Access Family Medicine Dr. Tamara Powell MD

12/14/2025

COVID-19 vaccines reduce severe outcomes in veteran study
A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduced emergency department visits, hospitalizations and deaths among US veterans. Conducted by the VA, the observational study compared individuals who received both COVID-19 and influenza vaccines with those who only received the influenza vaccine. Results showed vaccine effectiveness of 29.3% against ED visits, 39.2% against hospitalizations and 64.0% against deaths.
Full Story: Infectious Disease Advisor

12/13/2025

Governor Kotek strengthens food security with statewide philanthropic partnership
Governor Tina Kotek announced that philanthropic partners from the Oregon Disaster Funders Network (ODFN) are matching the state’s $6 million investment to increase food security for people in Oregon. The funds will support regional food banks, local food pantries and community organizations.

You can help

Give to the Stronger Together Fund of Oregon Community Foundation. All donations through Dec. 31, 2025 will go to fight hunger in Oregon.

12/13/2025

12/12/2025

Shorter antibiotic courses OK for some pediatric infections
Physicians are encouraged to prescribe shorter, 5- to 7-day antibiotic courses for common pediatric infections like pneumonia and otitis media, as the shorter regimens are effective and help curb antibiotic resistance, according to a presentation at the Infectious Diseases in Children Symposium. Some clinicians continue to prescribe traditional 10-day regimens despite these recommendations.
Full Story: Healio (free registration)

12/11/2025

Q: I’m curious about measles vaccines for seniors. Specifically, people born before 1957. A lot of us can’t remember if we were vaccinated as children and we’re unsure if we need to get vaccinated now. – Jan, Tualatin

A: We assume that people born before 1957 have had measles and are immune for life. That's because it was nearly universal at that time.

It’s possible that people born in 1957 or shortly after weren’t exposed to measles or received a vaccination before mass vaccination for measles began in 1963.

Talk with your health care provider about the best option for you. Whatever your age, it’s safe to get vaccinated against measles more than once – even if you’ve had measles.

To learn more about measles, read our blog post, Measles: what you should know.

12/11/2025

12/10/2025

Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with multiple contributing genetic and environmental factors. Suggesting it stems from any single cause, such as vaccination, misleads families who deserve accurate guidance. Vaccines are thoroughly tested and remain one of the most important tools for preventing infectious diseases. Families should seek information from trusted health care providers and medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics.

12/09/2025

Longer walks may be better for heart health
A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine suggested that longer walks are more beneficial for heart health than shorter ones. Researchers found that walking 15 minutes or more, rather than doing multiple shorter walks, was associated with lower risks of heart disease and mortality over nearly a decade. The study involved 33,560 adults with a median age of 62.

12/08/2025

https://thatoregonlife.com/2025/11/christmas-lights-oregon-guide-2025/?utm_source=brevo&utm_campaign=Nov+2+2025+Newsletter&utm_medium=email

12/07/2025

Fine Particulate Matter May Play Significant Role In Cognitive Decline
The New York Times (11/1, Span) reported on the role that air pollution, “specifically, the level of fine particulate matter called PM2.5,” may play in cognitive impairment. According to the Times, there is “increasing evidence that chronic exposure to PM2.5, a neurotoxin, not only damages lungs and hearts but is also associated with dementia.” Research at the University of Pennsylvania “included more than 600 brains donated over two decades” by donors who “had undergone years of cognitive testing at Penn Memory.” The research team concluded that “the higher the exposure to PM2.5, the greater the extent of Alzheimer’s disease.” They observed that the “odds of more severe Alzheimer’s pathology at autopsy were almost 20 percent greater among donors who had lived where PM2.5 levels were high.”

12/06/2025

Healthy Dietary Patterns Associated With Reduced Rheumatoid Arthritis Risk, Review Finds.

Rheumatology Advisor (10/31, Saha) reported a systemic review and meta-analysis of 12 studies found that “adherence to healthy dietary patterns, including anti-inflammatory and Mediterranean diets, is associated with a lower risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA).” Results of the analysis indicated that “adherence to a healthy overall dietary pattern was associated with a 46% lower risk for incident RA. In sensitivity analyses limited to studies with the lowest risk for bias, the protective association persisted but was more modest. Results of subgroup analyses revealed significant associations for anti-inflammatory and Mediterranean diets. While HEI and DASH diets also showed reduced odds of RA, these results were not statistically significant.” The review was published in Seminars in Arthritis & Rheumatism.

12/06/2025