Covid-19 Information

Revised 10/4/2025
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Current Status

The US government denies the dangers of Covid, but the virus is still with us and causes serious disease in some.  You can get an indication of the present levels, including the periodic waves, from various sources.  As you can see from the graph below, the latest Covid wave has just peaked.  This is data compiled by J.P. Weiland, an infectious disease modeler, who can be found on Bluesky @jpweiland.bsky.social (no account needed to view posts). 

Booster Vaccination for 2025-2026

I recommend that you ignore the current CDC advice regarding Covid boosters. There are better, more reliable scientific sources.

 

Booster Vaccine Options for 2025-2026

All the Covid booster vaccines are targeting the same virus strain.  They will help protect you from the more severe effects ot the Covid virus for as long as 6 months.  They will help prevent you from getting Covid for about 2 months.  I recommend that you get one, especially if you have not been vaccinated in recent years.

There have been many negative comments made about vaccines by the US Secretary of Health and Human Services (Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.) and the various people he has appointed to government committees, all of whom are “vaccine skeptics.”  However, the vaccines themselves were developed and manufactured by reputable vaccine companies, without any interference from him or any other US government official.  The vaccines are safe and pure.

Here are the vaccines available this year:
(µg = microgram)

  1. Pfizer:  Comirnaty® (mRNA technology) – targeting the entire Covid spike protein, at the same dose as past years (30 µg).
     
  2. Moderna  (mRNA technology):
    a. Spikevax® – targeting the entire Covid spike protein, at the same dose as past years (50 µg).
    b. mNexspike® – new vaccine, targeting a small portion of the Covid spike protein, at a lower dose (10 µg).  Theoretically, the lower dose should result in less side effects.
     
  3. Novavax:  Nuvaxovid™ (traditional vaccine technology):
  • Contains 5 µg of the Covid spike protein (similar to flu or other vaccines), with 50 µg of an adjuvant (to increase the body's antibody response to the spike protein). 
  • It has fewer side effects as compared to the mRNA vaccines. 
  • Information for patients:  https://www.nuvaxovid.com/
  • CVS is definitely carrying this vaccine in NYC – you need to choose this option when scheduling.
  • At Walgreens, you may need to request that the pharmacist order this vaccine ahead of time.
     

Information for Patients, Prior to Your Appointment with Dr. Weiss

The use of face masks in our office and medical office building is optional, unless you are recovering from Covid  (*see below). 
However, let us know if you want me and my staff to wear a face mask.  We will gladly do so.  We will provide you with a paper mask, if you need one.
Masks with an exhalation valve should not be used, as they do not protect others from Covid. 

We are still screening all patients, so that we do not expose our performing artist patients to Covid. 
Prior to your visit to our office, please answer these questions:

  1. Have you tested positive for Covid in the last week?
  2. Has anyone in your household (or any person who you have been in close contact with) tested positive for Covid or developed symptoms of Covid in the last week?
  3. Do you have a fever?  If you are not sure, take your temperature with a thermometer before you leave for your appointment.  You have a fever if your temperature is higher than 99.5° F.
  4. Do you have any symptoms of Covid: headache, runny nose, sore throat, sneezing, persistent cough, fever, chills, loss of sense of taste or smell? 

If the answers are all "no" you do not need to inform us.
If the answer to ANY question is “yes” then you should contact us.

* To protect the health of the other performing artists who may be in our office, we use strict guidelines.
If you are more than 6 days after the onset of Covid symptoms, and if you wish to come for your appointment:

  1. You must be asymptomatic for at least 36 hours.
  2. You must have had no fever (i.e., be less than than 99.5° F) for at least 36 hours.
  3. You must have tested negative with an at-home Covid test (as these detect live virus).
  4. You must wear a well-fitting N95 or KN95 mask at all times when you are in our office. (We can supply you with a N95 mask.) 

General Covid Information

Reference on all aspects of Covid, from the NYC Health (NYC Department of Health and Mental Mental Hygiene):  CLICK HERE.

“Masks are still effective tools to reduce the risk of spreading or being exposed to COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses. Masks protect you and others by reducing the amount of droplets that enter the air when someone coughs, sneezes, talks, sings or breathes.”

From the NYC Health website:  “With an annual budget of $1.6 billion and more than 7,000 employees throughout the five boroughs, we are one of the largest public health agencies in the world.  We are also the nation's oldest municipal public health agency, with over two centuries of leadership in the field.”
 

Test Postive for Covid?  Isolation Information

Many physicians disagree, but the CDC now views Covid as just another respiratory virus, and no longer recommends isolation if you test positive.  Although Covid is indeed spread via the respiratory route, it is not a benign virus, and it is wise to try not to spread it to others, especially those at high risk.

If you wish to be cautious, you can follow the recommendations that we use for patients who wish to come for an appointment when they are recovering from Covid  (see above).

These are the current CDC recommendations, if you test positive for Covid: 
(from https://www.cdc.gov/ncird/whats-new/updated-respiratory-virus-guidance.html)

Step 1: Stay at home.
As much as possible, you should stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after both:

  1. Your symptoms are getting better overall, and
  2. You have not had a fever (and are not using fever-reducing medication).

This advice is similar to what has been recommended for flu for decades and will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses during the most contagious period after infection. Not all respiratory virus infections result in a fever, so paying attention to other symptoms (cough, muscle aches, etc.) is important as you determine when you are well enough to leave home.

If your symptoms are getting better, and stay better for 24 hours, you are less likely to pass your infection to others and you can start getting back to your daily routine and move on to step 2.

Step 2: Resume normal activities and use added prevention strategies over the next five days.
This may include taking more steps for cleaner air, enhancing your hygiene practices, wearing a well-fitting mask, keeping a distance from others, and/or getting tested for respiratory viruses. People can choose to use these prevention strategies at any time. Since some people remain contagious beyond the "stay-at-home" period, taking added precautions can lower the chance of spreading respiratory viruses to others.