchial inflammation was triggering patients asthma.
Fatigue, body aches, headaches, fever, and chills all remain common symptoms.

The Good News:

This is the mildest strain of Covid-19 I have treated to date. So far I have seen less critically ill patients, admitted less patients to the hospital, and far less patients have required supplemental oxygen or any form of ventilatory support.
We have more tools than ever before to prevent severe disease in the form of Vaccines that prevent severe illness and Monoclonal antibody therapy to treat patients once they become ill.
I think this is going to burn through fairly quickly. Most Delta surges lasted 6-8 weeks. Based on the rate of infection this will probably spread very quickly but hopefully burn through very quickly as well, likely in 2-8 weeks

The Bad News: 1. Omicron appears to be much more contagious than previous strains and seems very effective at evading immunity provided by vaccination. Recent data suggests 2 doses of the Pfizer vaccine is 33% effective at preventing infection compared to the unvaccinated. The protection against hospitalization is 70% compared to being unvaccinated. These numbers are significantly down from what we saw with prior variants, both these numbers were well over 90% previously. Booster doses are recommended at this time to to decrease the chance of infection and severe disease. The exact efficacy is unclear as I have seen conflicting data on 3 dose vaccine efficacy and this is something we are still learning about on a daily basis. The CEO of Pfizer claims 3 doses of Pfizer provides similar immunity to Omicron that 2 doses of Pfizer provided to the original Covid strain. From what I have seen clinically to date this does not correlate but we need more data to know for sure. 2. The timing is terrible, right before the Holidays. When you combine this with how contagious Omicron is and many patients having mild symptoms the chance for widespread transmission is very high. I feel we are only going to learn about the severity of this strain on the high risk population in the next few weeks. Unlike Delta, we are likely to see widespread disease in the elderly population and in patients with more co morbidities as Omicron is very effective at evading immunity provided by the vaccine. We can only hope the symptoms are mild similar to what I have seen in the younger and healthier population. Only time will tell. In the mean time my advice is to practice an abundance of caution for those around you who would be considered high risk from a Covid-19 infection. This disease has humbled us all and I think prudence is the wisest course of action this Holiday Season.

What is a PCR test?

In biological terms, a Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test is used to amplify and detect genetic material present in a person’s saliva or nasal sample. Compared to other genetic amplification techniques, a PCR test is less time-consuming but effective.

The two most important genetic molecules detected using a PCR test are known as Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) and Ribonucleic Acid (RNA). While many traditional genetic sequence detection tools are available in the market, a PCR test is found more effective, especially for detecting COVID-19.

The “RT” in RT-PCR tests stands for Reverse Transcription. When performing a lab procedure on RT-PCR samples, a nasopharyngeal sample is added to the test-tube. This substance develops numerous copies of the viral RNA that may be present in the sample.

Excess copies of a viral RNA results in a positive result. The RT-PCR tests is designed to prime and probe genetic molecules in a sample. An RT-PCR test also allows lab workers to get a clearer picture of the exact intensity of COVID-19 molecules.

Viruses such as the SARS-CoV-2 are RNA based. They can only be detected in a sample if there’s adequate infiltration of healthy cells. Once the virus comes in contact with healthy cells, it multiplies. COVID-19 can reprogram the cellular composition inside the human body and spread by copying viral RNA particles within seconds.

PCR tests are conducted to detect the presence of a viral RNA molecule. This genetic substance can be detected inside a human body before the Coronavirus has entered it. Therefore, detecting a viral RNA is a good way to tell whether someone has already been affected by the disease. This type of test is considered the gold standard in the times of Coronavirus.

The Sars-COV-2 is not simple RNA-virus. It’s constantly mutating and nullifying the test results obtained from traditional techniques. This is where the PCR comes into play.

The best part about a PCR test is that it can be conducted at home, in your car, at a laboratory, or clinics. Its turnaround time usually varies from one to three days. Early on, when the pandemic was at its prime, people faced extreme delays in results due to high demand.

What is a Real Time RT–PCR?

With rapid advances in the COVID-19 testing practices, medical researchers developed a real time RT-PCR test. The main difference between a traditional and real time PCR is that the latter is a nuclear-derived process. It detects the presence of a specific genetic molecule. The real time RT-PCR test identifies viral molecules in any kind of infectious pathogen.

This method was originally used to create markers for radioactive particles in the genetic materials. Now it has been refined to detect more complex viral RNAs. The real time RT-PCR test proved extremely effective in checking the current progress of Coronavirus inside an infected person.

The testing kits for real time RT–PCR were initially not accessible to general public. It was limited to healthcare workers and people employed at more vulnerable places. Many countries have used this test to detect complicated diseases like the Ebola virus and Zika virus. Thanks to mass production facilities, it’s being adopted for rapid COVID-19 detection at a national capacity.

Why Use Real Time PCR Test?

The real time RT-PCR test is more time-effective than traditional PCR test. It can provide prompt results with three hours of sample collection, allowing people to isolate if they’re COVID-19 positive. Ultimately, this leads to lower spread rate.

Along with the progression in health diagnosis, nucleic acid based COVID-19 detection techniques have become a rapid and reliable technology. It also has a lower potential of showing false positives and negatives. Since quick genetic mutation has been noticed in novel Coronavirus, the real time RT-PCR targets multiple genes to eliminate invalid results.

However, a real time PCR test can’t detect past infections. This is very important to monitor the development of virus in a community or a group of people. It can also help healthcare workers track and curb Coronavirus cases.

When to Get Tested for COVID-19?

Now that you understand the key differences between the traditional and real time PCR tests, here’s a list of all the signs that indicate you need to get tested for COVID-19 ASAP:

If you have one or more Coronavirus symptoms before or after the vaccination
If you’ve been in close contact with an infected person for over fifteen minutes
If you’ve participated in activities that might’ve put you at a risk of catching the virus
If you’re experiencing flu and fever like symptoms after a travel trip, an event, or a public gathering

For organizations, we strongly recommend a well-managed and controlled screening program. This shall include symptom tracking, rapid COVID testing, and implementation of standard SOPs before and after vaccinations.

You can contact us at Good Hearts Testing for reliable COVID-19 testing today.

I wanted to take the time to address some controversies regarding Covid -19 vaccination. As a healthcare provider I find it very important to deliver the best possible information to my patients and present information in a fair and unbiased way. I wanted to discuss 3 topics in greater length to help clear up some controversies and misconceptions regarding Covid-19 Vaccination.

1. Is the Vaccine Safe?

I try and look at things as objectively as possible. At this point I feel you have two options. Either you get vaccinated or you will ultimately develop a Covid-19 infection without the protection of prior vaccination. While there are some very rare side effects from the vaccine, the benefits far outweigh the risks according to any objective measurement. Furthermore if you look at any of the side effects of vaccination, they occur at much higher rates with natural infection.

Recently there has been a lot made about the development of myocarditis/myopericarditis in children who had received mRNA Covid vaccines. This is true and vaccination does carry a small risk of causing myocarditis/pericarditis. However, when you look at the incidence of this complication due to vaccination vs. natural infection the risks are not nearly equivalent. The risk of myocarditis in someone who received the Covid vaccine is between 1 in 40,000 to 1 in 60,000. The risk of myocarditis in someone who has a natural infection is closer to 1 in 45. While most people do well with appropriate treatment this nonetheless scares a lot of people and pushes them away from vaccination. When looked at it objectively there is a 1000 x greater likelihood of developing this from natural infection and does not appear to be reasonable reason not to get vaccinated from that perspective.

2. I no longer have detectable Antibodies so I need a booster!

There is some data that shows that persistence of detectable neutralizing antibodies helps prevent symptomatic disease from an acute Covid-19 infection. While this is important it is not the only endpoint. The vaccines remain extremely effective in preventing severe disease and death, even in people who no longer possess neutralizing antibodies. The reason is that there are other aspects to your immune system like memory B cell immunity that may play a role in helping you fight off an acute Covid-19 infection. Vaccination against Covid-19, particularly 2 doses of one of the mRNA vaccines has been shown to trigger this type of immunity. As a result your body is primed to fight on an acute infection, develop new antibodies to combat infection when faced with an acute infection, and as a result suppress any acute infection so that it does not cause severe illness and death.

I do not think we will ever eradicate this virus but we can live with it. If we can prevent severe illness and death then we are winning the fight agains this pandemic and over time the threat it poses to our society will decrease immensely. In my opinion too much emphasis is placed on the vaccine completely preventing Covid-19 infections. Even if the vaccine does not prevent acute infection at as high a rate over time there are still tremendous benefits from vaccination whether it being a much lower chance of contracting Covid-19 if exposed, milder illness if you do develop symptomatic infection, and a narrower window of transmissibility if you do become infected,

3. Do I need to get vaccinated if I have previously been infected with Covid-19?

This is tricky. While current CDC recommendations are for vaccination despite prior Covid-19 infection I am not 100% sure this is absolutely necessary at this time. Studies have shown that vaccination decreases your chance of acute infection and death even if you have previously been infected with Covid-19. I have not seen good data regarding the risk of severe infection and death overall for someone who has previously been infected with Covid-19 and develops a second Covid-19 infection. Complicating matters further is conflicting data. A large study out of Israel showed natural infection to confer better immunity than immunity from vaccination while another large study out of England showed the opposite. Clearly we don’t have the answer to which is superior, immunity from vaccination or natural immunity, but assuming they are even close you could infer that natural immunity would produce similar protection against severe disease and death from a second Covid-19 infection.

I understand why one would feel that a vaccine is not necessary if they have recently recovered from Covid even if vaccination would provide additional protection. However, I do not think there is evidence that vaccination is unsafe in this population and the societal benefits for the individual in the world of vaccine mandates likely far outweigh any risks of vaccination.

Another consideration in this population would be receiving one mRNA vaccine instead of both doses as there is data showing that one dose is highly effective and two doses may not be necessary.

In closing, these are difficult times and confusing times. I chose to go to medical school and devote my life to this profession but people are being put in a situations to make decisions for themselves and their families while being confronted with conflicting and at times incorrect information. My training and background makes deciphering this information easier, and even then it can be daunting. Science takes time and we are learning more about this disease, treatments, vaccinations, and how they all intersect everyday.

Thanks for reading,

Dr. Quiros

We are proud to offer RT-PCR testing for Covid-19 with results in as little as 30 minutes. This is a game changer for traveller’s as we can now turn around your RT-PCR test results more quickly then ever. Good Hearts Testing was founded on getting our customers their Covid-19 test results quicker then any of our competitor and we are proud to pioneer this era of rapid covid testing.

All of this has been made possible by recent breakthrough’s in technology that allows us to conduct RT-PCR testing on site at our facility using the Thermo Fisher Accula SARS-COV2 test.

Along with the improvement in the turn around times for RT-PCR testing, we have also seen a decrease in the cost of these tests which we happily pass on to our customers. What this all means is that we offer the fastest turn around times for RT-PCR Covid Testing at the best price of anyone in Miami.

– Dr. Q

While work from home has been fairly prevalent during the pandemic, every business cannot afford to operate remotely. Because of this, most workplaces are now open and running on a daily basis. For this purpose, many SOPs, rules, and regulations have been set up for the safety of the people. Here’s how businesses are tackling the challenges during COVID-19:

Risk Assessment and Response Plan

One of the first things to do is to perform a complete assessment of the working environment, focusing on the various risks involving COVID-19. You will require the latest information from authorities such as the CDC to plan out these strategies. Focus on operating with a reduced workforce for all essential operations, especially those that require on-site operations.

Developing a detailed response plan to minimize threat and exposure based on the risk of jobs and any non-occupational exposure that could take place.

Implement Basic Infection Prevention Measures at Workplaces

It’s crucial to have special meetings and briefings with all employees, instructing them on how to prevent infection within the working environment. Frequent hand washing across the various stations needs to be promoted. Workers should avoid using each other’s items, including pens, phones, and desks, to limit chances of cross-contamination.

Tissues and trashcans should readily be available. The workplace should regularly be cleaned and disinfected; specially high traffic areas should be disinfected regularly.

Identification and Isolation of Infected

All of your employees should be regularly monitored and tested. No one should be allowed on the working premises without a face mask. In case any employees show signs and symptoms of infection, there should be a procedure on how to isolate them from the rest of the workforce.

In case an employee begins to feel unwell or experience any symptoms, they should immediately inform their supervisor to alert the chain of command.

Organizing Meetings

As beneficial as teleconferences and online meetings can be, many meetings must be conducted in person. For such events, try to limit the number of attendees. There should be masks and alcohol-based hand sanitizers readily available, and attendees should be encouraged to keep their hands clean at all times. Social distancing must be followed, with each attendant sitting 1 meter apart from the other.

The area should be well ventilated, with open windows and doors to allow fresh air inside the meeting area.

If you’re a business in Miami and looking for an easy and fast COVID testing, Good Hearts Testing helps corporate businesses with their needs. You can find antigen, PCR, or antibody testing for COVID-19 in our services. We also help individuals and companies, offering at-home COVID tests, group testing, production testing, and in-studio testing.

Acquire a quick, reliable, and easy COVID testing solution for yourself, your loved ones, and employees with us right away. Get in touch with us for our services.

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©2023 by Good Hearts Health.

Keeps You Healthy

Beat the Flu Bug

Care for Others

Help the Doctors

Experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms? Get Tested Today!

Mild case

Mild caseMild to Moderate Case

Moderate to Severe Case

Experiencing Symptoms? Get Tested Today!

Molecular Tests (PCR tests, nucleic acid tests, viral RNA tests)

How is it done?

Where can you get this test from?

What does this test look for?

How long does it take to get the results?

Are the tests accurate?

Antigen Tests

How is it done?

Where can you get this test from?

What does this test look for?

How long does it take to get the results?

Are the tests accurate?

Antibody Tests (serologic testing)

How is it done?

Where can you get this test from?

What does this test look for?

How long does it take to get the results?

Are the tests accurate?

Get Tested Today

What is a PCR test?

What is a Real Time RT–PCR?

Why Use Real Time PCR Test?

When to Get Tested for COVID-19?

Risk Assessment and Response Plan

Implement Basic Infection Prevention Measures at Workplaces

Identification and Isolation of Infected

Organizing Meetings