How do I respectfully share my vaccine enthusiasm with a hesitant-but-still-open-minded loved one?
Vaccines
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: An “empathy sandwich” can help. Prioritize connecting over convincing. Along with a big show of support, we Nerdy Girls are here to provide you with evidence-based tips designed to keep conversations both kind AND scientifically grounded 💕🤓💕 The TL;DR: An “empathy sandwich” approach can be a helpful guide. ❤️ LEAD WITH A QUESTION. Be Read more…
Pensé que Perú fue uno de los primeros países en entrar en cuarentena. ¿Cuál es la situación allí ahora?
Posts en Español Reopening Travel
Tita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Perú tiene una de las tasas de mortalidad más altas del mundo y más de 47,000 personas en Perú han muerto por COVID-19 según estadísticas hasta marzo del 2021, con un exceso de muertes de casi 2,600 por millón (de una población de 32 millones). ¿Cómo pasó esto? En resumen: Poder controlar COVID-19 requiere Read more…
Why are there so many tests for COVID-19? How do I know which one is best for me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: There are two types of tests for the virus that causes COVID-19: diagnostic and antibody. Different types of tests have been developed based on the science of the virus and our body’s response to it. Diagnostic tests will tell you if you have an active viral infection—that is, if you have COVID-19 right now. Read more…
Is COVID Arm a real thing? Should I worry?
Vaccines
Maya Clark-Cutaia, PhD
A: Yes, “COVID Arm” is indeed a thing. COVID Arm is a mild allergic reaction to the ingredients of the vaccine and looks like an itchy, red rash that is typically around where the needle entered your arm. This is not the type of allergic reaction that would rule you out for your second dose. Read more…
¿Qué se sabe sobre las vacunas de China?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Muchos seguidores de Querida Pandemia nos han preguntado sobre las vacunas CoronaVac (Sinovac), Sinopharm y CanSino. Pero no hemos podido contestarles porque hasta ahora había muy poca información disponible sobre ellas. La buena noticia es que recientemente se han publicado más estudios para darnos una mejor idea de su seguridad y eficacia. ¿Cómo funcionan Read more…
What’s the difference between EUA and full FDA approval?
Vaccines
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: COVID-19 vaccines have emergency use authorization, but not full FDA approval yet. Does that mean we don’t yet know if they are safe? A: The three vaccines in circulation in the United States to protect against COVID-19 have been proven to be safe and effective. Vaccine manufacturers are continuing to gather even more data, Read more…
When we get to 70% vaccinated, this will instantly be over–right?
Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. We need to dig in a little to the difference between reaching the herd immunity *threshold* and the end goal–herd immunity. The upshot: herd immunity is the ultimate goal of a vaccination program, and reaching the herd immunity threshold is the first step toward it. Also, patterns of vaccination matter. Protecting people Read more…
Has demand for the COVID-19 vaccine crashed in the US?
Vaccines
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: An “empathy sandwich” can help. Prioritize connecting over convincing. Along with a big show of support, we Nerdy Girls are here to provide you with evidence-based tips designed to keep conversations both kind AND scientifically grounded 💕🤓💕 The TL;DR: An “empathy sandwich” approach can be a helpful guide. ❤️ LEAD WITH A QUESTION. Be Read more…
Pensé que Perú fue uno de los primeros países en entrar en cuarentena. ¿Cuál es la situación allí ahora?
Posts en Español Reopening TravelTita Smyth Escobedo, PM-IT
R: Perú tiene una de las tasas de mortalidad más altas del mundo y más de 47,000 personas en Perú han muerto por COVID-19 según estadísticas hasta marzo del 2021, con un exceso de muertes de casi 2,600 por millón (de una población de 32 millones). ¿Cómo pasó esto? En resumen: Poder controlar COVID-19 requiere Read more…
Why are there so many tests for COVID-19? How do I know which one is best for me?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: There are two types of tests for the virus that causes COVID-19: diagnostic and antibody. Different types of tests have been developed based on the science of the virus and our body’s response to it. Diagnostic tests will tell you if you have an active viral infection—that is, if you have COVID-19 right now. Read more…
Is COVID Arm a real thing? Should I worry?
Vaccines
Maya Clark-Cutaia, PhD
A: Yes, “COVID Arm” is indeed a thing. COVID Arm is a mild allergic reaction to the ingredients of the vaccine and looks like an itchy, red rash that is typically around where the needle entered your arm. This is not the type of allergic reaction that would rule you out for your second dose. Read more…
¿Qué se sabe sobre las vacunas de China?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Muchos seguidores de Querida Pandemia nos han preguntado sobre las vacunas CoronaVac (Sinovac), Sinopharm y CanSino. Pero no hemos podido contestarles porque hasta ahora había muy poca información disponible sobre ellas. La buena noticia es que recientemente se han publicado más estudios para darnos una mejor idea de su seguridad y eficacia. ¿Cómo funcionan Read more…
What’s the difference between EUA and full FDA approval?
Vaccines
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: COVID-19 vaccines have emergency use authorization, but not full FDA approval yet. Does that mean we don’t yet know if they are safe? A: The three vaccines in circulation in the United States to protect against COVID-19 have been proven to be safe and effective. Vaccine manufacturers are continuing to gather even more data, Read more…
When we get to 70% vaccinated, this will instantly be over–right?
Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. We need to dig in a little to the difference between reaching the herd immunity *threshold* and the end goal–herd immunity. The upshot: herd immunity is the ultimate goal of a vaccination program, and reaching the herd immunity threshold is the first step toward it. Also, patterns of vaccination matter. Protecting people Read more…
Has demand for the COVID-19 vaccine crashed in the US?
Vaccines
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
R: Perú tiene una de las tasas de mortalidad más altas del mundo y más de 47,000 personas en Perú han muerto por COVID-19 según estadísticas hasta marzo del 2021, con un exceso de muertes de casi 2,600 por millón (de una población de 32 millones). ¿Cómo pasó esto? En resumen: Poder controlar COVID-19 requiere Read more…
Why are there so many tests for COVID-19? How do I know which one is best for me?
Testing and Contact TracingVerdena Jennings, DO
A: There are two types of tests for the virus that causes COVID-19: diagnostic and antibody. Different types of tests have been developed based on the science of the virus and our body’s response to it. Diagnostic tests will tell you if you have an active viral infection—that is, if you have COVID-19 right now. Read more…
Is COVID Arm a real thing? Should I worry?
Vaccines
Maya Clark-Cutaia, PhD
A: Yes, “COVID Arm” is indeed a thing. COVID Arm is a mild allergic reaction to the ingredients of the vaccine and looks like an itchy, red rash that is typically around where the needle entered your arm. This is not the type of allergic reaction that would rule you out for your second dose. Read more…
¿Qué se sabe sobre las vacunas de China?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Muchos seguidores de Querida Pandemia nos han preguntado sobre las vacunas CoronaVac (Sinovac), Sinopharm y CanSino. Pero no hemos podido contestarles porque hasta ahora había muy poca información disponible sobre ellas. La buena noticia es que recientemente se han publicado más estudios para darnos una mejor idea de su seguridad y eficacia. ¿Cómo funcionan Read more…
What’s the difference between EUA and full FDA approval?
Vaccines
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: COVID-19 vaccines have emergency use authorization, but not full FDA approval yet. Does that mean we don’t yet know if they are safe? A: The three vaccines in circulation in the United States to protect against COVID-19 have been proven to be safe and effective. Vaccine manufacturers are continuing to gather even more data, Read more…
When we get to 70% vaccinated, this will instantly be over–right?
Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. We need to dig in a little to the difference between reaching the herd immunity *threshold* and the end goal–herd immunity. The upshot: herd immunity is the ultimate goal of a vaccination program, and reaching the herd immunity threshold is the first step toward it. Also, patterns of vaccination matter. Protecting people Read more…
Has demand for the COVID-19 vaccine crashed in the US?
Vaccines
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: There are two types of tests for the virus that causes COVID-19: diagnostic and antibody. Different types of tests have been developed based on the science of the virus and our body’s response to it. Diagnostic tests will tell you if you have an active viral infection—that is, if you have COVID-19 right now. Read more…
Is COVID Arm a real thing? Should I worry?
VaccinesMaya Clark-Cutaia, PhD
A: Yes, “COVID Arm” is indeed a thing. COVID Arm is a mild allergic reaction to the ingredients of the vaccine and looks like an itchy, red rash that is typically around where the needle entered your arm. This is not the type of allergic reaction that would rule you out for your second dose. Read more…
¿Qué se sabe sobre las vacunas de China?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Muchos seguidores de Querida Pandemia nos han preguntado sobre las vacunas CoronaVac (Sinovac), Sinopharm y CanSino. Pero no hemos podido contestarles porque hasta ahora había muy poca información disponible sobre ellas. La buena noticia es que recientemente se han publicado más estudios para darnos una mejor idea de su seguridad y eficacia. ¿Cómo funcionan Read more…
What’s the difference between EUA and full FDA approval?
Vaccines
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: COVID-19 vaccines have emergency use authorization, but not full FDA approval yet. Does that mean we don’t yet know if they are safe? A: The three vaccines in circulation in the United States to protect against COVID-19 have been proven to be safe and effective. Vaccine manufacturers are continuing to gather even more data, Read more…
When we get to 70% vaccinated, this will instantly be over–right?
Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. We need to dig in a little to the difference between reaching the herd immunity *threshold* and the end goal–herd immunity. The upshot: herd immunity is the ultimate goal of a vaccination program, and reaching the herd immunity threshold is the first step toward it. Also, patterns of vaccination matter. Protecting people Read more…
Has demand for the COVID-19 vaccine crashed in the US?
Vaccines
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: Yes, “COVID Arm” is indeed a thing. COVID Arm is a mild allergic reaction to the ingredients of the vaccine and looks like an itchy, red rash that is typically around where the needle entered your arm. This is not the type of allergic reaction that would rule you out for your second dose. Read more…
¿Qué se sabe sobre las vacunas de China?
Posts en Español VaccinesSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Muchos seguidores de Querida Pandemia nos han preguntado sobre las vacunas CoronaVac (Sinovac), Sinopharm y CanSino. Pero no hemos podido contestarles porque hasta ahora había muy poca información disponible sobre ellas. La buena noticia es que recientemente se han publicado más estudios para darnos una mejor idea de su seguridad y eficacia. ¿Cómo funcionan Read more…
What’s the difference between EUA and full FDA approval?
Vaccines
Christine Whelan, PhD
Q: COVID-19 vaccines have emergency use authorization, but not full FDA approval yet. Does that mean we don’t yet know if they are safe? A: The three vaccines in circulation in the United States to protect against COVID-19 have been proven to be safe and effective. Vaccine manufacturers are continuing to gather even more data, Read more…
When we get to 70% vaccinated, this will instantly be over–right?
Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. We need to dig in a little to the difference between reaching the herd immunity *threshold* and the end goal–herd immunity. The upshot: herd immunity is the ultimate goal of a vaccination program, and reaching the herd immunity threshold is the first step toward it. Also, patterns of vaccination matter. Protecting people Read more…
Has demand for the COVID-19 vaccine crashed in the US?
Vaccines
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
R: Muchos seguidores de Querida Pandemia nos han preguntado sobre las vacunas CoronaVac (Sinovac), Sinopharm y CanSino. Pero no hemos podido contestarles porque hasta ahora había muy poca información disponible sobre ellas. La buena noticia es que recientemente se han publicado más estudios para darnos una mejor idea de su seguridad y eficacia. ¿Cómo funcionan Read more…
What’s the difference between EUA and full FDA approval?
VaccinesChristine Whelan, PhD
Q: COVID-19 vaccines have emergency use authorization, but not full FDA approval yet. Does that mean we don’t yet know if they are safe? A: The three vaccines in circulation in the United States to protect against COVID-19 have been proven to be safe and effective. Vaccine manufacturers are continuing to gather even more data, Read more…
When we get to 70% vaccinated, this will instantly be over–right?
Infection and Spread
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. We need to dig in a little to the difference between reaching the herd immunity *threshold* and the end goal–herd immunity. The upshot: herd immunity is the ultimate goal of a vaccination program, and reaching the herd immunity threshold is the first step toward it. Also, patterns of vaccination matter. Protecting people Read more…
Has demand for the COVID-19 vaccine crashed in the US?
Vaccines
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
Q: COVID-19 vaccines have emergency use authorization, but not full FDA approval yet. Does that mean we don’t yet know if they are safe? A: The three vaccines in circulation in the United States to protect against COVID-19 have been proven to be safe and effective. Vaccine manufacturers are continuing to gather even more data, Read more…
When we get to 70% vaccinated, this will instantly be over–right?
Infection and SpreadMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: Not necessarily. We need to dig in a little to the difference between reaching the herd immunity *threshold* and the end goal–herd immunity. The upshot: herd immunity is the ultimate goal of a vaccination program, and reaching the herd immunity threshold is the first step toward it. Also, patterns of vaccination matter. Protecting people Read more…
Has demand for the COVID-19 vaccine crashed in the US?
Vaccines
Alison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: Not necessarily. We need to dig in a little to the difference between reaching the herd immunity *threshold* and the end goal–herd immunity. The upshot: herd immunity is the ultimate goal of a vaccination program, and reaching the herd immunity threshold is the first step toward it. Also, patterns of vaccination matter. Protecting people Read more…
Has demand for the COVID-19 vaccine crashed in the US?
VaccinesAlison Buttenheim, PhD MBA, Co-founder & Advisor
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: “Crashed”, “plummeted”, “off a cliff”, “vanished”, and “evaporated” are exaggerations, but vaccine demand has definitely weakened in many states. As Cynthia Cox, VP at Kaiser Family Foundation, put it recently: “Good news: In the next month, everyone who wants a vaccine will have gotten one. Bad news: In the next month, everyone who wants Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Biology/Immunity Families/Kids Socializing Staying Safe Vaccines VideosMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
Dear Pandemic’s contributors Drs. Michelle Kinder, Aparna Kumar, and Malia Jones will be taking questions submitted by kids on this weeks’ Live event! We’ll be talking about bats, masks, nanometers, and so much more. ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and our kids’ Favorite Books (0:00-2:42) ➡️ Greta from Camp Hill, PA asks: Why do you need the Read more…
O que é a trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacina (TTIIV) e outros coágulos sanguíneos?
Posts en Español VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
NOTA: Esta es nuestra primera publicación e portugués para nuestros seguidores brasileños. (Nota: Esta é a nossa primeira publicação em portugues para nossos seguidores brasileiros.) R. Foram identificados relatos de raros coágulos sanguíneos potencialmente causados por trombocitopenia trombótica imune induzida pela vacinas Johnson & Johnson (TTIIV). Esses relatos são similares a casos observados na Europa Read more…
Do the COVID-19 vaccines cause infertility?
Uncertainty and Misinformation VaccinesAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental Health
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: There is no scientific evidence to suggest COVID-19 vaccines negatively impact fertility in men or women. While these vaccines were not tested among pregnant people for initial FDA Emergency Use Authorization in the United States, accumulating data support the safety of COVID-19 vaccines in people who wish to become pregnant and people who are Read more…
I need to relax but I don’t have time or a quiet space to meditate. Is there anything I can do?
Mental HealthVerdena Jennings, DO
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Alejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: Yes. There is a simple breathing exercise you can do anywhere anytime. The year 2020 was very challenging in many ways for all of us. And 2021 seems to be keeping pace with the strangeness. Though there is a bit of relief we can feel, none of us can predict what will happen next. Read more…
¿Cuál es la diferencia entre la eficacia de la vacuna y la efectividad de la vacuna?
Posts en Español VaccinesAlejandra Silva Hernández, Spanish Translation
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
Treatments
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
R: Ambas, la eficacia y la efectividad de la vacuna miden el porcentaje de reducción de la enfermedad en el grupo vacunado en comparación con el grupo no vacunado. La eficacia de la vacuna mide esto bajo condiciones óptimas, como un ensayo clínico de vacuna, y la efectividad de la vacuna mide esto en entornos Read more…
Will there be a COVID pill?
TreatmentsLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: Signs are hopeful! Widespread vaccination remains our best bet at #kickingCOVID. But having an arsenal of treatments is important, too. In a recent speech at the National Press Club, Dr. Fauci argued that the biggest treatment need is a convenient medicine – like a pill – that can stomp out severe disease at the Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
VaccinesLauren Hale, PhD MA
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated?
Masks Staying Safe VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: Vaccinated people in the United States (US) only need to wear a mask outdoors in crowded settings (think sporting events, parades, and concerts). In other words, being vaccinated means you can get back to nearly normal outdoor activities just as the weather is warming up! Yeah!! TL;DR The new guidelines for mask use in Read more…
¿Quién desarrolló la vacuna de Moderna?
Posts en Español VaccinesSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
R: Después de 6 años de trabajar en una vacuna para nuevos coronavirus, la Dra. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett y su equipo tuvieron éxito. Ella es una de nuestras heroínas pandémicas en EE.UU. La Dra. Corbett es una científica afroamericana de 34 años. Es inmunóloga viral en el Centro de Investigación de Vacunas del Instituto Nacional Read more…
What is going on with J&J COVID-19 vaccine?
VaccinesVerdena Jennings, DO
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
Vaccines
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: Johnson & Johnson was granted emergency authorization use (EAU) by the FDA for a vaccine against COVID-19 in late February. After receiving reports of a rare life-threatening blood clot condition occurring primarily in women under 50 within three weeks of getting this vaccine, CDC paused the use of the vaccine for 10 days. A Read more…
What about vaccines being used in developing countries?
VaccinesSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
Q: Could you explain more about the vaccines being used in developing countries? Are these countries getting inferior vaccines? A. For a long time, very little was known about many of the vaccines in wide use outside the U.S., especially the ones from China like CoronaVac, Sinopharm, and CanSino, and the vaccine from Russia, Sputnik Read more…
If the most vulnerable are now protected due to the vaccine, why can’t we go back to normal life?
Infection and Spread VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
A: We SO feel the yearning behind this question. The sacrifices made, especially by young people, are heart-breaking and real. Please hang in there–we are SO close to getting through the last mile AND the last inch of this pandemic. But we’re not there yet. In the US and the UK, vaccines have rolled out Read more…
