What did we learn from the recent study of COVID-19 transmission in a Korean restaurant?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Indoor dining can be risky, even for a short duration & distance beyond 6 feet/2 meters. #StopSwappingAir In a recent study from South Korea, a high school student was infected in a 5-minute window of time and sitting 20 feet away from the “index” case. How do they know this with such precision? While Read more…
Vaccination against Covid19 is starting! How will the vaccine be monitored for safety?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Healthcare workers and people in long-term care facilities are starting to get the Covid19 vaccine this week. As vaccine supplies improve, more folks will start to get vaccinated in the coming weeks and months. While safety data from the clinical trials is very good, safety monitoring is ongoing and appropriately a priority. Several existing Read more…
¿Se puede transmitir la infección por SARS-CoV-2 a los bebés a través de la leche materna?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: No existe evidencia de que la infección por SARS-CoV-2 se pueda transmitir a los bebés a través de la leche materna con nuevos hallazgos que sugieren que la leche materna en las madres que han tenido COVID-19 contiene anticuerpos específicos de SARS-CoV-2. En un estudio reciente en leche materna de 15 mujeres que se Read more…
What can I do to “improve ventilation” in my house or my office? What does that even mean?
Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We recently talked to environmental strategist and air quality expert Dr. Tim McAuley, founder and CEO of CHANGE Environmental, LLC. Dr. McAuley told us that the best thing we can do to protect ourselves is to create cleaner indoor air *in general*. Ventilation–exchanging indoor air for outdoor air–is just one part of cleaner indoor Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls – Dr. Malia Jones
Uncategorized
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In this week’s edition of our “Meet those nerdy girls” series, we are introducing co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at Dear Pandemic, Dr. Malia Jones. It all started early in the morning on Thursday, March 5th, when Dr. Jones sat down at her computer and wrote a lengthy message to her friends and family about the pandemic. Read more…
It has been a BIG day in vaccine news!
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Today, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the first COVID-19 vaccine! The ACIP met to review and make recommendations on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was given emergency use authorization by the FDA last night. You can read all the information presented at the ACIP meeting (see the link at the bottom). Read more…
The numbers on the COVID dashboards just keep going up and up.😬 📈 When will cases, deaths, and hospitalizations peak and start heading back down? 📉
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Buckle up and hunker down: We have a couple more months to get through before we see steep and sustained drops in the numbers. Most experts say we won’t turn the corner until February at the earliest. Several records were broken this week in the US: Number of new cases per day (232,105 on Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
School Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing Travel
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: Indoor dining can be risky, even for a short duration & distance beyond 6 feet/2 meters. #StopSwappingAir In a recent study from South Korea, a high school student was infected in a 5-minute window of time and sitting 20 feet away from the “index” case. How do they know this with such precision? While Read more…
Vaccination against Covid19 is starting! How will the vaccine be monitored for safety?
VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Healthcare workers and people in long-term care facilities are starting to get the Covid19 vaccine this week. As vaccine supplies improve, more folks will start to get vaccinated in the coming weeks and months. While safety data from the clinical trials is very good, safety monitoring is ongoing and appropriately a priority. Several existing Read more…
¿Se puede transmitir la infección por SARS-CoV-2 a los bebés a través de la leche materna?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Daisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: No existe evidencia de que la infección por SARS-CoV-2 se pueda transmitir a los bebés a través de la leche materna con nuevos hallazgos que sugieren que la leche materna en las madres que han tenido COVID-19 contiene anticuerpos específicos de SARS-CoV-2. En un estudio reciente en leche materna de 15 mujeres que se Read more…
What can I do to “improve ventilation” in my house or my office? What does that even mean?
Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We recently talked to environmental strategist and air quality expert Dr. Tim McAuley, founder and CEO of CHANGE Environmental, LLC. Dr. McAuley told us that the best thing we can do to protect ourselves is to create cleaner indoor air *in general*. Ventilation–exchanging indoor air for outdoor air–is just one part of cleaner indoor Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls – Dr. Malia Jones
Uncategorized
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In this week’s edition of our “Meet those nerdy girls” series, we are introducing co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at Dear Pandemic, Dr. Malia Jones. It all started early in the morning on Thursday, March 5th, when Dr. Jones sat down at her computer and wrote a lengthy message to her friends and family about the pandemic. Read more…
It has been a BIG day in vaccine news!
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Today, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the first COVID-19 vaccine! The ACIP met to review and make recommendations on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was given emergency use authorization by the FDA last night. You can read all the information presented at the ACIP meeting (see the link at the bottom). Read more…
The numbers on the COVID dashboards just keep going up and up.😬 📈 When will cases, deaths, and hospitalizations peak and start heading back down? 📉
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Buckle up and hunker down: We have a couple more months to get through before we see steep and sustained drops in the numbers. Most experts say we won’t turn the corner until February at the earliest. Several records were broken this week in the US: Number of new cases per day (232,105 on Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
School Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing Travel
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: Healthcare workers and people in long-term care facilities are starting to get the Covid19 vaccine this week. As vaccine supplies improve, more folks will start to get vaccinated in the coming weeks and months. While safety data from the clinical trials is very good, safety monitoring is ongoing and appropriately a priority. Several existing Read more…
¿Se puede transmitir la infección por SARS-CoV-2 a los bebés a través de la leche materna?
Families/Kids Infection and Spread Posts en EspañolDaisey Velazquez, Spanish Translation
R: No existe evidencia de que la infección por SARS-CoV-2 se pueda transmitir a los bebés a través de la leche materna con nuevos hallazgos que sugieren que la leche materna en las madres que han tenido COVID-19 contiene anticuerpos específicos de SARS-CoV-2. En un estudio reciente en leche materna de 15 mujeres que se Read more…
What can I do to “improve ventilation” in my house or my office? What does that even mean?
Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We recently talked to environmental strategist and air quality expert Dr. Tim McAuley, founder and CEO of CHANGE Environmental, LLC. Dr. McAuley told us that the best thing we can do to protect ourselves is to create cleaner indoor air *in general*. Ventilation–exchanging indoor air for outdoor air–is just one part of cleaner indoor Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls – Dr. Malia Jones
Uncategorized
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In this week’s edition of our “Meet those nerdy girls” series, we are introducing co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at Dear Pandemic, Dr. Malia Jones. It all started early in the morning on Thursday, March 5th, when Dr. Jones sat down at her computer and wrote a lengthy message to her friends and family about the pandemic. Read more…
It has been a BIG day in vaccine news!
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Today, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the first COVID-19 vaccine! The ACIP met to review and make recommendations on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was given emergency use authorization by the FDA last night. You can read all the information presented at the ACIP meeting (see the link at the bottom). Read more…
The numbers on the COVID dashboards just keep going up and up.😬 📈 When will cases, deaths, and hospitalizations peak and start heading back down? 📉
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Buckle up and hunker down: We have a couple more months to get through before we see steep and sustained drops in the numbers. Most experts say we won’t turn the corner until February at the earliest. Several records were broken this week in the US: Number of new cases per day (232,105 on Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
School Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing Travel
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
R: No existe evidencia de que la infección por SARS-CoV-2 se pueda transmitir a los bebés a través de la leche materna con nuevos hallazgos que sugieren que la leche materna en las madres que han tenido COVID-19 contiene anticuerpos específicos de SARS-CoV-2. En un estudio reciente en leche materna de 15 mujeres que se Read more…
What can I do to “improve ventilation” in my house or my office? What does that even mean?
Staying SafeMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: We recently talked to environmental strategist and air quality expert Dr. Tim McAuley, founder and CEO of CHANGE Environmental, LLC. Dr. McAuley told us that the best thing we can do to protect ourselves is to create cleaner indoor air *in general*. Ventilation–exchanging indoor air for outdoor air–is just one part of cleaner indoor Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls – Dr. Malia Jones
Uncategorized
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In this week’s edition of our “Meet those nerdy girls” series, we are introducing co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at Dear Pandemic, Dr. Malia Jones. It all started early in the morning on Thursday, March 5th, when Dr. Jones sat down at her computer and wrote a lengthy message to her friends and family about the pandemic. Read more…
It has been a BIG day in vaccine news!
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Today, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the first COVID-19 vaccine! The ACIP met to review and make recommendations on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was given emergency use authorization by the FDA last night. You can read all the information presented at the ACIP meeting (see the link at the bottom). Read more…
The numbers on the COVID dashboards just keep going up and up.😬 📈 When will cases, deaths, and hospitalizations peak and start heading back down? 📉
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Buckle up and hunker down: We have a couple more months to get through before we see steep and sustained drops in the numbers. Most experts say we won’t turn the corner until February at the earliest. Several records were broken this week in the US: Number of new cases per day (232,105 on Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
School Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing Travel
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: We recently talked to environmental strategist and air quality expert Dr. Tim McAuley, founder and CEO of CHANGE Environmental, LLC. Dr. McAuley told us that the best thing we can do to protect ourselves is to create cleaner indoor air *in general*. Ventilation–exchanging indoor air for outdoor air–is just one part of cleaner indoor Read more…
Meet Those Nerdy Girls – Dr. Malia Jones
UncategorizedMalia Jones, PhD MPH
In this week’s edition of our “Meet those nerdy girls” series, we are introducing co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at Dear Pandemic, Dr. Malia Jones. It all started early in the morning on Thursday, March 5th, when Dr. Jones sat down at her computer and wrote a lengthy message to her friends and family about the pandemic. Read more…
It has been a BIG day in vaccine news!
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Today, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the first COVID-19 vaccine! The ACIP met to review and make recommendations on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was given emergency use authorization by the FDA last night. You can read all the information presented at the ACIP meeting (see the link at the bottom). Read more…
The numbers on the COVID dashboards just keep going up and up.😬 📈 When will cases, deaths, and hospitalizations peak and start heading back down? 📉
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Buckle up and hunker down: We have a couple more months to get through before we see steep and sustained drops in the numbers. Most experts say we won’t turn the corner until February at the earliest. Several records were broken this week in the US: Number of new cases per day (232,105 on Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
School Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing Travel
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
In this week’s edition of our “Meet those nerdy girls” series, we are introducing co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at Dear Pandemic, Dr. Malia Jones. It all started early in the morning on Thursday, March 5th, when Dr. Jones sat down at her computer and wrote a lengthy message to her friends and family about the pandemic. Read more…
It has been a BIG day in vaccine news!
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Today, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the first COVID-19 vaccine! The ACIP met to review and make recommendations on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was given emergency use authorization by the FDA last night. You can read all the information presented at the ACIP meeting (see the link at the bottom). Read more…
The numbers on the COVID dashboards just keep going up and up.😬 📈 When will cases, deaths, and hospitalizations peak and start heading back down? 📉
Data and Metrics
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Buckle up and hunker down: We have a couple more months to get through before we see steep and sustained drops in the numbers. Most experts say we won’t turn the corner until February at the earliest. Several records were broken this week in the US: Number of new cases per day (232,105 on Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
School Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing Travel
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
Today, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended the first COVID-19 vaccine! The ACIP met to review and make recommendations on the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, which was given emergency use authorization by the FDA last night. You can read all the information presented at the ACIP meeting (see the link at the bottom). Read more…
The numbers on the COVID dashboards just keep going up and up.😬 📈 When will cases, deaths, and hospitalizations peak and start heading back down? 📉
Data and MetricsAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: Buckle up and hunker down: We have a couple more months to get through before we see steep and sustained drops in the numbers. Most experts say we won’t turn the corner until February at the earliest. Several records were broken this week in the US: Number of new cases per day (232,105 on Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
School Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing Travel
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: Buckle up and hunker down: We have a couple more months to get through before we see steep and sustained drops in the numbers. Most experts say we won’t turn the corner until February at the earliest. Several records were broken this week in the US: Number of new cases per day (232,105 on Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
School VideosMalia Jones, PhD MPH
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing Travel
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
For this week’s Live Q&A, we are so excited welcome a special guest whose expertise is COVID and K12 schools for our live Q&A! Dr. Chloe Gibbs is an education policy scholar at the University of Notre Dame and writes a weekly review [archived link] of the emerging science on COVID and K12 schools. This Read more…
How many days do I need to quarantine if I plan to see family and friends for Christmas?
Socializing TravelAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial Justice
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: A 14-day quarantine prior to visiting family and friends continues to offer the greatest risk reduction. TODAY IS THE DAY TO START YOUR QUARANTINE! The CDC recently revised guidelines offering alternatives to a 14-day quarantine for people exposed to someone with Covid-19 who remain asymptomatic. (Look for an in-depth post on this change next Read more…
What do we know about racial/ethnic differences in COVID-19 mortality and the reasons for this?
Data and Metrics Social and Racial JusticeSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en Español
Este corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A. Recent data across U.S. states show that Black Americans and other people of color experience much higher mortality from COVID-19 than whites. Studies also point to structural barriers, and not biological susceptibility, that contribute to worse disease progression and higher mortality in these groups of Americans. We’ve previously posted on the U.S. death toll Read more…
Qué debemos hacer si experimentamos síntomas de COVID-19?
Clinical Symptoms Posts en EspañolEste corto animado de Maya Adam de la Escuela de Medicina de Stanford ilustra prácticas comunes para mejorarse y mantener sanas a las personas a nuestro alrededor. Cuerpo sano, mente sana. ~ Las “Nerdy Girls”
“I’ve read that the Pfizer vaccine causes female infertility by blocking a protein that is key in the formation of the placenta in mammals. Is there any shred of truth to this?”
Families/Kids Uncertainty and Misinformation VaccinesMichelle Kinder, PhD
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: No. There is no truth to this rumor. There is nothing in the human genome that is similar to the spike protein that each of the vaccines are targeting to prevent COVID-19. 💉First of all, rumors about similarity between the placenta proteins and spike protein just do not pass the sniff test. Remember: extraordinary Read more…
The FDA is meeting TODAY about the Pfizer Covid19 vaccine. How does a vaccine get from the lab to my doctor’s office?
VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en Español
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: It’s a big process with lots of steps and players! These include clinical development and testing, review by the FDA, review by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, distribution to communities, and finally, vaccination. Let’s run down the process. The Covid vaccine is on the horizon! Hooray! The FDA is meeting TODAY (watch it Read more…
¿Cuáles son las 3 E de la capacidad hospitalaria?
Data and Metrics Infection and Spread Posts en EspañolTita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
R: Espacio, empleados y equipo … “Necesitas las tres y si no tienes una, no importa que tengas las otras dos.” Esta cita de una médica de emergencia del estado de Michigan en EE.UU. destaca lo que se necesita para que un sistema hospitalario siga funcionando. Desafortunadamente, la escasez de recursos en las tres Es Read more…
First the COVID-19 pandemic, now winter….is seasonal depression coming my way?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: Not necessarily! There are things you can do to ward off the blues. TL; DR: Focus on variables you can change: sleeping, scheduling, using a bright light, planning activities, and allowing yourself breaks. The Long Version: We know that the pandemic has worsened mental health symptoms (primarily anxiety and depressive symptoms), especially for young Read more…
How can I minimize COVID-19 transmission when riding a car?
Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical Symptoms
A: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: Open up those windows, mask up, and keep the duration short. Physicists from UMass Amherst recently used simulations of airflow patterns within car interiors to study the best way to minimize transmission risk during ride-share style car rides. The car geometry was based on a Toyota Prius traveling 50 mph. Key results: ➡️ Opening Read more…
Are there any updates on COVID-19 “long-haulers”?
Clinical SymptomsA: Yes and no. Unfortunately, we still don’t know enough about how many people might fall into this group and the best ways to help them. However, these challenging long-term cases of COVID-19 are getting more national attention, with renewed focus on helping these patients! You might have heard of this term, “long-hauler,” or perhaps Read more…
What’s up with shifting scientific guidance?!
Uncertainty and MisinformationLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: Science is a method, not a fixed set of findings. Beware the scientist who does NOT change her mind. As cheekily characterized by the Wall Street Journal, science is merely a fancy way to “guess-and-test.” So why is it such a powerful force in the world? Our brains are biologically wired to seek patterns; Read more…
Why can’t I ditch the masks and distancing if I already recovered from Covid-19?
Infection and Spread VaccinesAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
A: Recovering from Covid-19 provides some immunity, but the strength and length of time you keep that immunity are not consistent from person to person. Think of your Covid-19 immunity as an unlabeled bottle of sunscreen. The level of protection provided is hard to predict. Sunscreen is designed to reduce the amount of UVA and Read more…
¿Cuáles son los efectos secundarios de las dos vacunas de COVID-19 que se están considerando actualmente en EE.UU.?
Posts en Español VaccinesSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
R. Los efectos secundarios más comunes de las vacunas Moderna y Pfizer incluyen dolor de brazo, dolores musculares, fatiga, dolor de cabeza y fiebre. Esto no significa que se haya infectado con COVID o que haya un problema con la vacuna. Estos efectos secundarios son señales de que su sistema inmunológico está funcionando. Enfocamos en Read more…
