Nerdy Publication alert!
Uncertainty and Misinformation Women in STEM
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
The Nerdy Girls are thrilled to share a jointly authored editorial in the American Journal of Health Promotion sharing our “Let’s Learn” communication strategy: đź’Ą Lesson #1: ➡️ Listening and Empathy Come First In the Dear Pandemic community, learning is a two-way street. Our readers are among our best teachers. Read the full essay here: Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies – The Appeal to Authority
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
At Dear Pandemic, we want to dish out science facts AND equip our readers with tools to make sense of data and science themselves. In this series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that have led people astray during the pandemic. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning Read more…
Chlorine dioxide can’t prevent or cure COVID-19 (but it can cause liver failure).
Treatments Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Taking chlorine dioxide (or its relatives, such as sodium hypochlorite) does not prevent or cure COVID-19. And it is dangerous. Chlorine dioxide can cause acute kidney and liver failure, intestinal perforations with sepsis, vomiting & diarrhea, anemia, thyroid disruption, and neurological injury. It is not safe for human consumption. Not even if it comes labeled Read more…
National News Literacy Week
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
🤓 NERD ALERT! 🤓 It’s National News Literacy Week! Those Nerdy Girls are working hard to grow a bright spot of sane science here on social media. Our biggest asset? YOU. Thanks to our science-loving community for spreading the good and debunking the junk. We are grateful for each and every one of you, each Read more…
FLURONA? DELTACRON? Drink your own pee?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Nope. Nope. Nope. Phew…some weeks the COVID-19 myths are easier to slay than others. We’ll put these to rest very briefly. đź’ĄFLURONA: While a person can be infected AT THE SAME TIME with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, this is called a co-infection, not some new mutant virus that is the combination of both the Read more…
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…
Healthy Diet & Exercise vs. COVID Vaccination? Try both!
General Health Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated is Read more…
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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
The Nerdy Girls are thrilled to share a jointly authored editorial in the American Journal of Health Promotion sharing our “Let’s Learn” communication strategy: đź’Ą Lesson #1: ➡️ Listening and Empathy Come First In the Dear Pandemic community, learning is a two-way street. Our readers are among our best teachers. Read the full essay here: Read more…
Series on Logical Fallacies – The Appeal to Authority
Uncertainty and MisinformationKristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
At Dear Pandemic, we want to dish out science facts AND equip our readers with tools to make sense of data and science themselves. In this series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that have led people astray during the pandemic. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning Read more…
Chlorine dioxide can’t prevent or cure COVID-19 (but it can cause liver failure).
Treatments Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Taking chlorine dioxide (or its relatives, such as sodium hypochlorite) does not prevent or cure COVID-19. And it is dangerous. Chlorine dioxide can cause acute kidney and liver failure, intestinal perforations with sepsis, vomiting & diarrhea, anemia, thyroid disruption, and neurological injury. It is not safe for human consumption. Not even if it comes labeled Read more…
National News Literacy Week
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
🤓 NERD ALERT! 🤓 It’s National News Literacy Week! Those Nerdy Girls are working hard to grow a bright spot of sane science here on social media. Our biggest asset? YOU. Thanks to our science-loving community for spreading the good and debunking the junk. We are grateful for each and every one of you, each Read more…
FLURONA? DELTACRON? Drink your own pee?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Nope. Nope. Nope. Phew…some weeks the COVID-19 myths are easier to slay than others. We’ll put these to rest very briefly. đź’ĄFLURONA: While a person can be infected AT THE SAME TIME with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, this is called a co-infection, not some new mutant virus that is the combination of both the Read more…
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…
Healthy Diet & Exercise vs. COVID Vaccination? Try both!
General Health Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated is Read more…
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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
At Dear Pandemic, we want to dish out science facts AND equip our readers with tools to make sense of data and science themselves. In this series, Dr. Kristen Panthagani of You Can Know Things dissects some common logical fallacies that have led people astray during the pandemic. Logical fallacies are common patterns of reasoning Read more…
Chlorine dioxide can’t prevent or cure COVID-19 (but it can cause liver failure).
Treatments Uncertainty and MisinformationMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Taking chlorine dioxide (or its relatives, such as sodium hypochlorite) does not prevent or cure COVID-19. And it is dangerous. Chlorine dioxide can cause acute kidney and liver failure, intestinal perforations with sepsis, vomiting & diarrhea, anemia, thyroid disruption, and neurological injury. It is not safe for human consumption. Not even if it comes labeled Read more…
National News Literacy Week
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
🤓 NERD ALERT! 🤓 It’s National News Literacy Week! Those Nerdy Girls are working hard to grow a bright spot of sane science here on social media. Our biggest asset? YOU. Thanks to our science-loving community for spreading the good and debunking the junk. We are grateful for each and every one of you, each Read more…
FLURONA? DELTACRON? Drink your own pee?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Nope. Nope. Nope. Phew…some weeks the COVID-19 myths are easier to slay than others. We’ll put these to rest very briefly. đź’ĄFLURONA: While a person can be infected AT THE SAME TIME with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, this is called a co-infection, not some new mutant virus that is the combination of both the Read more…
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…
Healthy Diet & Exercise vs. COVID Vaccination? Try both!
General Health Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated is Read more…
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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
Taking chlorine dioxide (or its relatives, such as sodium hypochlorite) does not prevent or cure COVID-19. And it is dangerous. Chlorine dioxide can cause acute kidney and liver failure, intestinal perforations with sepsis, vomiting & diarrhea, anemia, thyroid disruption, and neurological injury. It is not safe for human consumption. Not even if it comes labeled Read more…
National News Literacy Week
Uncertainty and MisinformationLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
🤓 NERD ALERT! 🤓 It’s National News Literacy Week! Those Nerdy Girls are working hard to grow a bright spot of sane science here on social media. Our biggest asset? YOU. Thanks to our science-loving community for spreading the good and debunking the junk. We are grateful for each and every one of you, each Read more…
FLURONA? DELTACRON? Drink your own pee?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Nope. Nope. Nope. Phew…some weeks the COVID-19 myths are easier to slay than others. We’ll put these to rest very briefly. đź’ĄFLURONA: While a person can be infected AT THE SAME TIME with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, this is called a co-infection, not some new mutant virus that is the combination of both the Read more…
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…
Healthy Diet & Exercise vs. COVID Vaccination? Try both!
General Health Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated is Read more…
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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
🤓 NERD ALERT! 🤓 It’s National News Literacy Week! Those Nerdy Girls are working hard to grow a bright spot of sane science here on social media. Our biggest asset? YOU. Thanks to our science-loving community for spreading the good and debunking the junk. We are grateful for each and every one of you, each Read more…
FLURONA? DELTACRON? Drink your own pee?
Uncertainty and MisinformationJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Nope. Nope. Nope. Phew…some weeks the COVID-19 myths are easier to slay than others. We’ll put these to rest very briefly. đź’ĄFLURONA: While a person can be infected AT THE SAME TIME with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, this is called a co-infection, not some new mutant virus that is the combination of both the Read more…
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…
Healthy Diet & Exercise vs. COVID Vaccination? Try both!
General Health Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated is Read more…
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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
A: Nope. Nope. Nope. Phew…some weeks the COVID-19 myths are easier to slay than others. We’ll put these to rest very briefly. đź’ĄFLURONA: While a person can be infected AT THE SAME TIME with both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, this is called a co-infection, not some new mutant virus that is the combination of both the 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…
Healthy Diet & Exercise vs. COVID Vaccination? Try both!
General Health Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated is Read more…
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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for 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…
Healthy Diet & Exercise vs. COVID Vaccination? Try both!
General Health Uncertainty and Misinformation VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated is Read more…
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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
We’re hearing so many people repeat this line: “just eat well and exercise, that’s the best prevention for COVID-19!” Is this true? Healthy diet and exercise *are* good for your health! Unfortunately, they do not really prevent COVID. The best prevention for COVID-19 is to be vaccinated. If you do get COVID, being vaccinated 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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for 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…
HELP! My hair is falling out.
Clinical Symptoms Mental Health Uncertainty and MisinformationLindsey Leininger, PhD MA
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
HELP! My hair is falling out. -Many readers from many places A: You are not alone. Be selective in your panic Googling (tips below). Don’t fall for product peddlers on the internet. Talk to a trusted medical provider. First, hugs from the Nerdy Girls. Pandemic-era living stinks for a lot of reasons, and the “near-perfect Read more…
Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, *IS* available in the United States.
Uncertainty and MisinformationMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
Have you heard the latest social media rumor? Pfizer-BioNTech’s FDA-approved vaccine, Comirnaty, is not available in the United States/your state yet. True or false?! You guessed it–this is not true. And next time you run across something that smells a little fishy, don’t get caught! 🎣 Just google it followed by the words “fact check” Read more…
How can I spot misinformation?
Uncertainty and MisinformationRachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
A: It’s not easy and takes practice. The Nerdy Girls have some tips to help: đź’ˇ First, it may be helpful to share what we mean when we say misinformation. Misinformation is information that is false, inaccurate, or misleading based on the best evidence at the time. Under the umbrella of misinformation, you may have Read more…
I heard that doctors and hospitals are falsely claiming that both admissions and deaths are due to COVID-19 to make more money. Is that true?
Uncertainty and MisinformationSarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
A: No. Healthcare professionals and hospitals are not inflating the numbers of COVID-19 cases to make more money. If anything, the number of cases and deaths are undercounted. Many hospitals lost money during the pandemic. Sadly, the rumor that clinicians and hospitals are inflating the number of COVID-19 deaths and cases to make more money Read more…
I want to help my friends overcome vaccine hesitancy. How do I give a strong vaccine recommendation?
Uncertainty and Misinformation VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
A: Give a strong, clear, favorable recommendation; be persistent; listen with empathy; address concerns; and keep the door open to keep talking about it! Receiving a strong recommendation in favor of vaccination from a trusted source is one of the most important reasons someone accepts immunization. Each of us can be that trusted source for Read more…
