How concerned should I be about the new XBB.1.5 variant?
COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
XBB.1.5 has a transmission advantage, but this doesn’t make it a game-changing “super variant.” Keep calm, get boosted (and ramp-up precautions), and carry-on. At this stage of the pandemic, new variants are *guaranteed* to come and go. Variants arise from random errors as viruses make copies of itself. Most of these errors will be neutral Read more…
Does Evusheld protect against the new COVID-19 subvariants?
COVID Variants
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The new Omicron subvariants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are likely to be resistant to the monoclonal antibodies in Evusheld. It is especially important that people get the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine to protect against infection. Evusheld is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies called tixagevimab and cilgavimab. It is used to PREVENT (not treat!) Read more…
Tired of hearing about variants? Unfortunately they are here to stay.
COVID Variants Videos
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
“The SARS-CoV-2 virus is going to keep evolving, and that means that different versions of the virus will keep emerging, become dominant, and then get outpaced by a different variant. Part of this has to do with what’s called “immune escape,” or “immune evasion.” That’s not unique to this coronavirus, of course. Other viruses that Read more…
Have BA.5 cases peaked? That means it’s all downhill from here, right?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve!). In the U.S. there is some indication that hospitalizations during this BA.5 wave have peaked. Since hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of infections, this Read more…
Where do new variants come from?
COVID Variants
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5… while we’re all getting lost in an alphanumeric soup, it’s important to understand why we continue to see new variants. Some have speculated vaccines are to blame, arguing that vaccination itself drives the development of variants. Is this true? Vaccinations do not produce new variants. Thankfully, no. Variants are not Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 06-06-22
COVID Variants Families/Kids Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Live COVID Q&A with Those Nerdy Girls of Dear Pandemic Those Nerdy Girls answer your latest questions about COVID and beyond. This month’s topics include: * Monkeypox * Shingles & the shingles vaccine * The SIDS study that went viral * Variant-specific COVID vaccines There’s also a speed round with quick answers to common questions Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 04-08-22
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Live Q&As with Those Nerdy Girls are back! Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones is handing over the Live Q&A torch to Dr. Chana Davis Fueled By Science. Malia and Chana will talk about 4th shots / second boosters, the new Omicron strain, vaccines for kids, and rapid tests for Omicron. ➡️ 0:00-1:24 Welcome and introductions Read more…
Everyone I know is getting Omicron. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
XBB.1.5 has a transmission advantage, but this doesn’t make it a game-changing “super variant.” Keep calm, get boosted (and ramp-up precautions), and carry-on. At this stage of the pandemic, new variants are *guaranteed* to come and go. Variants arise from random errors as viruses make copies of itself. Most of these errors will be neutral Read more…
Does Evusheld protect against the new COVID-19 subvariants?
COVID VariantsSarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The new Omicron subvariants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are likely to be resistant to the monoclonal antibodies in Evusheld. It is especially important that people get the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine to protect against infection. Evusheld is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies called tixagevimab and cilgavimab. It is used to PREVENT (not treat!) Read more…
Tired of hearing about variants? Unfortunately they are here to stay.
COVID Variants Videos
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
“The SARS-CoV-2 virus is going to keep evolving, and that means that different versions of the virus will keep emerging, become dominant, and then get outpaced by a different variant. Part of this has to do with what’s called “immune escape,” or “immune evasion.” That’s not unique to this coronavirus, of course. Other viruses that Read more…
Have BA.5 cases peaked? That means it’s all downhill from here, right?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve!). In the U.S. there is some indication that hospitalizations during this BA.5 wave have peaked. Since hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of infections, this Read more…
Where do new variants come from?
COVID Variants
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5… while we’re all getting lost in an alphanumeric soup, it’s important to understand why we continue to see new variants. Some have speculated vaccines are to blame, arguing that vaccination itself drives the development of variants. Is this true? Vaccinations do not produce new variants. Thankfully, no. Variants are not Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 06-06-22
COVID Variants Families/Kids Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Live COVID Q&A with Those Nerdy Girls of Dear Pandemic Those Nerdy Girls answer your latest questions about COVID and beyond. This month’s topics include: * Monkeypox * Shingles & the shingles vaccine * The SIDS study that went viral * Variant-specific COVID vaccines There’s also a speed round with quick answers to common questions Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 04-08-22
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Live Q&As with Those Nerdy Girls are back! Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones is handing over the Live Q&A torch to Dr. Chana Davis Fueled By Science. Malia and Chana will talk about 4th shots / second boosters, the new Omicron strain, vaccines for kids, and rapid tests for Omicron. ➡️ 0:00-1:24 Welcome and introductions Read more…
Everyone I know is getting Omicron. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
A: The new Omicron subvariants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus are likely to be resistant to the monoclonal antibodies in Evusheld. It is especially important that people get the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccine to protect against infection. Evusheld is a combination of two monoclonal antibodies called tixagevimab and cilgavimab. It is used to PREVENT (not treat!) Read more…
Tired of hearing about variants? Unfortunately they are here to stay.
COVID Variants VideosJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
“The SARS-CoV-2 virus is going to keep evolving, and that means that different versions of the virus will keep emerging, become dominant, and then get outpaced by a different variant. Part of this has to do with what’s called “immune escape,” or “immune evasion.” That’s not unique to this coronavirus, of course. Other viruses that Read more…
Have BA.5 cases peaked? That means it’s all downhill from here, right?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve!). In the U.S. there is some indication that hospitalizations during this BA.5 wave have peaked. Since hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of infections, this Read more…
Where do new variants come from?
COVID Variants
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5… while we’re all getting lost in an alphanumeric soup, it’s important to understand why we continue to see new variants. Some have speculated vaccines are to blame, arguing that vaccination itself drives the development of variants. Is this true? Vaccinations do not produce new variants. Thankfully, no. Variants are not Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 06-06-22
COVID Variants Families/Kids Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Live COVID Q&A with Those Nerdy Girls of Dear Pandemic Those Nerdy Girls answer your latest questions about COVID and beyond. This month’s topics include: * Monkeypox * Shingles & the shingles vaccine * The SIDS study that went viral * Variant-specific COVID vaccines There’s also a speed round with quick answers to common questions Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 04-08-22
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Live Q&As with Those Nerdy Girls are back! Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones is handing over the Live Q&A torch to Dr. Chana Davis Fueled By Science. Malia and Chana will talk about 4th shots / second boosters, the new Omicron strain, vaccines for kids, and rapid tests for Omicron. ➡️ 0:00-1:24 Welcome and introductions Read more…
Everyone I know is getting Omicron. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
“The SARS-CoV-2 virus is going to keep evolving, and that means that different versions of the virus will keep emerging, become dominant, and then get outpaced by a different variant. Part of this has to do with what’s called “immune escape,” or “immune evasion.” That’s not unique to this coronavirus, of course. Other viruses that Read more…
Have BA.5 cases peaked? That means it’s all downhill from here, right?
COVID Variants Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve!). In the U.S. there is some indication that hospitalizations during this BA.5 wave have peaked. Since hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of infections, this Read more…
Where do new variants come from?
COVID Variants
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5… while we’re all getting lost in an alphanumeric soup, it’s important to understand why we continue to see new variants. Some have speculated vaccines are to blame, arguing that vaccination itself drives the development of variants. Is this true? Vaccinations do not produce new variants. Thankfully, no. Variants are not Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 06-06-22
COVID Variants Families/Kids Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Live COVID Q&A with Those Nerdy Girls of Dear Pandemic Those Nerdy Girls answer your latest questions about COVID and beyond. This month’s topics include: * Monkeypox * Shingles & the shingles vaccine * The SIDS study that went viral * Variant-specific COVID vaccines There’s also a speed round with quick answers to common questions Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 04-08-22
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Live Q&As with Those Nerdy Girls are back! Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones is handing over the Live Q&A torch to Dr. Chana Davis Fueled By Science. Malia and Chana will talk about 4th shots / second boosters, the new Omicron strain, vaccines for kids, and rapid tests for Omicron. ➡️ 0:00-1:24 Welcome and introductions Read more…
Everyone I know is getting Omicron. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
A: Sort of…. Remember that even if cases come down as quickly as they rise, there will be as many cases *after* the peak as before (think area under the curve!). In the U.S. there is some indication that hospitalizations during this BA.5 wave have peaked. Since hospitalizations are a lagging indicator of infections, this Read more…
Where do new variants come from?
COVID VariantsKristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5… while we’re all getting lost in an alphanumeric soup, it’s important to understand why we continue to see new variants. Some have speculated vaccines are to blame, arguing that vaccination itself drives the development of variants. Is this true? Vaccinations do not produce new variants. Thankfully, no. Variants are not Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 06-06-22
COVID Variants Families/Kids Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Chana Davis, PhD
Live COVID Q&A with Those Nerdy Girls of Dear Pandemic Those Nerdy Girls answer your latest questions about COVID and beyond. This month’s topics include: * Monkeypox * Shingles & the shingles vaccine * The SIDS study that went viral * Variant-specific COVID vaccines There’s also a speed round with quick answers to common questions Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 04-08-22
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Live Q&As with Those Nerdy Girls are back! Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones is handing over the Live Q&A torch to Dr. Chana Davis Fueled By Science. Malia and Chana will talk about 4th shots / second boosters, the new Omicron strain, vaccines for kids, and rapid tests for Omicron. ➡️ 0:00-1:24 Welcome and introductions Read more…
Everyone I know is getting Omicron. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
BA.1, BA.2, BA.3, BA.4, BA.5… while we’re all getting lost in an alphanumeric soup, it’s important to understand why we continue to see new variants. Some have speculated vaccines are to blame, arguing that vaccination itself drives the development of variants. Is this true? Vaccinations do not produce new variants. Thankfully, no. Variants are not Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 06-06-22
COVID Variants Families/Kids Infectious Diseases Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines VideosChana Davis, PhD
Live COVID Q&A with Those Nerdy Girls of Dear Pandemic Those Nerdy Girls answer your latest questions about COVID and beyond. This month’s topics include: * Monkeypox * Shingles & the shingles vaccine * The SIDS study that went viral * Variant-specific COVID vaccines There’s also a speed round with quick answers to common questions Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 04-08-22
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Live Q&As with Those Nerdy Girls are back! Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones is handing over the Live Q&A torch to Dr. Chana Davis Fueled By Science. Malia and Chana will talk about 4th shots / second boosters, the new Omicron strain, vaccines for kids, and rapid tests for Omicron. ➡️ 0:00-1:24 Welcome and introductions Read more…
Everyone I know is getting Omicron. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
Live COVID Q&A with Those Nerdy Girls of Dear Pandemic Those Nerdy Girls answer your latest questions about COVID and beyond. This month’s topics include: * Monkeypox * Shingles & the shingles vaccine * The SIDS study that went viral * Variant-specific COVID vaccines There’s also a speed round with quick answers to common questions Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 04-08-22
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines VideosMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Live Q&As with Those Nerdy Girls are back! Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones is handing over the Live Q&A torch to Dr. Chana Davis Fueled By Science. Malia and Chana will talk about 4th shots / second boosters, the new Omicron strain, vaccines for kids, and rapid tests for Omicron. ➡️ 0:00-1:24 Welcome and introductions Read more…
Everyone I know is getting Omicron. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
Live Q&As with Those Nerdy Girls are back! Dear Pandemic co-founder Dr. Malia Jones is handing over the Live Q&A torch to Dr. Chana Davis Fueled By Science. Malia and Chana will talk about 4th shots / second boosters, the new Omicron strain, vaccines for kids, and rapid tests for Omicron. ➡️ 0:00-1:24 Welcome and introductions Read more…
Everyone I know is getting Omicron. Does this mean the vaccines don’t work?
COVID Variants VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
A: No. COVID-19 vaccines are still acing their #1 job- preventing serious disease. TL;DR: Omicron is better at infecting people with immunity from vaccination or prior infection. But the vaccines (especially 3 doses) still *reduce* the risk of infection with Omicron, and *dramatically* reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. Vaccination is still the best Read more…
UPDATE on detecting Omicron with Rapid Antigen Tests:
COVID Variants Testing and Contact TracingChana Davis, PhD
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
Over the last few weeks, rapid tests have detected many COVID cases, but often not as early as we’d like them to. With a bit of biohacking, and careful interpretation of test results, rapid tests can still be a valuable tool, despite their imperfections. THE GOOD NEWS Most rapid tests (aka lateral flow assays) can Read more…
