THIS JUST IN: Preliminary Omicron neutralizing antibody study
COVID Variants VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
⬇️ TL;DR: IN A LAB DISH (so NOT in real life), antibodies from vaccinated individuals (two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech), were significantly less effective at neutralizing Omicron compared to the original variant—about a 20-40-fold reduction in neutralization. While this is substantially more loss of neutralization than previous variants…this does NOT tell us how well the vaccines Read more…
December 7, 2021
Do COVID-19 vaccines promote the emergence of new variants?
COVID Variants Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. Since the recent Omicron news, we are hearing this myth make the rounds again. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news Read more…
December 2, 2021
Are normal precautions (masks, distance, ventilation) less effective against new variants?
COVID Variants Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NOPE. Virus mutations STILL don’t defy the laws of physics. TL;DR: Whether Omicron or Delta, all SARS-CoV-2 variants are transmitted the same way, so you can reduce risk by using your #SMARTS: ↔️ Space: Keep your distance from other people. 😷 Masks: Keep your nose + mouth covered. 💨 Air: Keep it fresh. 🔄 Read more…
December 1, 2021
What’s new with Omicron?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: IT’S. STILL. TOO. SOON. TO. TELL. We know, the media panic level has been HIGH this week. But the truth is NO expert or TV pundit can predict what will happen with the new variant Omicron right now. We simply don’t have enough data yet on the key questions about the variant: 1) Is Read more…
November 27, 2021
Omicron – Blip or Blow-up?
COVID Variants Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
******UPDATE, 1:05 pm EST, 11/27/21: New cases are being reported in other countries. We can expect more of the same as surveillance goes into overdrive. I keep reminding myself that science doesn’t move at the speed of the news cycle. So we won’t know for a while which details are signal and which are noise. Read more…
October 6, 2021
What’s the best MASK to protect me from the Delta variant?
COVID Variants Masks
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: A well-fitted, high filtration mask such as N95, KN95, FFP2 or KF94. ⚠️ Delta is more transmissible, in part due to infected people shedding more virus from their nose and mouth. While vaccination is still your #1 defense against Delta, it’s also a good idea to UPGRADE YOUR MASK when you are in higher Read more…
October 5, 2021
When can we expect a variant specific (i.e. Delta variant) booster shot?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Variant specific boosters are currently being tested, but it’s not clear whether we need them just yet. Here is a run-down of ongoing trials: Pfizer/BioNTech has two Phase 2/3 trials ongoing, one with a booster designed to target the Beta variant (the one that emerged in South Africa in late 2020) and one that Read more…
September 2, 2021
California Classroom Outbreak Explained
COVID Variants Infection and Spread School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
August 31, 2021
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
⬇️ TL;DR: IN A LAB DISH (so NOT in real life), antibodies from vaccinated individuals (two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech), were significantly less effective at neutralizing Omicron compared to the original variant—about a 20-40-fold reduction in neutralization. While this is substantially more loss of neutralization than previous variants…this does NOT tell us how well the vaccines Read more…
Do COVID-19 vaccines promote the emergence of new variants?
COVID Variants Uncertainty and Misinformation VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. Since the recent Omicron news, we are hearing this myth make the rounds again. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news Read more…
December 2, 2021
Are normal precautions (masks, distance, ventilation) less effective against new variants?
COVID Variants Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NOPE. Virus mutations STILL don’t defy the laws of physics. TL;DR: Whether Omicron or Delta, all SARS-CoV-2 variants are transmitted the same way, so you can reduce risk by using your #SMARTS: ↔️ Space: Keep your distance from other people. 😷 Masks: Keep your nose + mouth covered. 💨 Air: Keep it fresh. 🔄 Read more…
December 1, 2021
What’s new with Omicron?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: IT’S. STILL. TOO. SOON. TO. TELL. We know, the media panic level has been HIGH this week. But the truth is NO expert or TV pundit can predict what will happen with the new variant Omicron right now. We simply don’t have enough data yet on the key questions about the variant: 1) Is Read more…
November 27, 2021
Omicron – Blip or Blow-up?
COVID Variants Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
******UPDATE, 1:05 pm EST, 11/27/21: New cases are being reported in other countries. We can expect more of the same as surveillance goes into overdrive. I keep reminding myself that science doesn’t move at the speed of the news cycle. So we won’t know for a while which details are signal and which are noise. Read more…
October 6, 2021
What’s the best MASK to protect me from the Delta variant?
COVID Variants Masks
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: A well-fitted, high filtration mask such as N95, KN95, FFP2 or KF94. ⚠️ Delta is more transmissible, in part due to infected people shedding more virus from their nose and mouth. While vaccination is still your #1 defense against Delta, it’s also a good idea to UPGRADE YOUR MASK when you are in higher Read more…
October 5, 2021
When can we expect a variant specific (i.e. Delta variant) booster shot?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Variant specific boosters are currently being tested, but it’s not clear whether we need them just yet. Here is a run-down of ongoing trials: Pfizer/BioNTech has two Phase 2/3 trials ongoing, one with a booster designed to target the Beta variant (the one that emerged in South Africa in late 2020) and one that Read more…
September 2, 2021
California Classroom Outbreak Explained
COVID Variants Infection and Spread School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
August 31, 2021
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. Since the recent Omicron news, we are hearing this myth make the rounds again. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news Read more…
Are normal precautions (masks, distance, ventilation) less effective against new variants?
COVID Variants Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: NOPE. Virus mutations STILL don’t defy the laws of physics. TL;DR: Whether Omicron or Delta, all SARS-CoV-2 variants are transmitted the same way, so you can reduce risk by using your #SMARTS: ↔️ Space: Keep your distance from other people. 😷 Masks: Keep your nose + mouth covered. 💨 Air: Keep it fresh. 🔄 Read more…
December 1, 2021
What’s new with Omicron?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: IT’S. STILL. TOO. SOON. TO. TELL. We know, the media panic level has been HIGH this week. But the truth is NO expert or TV pundit can predict what will happen with the new variant Omicron right now. We simply don’t have enough data yet on the key questions about the variant: 1) Is Read more…
November 27, 2021
Omicron – Blip or Blow-up?
COVID Variants Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
******UPDATE, 1:05 pm EST, 11/27/21: New cases are being reported in other countries. We can expect more of the same as surveillance goes into overdrive. I keep reminding myself that science doesn’t move at the speed of the news cycle. So we won’t know for a while which details are signal and which are noise. Read more…
October 6, 2021
What’s the best MASK to protect me from the Delta variant?
COVID Variants Masks
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: A well-fitted, high filtration mask such as N95, KN95, FFP2 or KF94. ⚠️ Delta is more transmissible, in part due to infected people shedding more virus from their nose and mouth. While vaccination is still your #1 defense against Delta, it’s also a good idea to UPGRADE YOUR MASK when you are in higher Read more…
October 5, 2021
When can we expect a variant specific (i.e. Delta variant) booster shot?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Variant specific boosters are currently being tested, but it’s not clear whether we need them just yet. Here is a run-down of ongoing trials: Pfizer/BioNTech has two Phase 2/3 trials ongoing, one with a booster designed to target the Beta variant (the one that emerged in South Africa in late 2020) and one that Read more…
September 2, 2021
California Classroom Outbreak Explained
COVID Variants Infection and Spread School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
August 31, 2021
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: NOPE. Virus mutations STILL don’t defy the laws of physics. TL;DR: Whether Omicron or Delta, all SARS-CoV-2 variants are transmitted the same way, so you can reduce risk by using your #SMARTS: ↔️ Space: Keep your distance from other people. 😷 Masks: Keep your nose + mouth covered. 💨 Air: Keep it fresh. 🔄 Read more…
What’s new with Omicron?
COVID Variants VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: IT’S. STILL. TOO. SOON. TO. TELL. We know, the media panic level has been HIGH this week. But the truth is NO expert or TV pundit can predict what will happen with the new variant Omicron right now. We simply don’t have enough data yet on the key questions about the variant: 1) Is Read more…
November 27, 2021
Omicron – Blip or Blow-up?
COVID Variants Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
******UPDATE, 1:05 pm EST, 11/27/21: New cases are being reported in other countries. We can expect more of the same as surveillance goes into overdrive. I keep reminding myself that science doesn’t move at the speed of the news cycle. So we won’t know for a while which details are signal and which are noise. Read more…
October 6, 2021
What’s the best MASK to protect me from the Delta variant?
COVID Variants Masks
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: A well-fitted, high filtration mask such as N95, KN95, FFP2 or KF94. ⚠️ Delta is more transmissible, in part due to infected people shedding more virus from their nose and mouth. While vaccination is still your #1 defense against Delta, it’s also a good idea to UPGRADE YOUR MASK when you are in higher Read more…
October 5, 2021
When can we expect a variant specific (i.e. Delta variant) booster shot?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Variant specific boosters are currently being tested, but it’s not clear whether we need them just yet. Here is a run-down of ongoing trials: Pfizer/BioNTech has two Phase 2/3 trials ongoing, one with a booster designed to target the Beta variant (the one that emerged in South Africa in late 2020) and one that Read more…
September 2, 2021
California Classroom Outbreak Explained
COVID Variants Infection and Spread School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
August 31, 2021
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: IT’S. STILL. TOO. SOON. TO. TELL. We know, the media panic level has been HIGH this week. But the truth is NO expert or TV pundit can predict what will happen with the new variant Omicron right now. We simply don’t have enough data yet on the key questions about the variant: 1) Is Read more…
Omicron – Blip or Blow-up?
COVID Variants Uncertainty and MisinformationLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
******UPDATE, 1:05 pm EST, 11/27/21: New cases are being reported in other countries. We can expect more of the same as surveillance goes into overdrive. I keep reminding myself that science doesn’t move at the speed of the news cycle. So we won’t know for a while which details are signal and which are noise. Read more…
October 6, 2021
What’s the best MASK to protect me from the Delta variant?
COVID Variants Masks
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: A well-fitted, high filtration mask such as N95, KN95, FFP2 or KF94. ⚠️ Delta is more transmissible, in part due to infected people shedding more virus from their nose and mouth. While vaccination is still your #1 defense against Delta, it’s also a good idea to UPGRADE YOUR MASK when you are in higher Read more…
October 5, 2021
When can we expect a variant specific (i.e. Delta variant) booster shot?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Variant specific boosters are currently being tested, but it’s not clear whether we need them just yet. Here is a run-down of ongoing trials: Pfizer/BioNTech has two Phase 2/3 trials ongoing, one with a booster designed to target the Beta variant (the one that emerged in South Africa in late 2020) and one that Read more…
September 2, 2021
California Classroom Outbreak Explained
COVID Variants Infection and Spread School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
August 31, 2021
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
******UPDATE, 1:05 pm EST, 11/27/21: New cases are being reported in other countries. We can expect more of the same as surveillance goes into overdrive. I keep reminding myself that science doesn’t move at the speed of the news cycle. So we won’t know for a while which details are signal and which are noise. Read more…
What’s the best MASK to protect me from the Delta variant?
COVID Variants MasksJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: A well-fitted, high filtration mask such as N95, KN95, FFP2 or KF94. ⚠️ Delta is more transmissible, in part due to infected people shedding more virus from their nose and mouth. While vaccination is still your #1 defense against Delta, it’s also a good idea to UPGRADE YOUR MASK when you are in higher Read more…
October 5, 2021
When can we expect a variant specific (i.e. Delta variant) booster shot?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Variant specific boosters are currently being tested, but it’s not clear whether we need them just yet. Here is a run-down of ongoing trials: Pfizer/BioNTech has two Phase 2/3 trials ongoing, one with a booster designed to target the Beta variant (the one that emerged in South Africa in late 2020) and one that Read more…
September 2, 2021
California Classroom Outbreak Explained
COVID Variants Infection and Spread School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
August 31, 2021
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: A well-fitted, high filtration mask such as N95, KN95, FFP2 or KF94. ⚠️ Delta is more transmissible, in part due to infected people shedding more virus from their nose and mouth. While vaccination is still your #1 defense against Delta, it’s also a good idea to UPGRADE YOUR MASK when you are in higher Read more…
When can we expect a variant specific (i.e. Delta variant) booster shot?
COVID Variants VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Variant specific boosters are currently being tested, but it’s not clear whether we need them just yet. Here is a run-down of ongoing trials: Pfizer/BioNTech has two Phase 2/3 trials ongoing, one with a booster designed to target the Beta variant (the one that emerged in South Africa in late 2020) and one that Read more…
September 2, 2021
California Classroom Outbreak Explained
COVID Variants Infection and Spread School
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
August 31, 2021
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: Variant specific boosters are currently being tested, but it’s not clear whether we need them just yet. Here is a run-down of ongoing trials: Pfizer/BioNTech has two Phase 2/3 trials ongoing, one with a booster designed to target the Beta variant (the one that emerged in South Africa in late 2020) and one that Read more…
California Classroom Outbreak Explained
COVID Variants Infection and Spread SchoolJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
August 31, 2021
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A recent CDC outbreak investigation found that an unvaccinated teacher infected twelve elementary school students out of a class of 24 students in California. All students were too young to be eligible for the vaccine. Key take-aways: ➡️ GET VACCINATED ➡️ KEEP YOUR MASK ON WHILE TALKING!! ➡️ STAY HOME WHEN SICK ➡️ GET VACCINATED Read more…
What’s going on with the Delta variant in the UK 🇬🇧? I heard cases were falling?
COVID Variants Data and MetricsJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
August 26, 2021
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: It’s a mixed bag—cases *have* fallen from their peak but have now plateaued at a high level. TL;DR: ➡️ Cases remain stuck at a high level in the UK, despite high vaccination rates (higher than the US). This speaks to the transmissibility of Delta and means things could get worse in the US. ➡️ Read more…
How and why do viruses mutate?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants VaccinesVijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
August 10, 2021
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
Q: What does this mean for future SARS-CoV-2 variants? A: After infection, the virus makes lots of copies of itself in the body which can lead to random changes (like typos) in the virus’ genetic code (mutations). While most mutations give no advantage to the virus, with enough chances for mutations, sometimes the virus hits Read more…
Will the COVID-19 vaccines encourage the emergence of new variants or immune evasion?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
August 8, 2021
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: No. Vaccines REDUCE opportunities for viral replication needed for variants to emerge. ➡️ TL;DR: The virus has more opportunity to replicate in unvaccinated populations, creating a FAR bigger risk for the development of SARS-CoV-2 mutations. Even so, the good news is that the emergence of variants that fully evade vaccine induced immunity is considered Read more…
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
August 7, 2021
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
August 3, 2021
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
July 28, 2021
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants VaccinesAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
July 27, 2021
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
If I got the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, do I need a booster because of Delta?
COVID Variants VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
July 19, 2021
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: Reply hazy, try again. 🎱 While some scientists are sharing their own personal decision to boost their J&J vaccine with an mRNA second dose, the US vaccine regulators have not endorsed this strategy. This can put clinicians and pharmacists in a tough spot if a patient requests it. Meanwhile, many countries including Canada and Read more…
Why might Delta be more transmissible?
Biology/Immunity COVID VariantsJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
July 12, 2021
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and Metrics
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
A: In the words of virologist Dr. Angela Rasmussen, “people infected with Delta are shedding a s**t-ton more virus than with earlier variants.” A newly released study has provided some clues to Delta’s transmissibility tricks by testing viral loads in quarantined close contacts of confirmed cases. Contacts were tested daily by PCR, and the course Read more…
Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising – Update from England
COVID Variants Data and MetricsJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…
🏴 POSTCARDS FROM ENGLAND 🏴: Euro Cup heartbreak, big crowds, and Delta still rising. The lads still did everyone proud, but the boisterous Euro Cup crowds may not have been the best news for COVID-19 cases over the past several weeks. Cases continue to rise in the UK, thanks to the more transmissible Delta variant Read more…