Jeffrey D. Esslinger, MD

SCAM ALERT Hopefully that got your attention. My office is already aware of two people who have received calls from the local pharmacy asking about their "interest" or "availability" to get a COVID-19 vaccine. While no personal information was given or collected, we reached out to the pharmacies that supposedly made these calls, and they confirmed that the calls are not legitimate. Keep these things in mind about the COVID vaccine:... 1. There is no mechanism to reserve a vaccine with any vaccine provider. The vaccines will be distributed on a first come, first served bases with priority given to high risk patients and healthcare workers. 2. There is no cost to anyone for the vaccine. The cost of these vaccines is being handled by Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance. Those with none of these payment options will still likely get a free vaccine. 3. Currently there are no local pharmacies or agencies that have the vaccine in stock. This hopefully will change within the next week. 4. I know I should not have to say this, but: DO NOT EVER give personal information regarding your social security number, date of birth, credit card or bank account over the phone, unless it is a transaction you initiated. Even so, there is risk. Stay well and safe, Dr. Esslinger

Hello everyone; I want to update you on the current status of the COVID-19 vaccines that are both being distributed today and those that are coming soon. Firstly, as of now the only facilities that are getting the vaccines are hospitals and pharmacies. The first round of vaccines is intended for front-line healthcare workers and elderly patients in institutional settings (e.g. nursing homes). Once these populations are vaccinated, the rest of us will get access. We do not ...have a timeline as to when that will happen. I have made application with the GA Dept.of Public Health to receive vaccines, but have not been notified of the status yet. We will keep you posted. The current Pfizer vaccine is a two vaccine series, given at least 21 days apart. There have been two reports of patients with severe allergic reactions. Both of these patients had pre-existing severe allergic conditions (i.e. anaphylaxis). There are three more vaccines in the pipeline that hopefully will be approved within the next few weeks. That will increase availability for the general population and give us some options. None of the two-shot vaccines appear to be superior, and all have greater than 90% effectiveness. I AM STRONGLY ENCOURAGING MY PATIENTS TO GET THE VACCINE. I plan to get it myself, as will my staff. If you have concerns about the vaccine safety, efficacy or effectiveness, I would encourage you to speak with me. Please do not let politics play a role in your decision. This is a medical issue, not a political issue. For those of you who are enjoying wearing masks, isolating, running out of toilet paper, and not being able to eat at restaurants, feel free to refuse the vaccines. I understand that many of you are concerned about the fact that you may be in a high risk population (over 65, heart disease, lung problems, diabetes, immune compromised). I do not know how these vaccines will be prioritized. All I can say is that, if and when we get them, we will prioritize patients based on my judgement, so I ask that you trust me to do what's best. I will continue to update you with any news. Warm regards, Dr. Esslinger

Hello everyone! Head over to my "alter ego" FB page for Esslinger Aesthetics, and check out our upcoming Aesthetics Launch Event! I am super excited to be bringing these new services, and I think you will be impressed with the results. Here are some of the services we offer:... Treatment of pigment (brown) spots and vascular (red) spots Skin resurfacing to reduce fine lines and wrinkles Scar/stretch mark treatment Skin tightening on the face and body Body contouring Treatment of stress incontinence in women Laser hair removal And coming soon...Botox and Juvederm! Space is limited to 20 participants, so sign up to take advantage of introductory pricing that you may never see again. Hope to see you there! Dr. Esslinger and Staff

Hello again! Apologies for the radio silence over the past few months. We have been working on some very new and exciting things at my office that I want to share with you. We are about to introduce a whole new suite of services to my practice. As part of the changes, we are also going through a re-branding. Jeffrey D. Esslinger, MD, PC (such a mundane and boring name) is evolving into Esslinger Medical and Aesthetics. Beginning in early November we will be offering skin ...and aesthetics treatments with two of the most advanced devices currently offered, TempSure and ICON Laser. I am inviting everyone over to my new web page esslingermedaesthetics.com to check things out. These new services will not be limited to my medical patients, and will be offered as a separate service to all comers. Everything from skin tightening, body contouring, photofacials, wrinkle reduction and hair removal will be on the menu. These services will largely be administered by a licensed physician (me), so that you can be assured that you are getting a complete consult and the very best and safest treatment for your conditions. By making you look healthy, you will feel healthier. My hope is that my patients and clients will use this new found confidence as a boost to continue or improve their health habits, helping them to feel as good as they look. We also have a new Facebook page at Esslinger Aesthetics. Please like my page so you can be part of the grand opening experience (and probably some special package discounts!) Message me through my new Facebook page to be the first to go on our treatment waiting list! More information to come, stay tuned. Jeff Esslinger, MD

COVID-19- We have the antibody test, but... Good morning, all. I'm back with a (hopefully) meaningful update on the battle with COVID-19. As many of you already may know, we now have a widely available laboratory blood test to detect antibodies to COVID-19. While this is definitely a step in the right direction (and typically a stepping stone to development of a vaccine), there are a few caveats. Let me quickly and simply explain the test. This is a serum (blood) test tha...t is detecting two of the main types of antibodies- IgM and IgG. Antibodies are produced by our immune systems in response to infections, and are both a way of fighting the organism and a way of "remembering" the organism. IgM is the first one produced as an immediate response. With COVID-19 these antibodies appear 3-5 days after infection. After a few weeks, the body starts producing IgG, which is a longer term antibody than can stay in the system for months or even years. IgM is the first line of defense, whereas IgG will help impart immunity. What's good about the blood testing? Mostly, it eliminates much of the potential error that can occur with collecting and processing a nasal swab. There are two major points to make about this new antibody test. Firstly, not everyone should be tested. We are still generally reserving testing for those with symptoms and those at highest risk. The second, and most important point, is that testing does not necessarily determine immunity. We have not established how long IgG antibodies (those that produce immunity) stay in the system. The main point of testing is to determine who has been exposed. This can help us determine who needs to be quarantined more accurately. Also, It takes 3-5 days for results to come back, so it still is not ideal. Bottom line: don't rush into your doctor's office asking to be tested. This is simply one more tool in the fight. But it sure is promising. Stay well and safe. Jeff Esslinger, MD