Can I take an antibody test to see if I need a booster shot?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Do I need a 2nd booster?
Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
A friendly Family Medicine physician’s thoughts. At this point in the pandemic, it’s easy to oscillate between feeling weary at the thought of more vaccines (Will we ever have had enough?!) and feeling panicked at the idea of being left unprotected (What if I don’t get a booster for my booster? Will I need a Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a Read more…
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer? A: No. If an unvaccinated person gets a blood transfusion from a vaccinated donor, the unvaccinated person does not become vaccinated. That’s true for COVID-19 vaccines and all other vaccines, too. Not even if the blood donation happens right after Read more…
Moderna will submit for approval of its kids’ vaccine
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: Moderna’s kids vaccine hit high marks for safety and antibody response, but efficacy against mild illness was not as high as earlier trials (likely due to Omicron). Moderna announced yesterday (via press release) that they will submit for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their vaccine for kids aged 6 months to < 6 years. Read more…
Should I get a booster shot if I’ve already had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
A: Unfortunately, no. TL;DR: đź’ĄOur current antibody tests can’t tell us precisely how well someone is protected from COVID-19 infection or disease. Whether you have been previously infected, vaccinated, boosted or a combination of the three, the recent authorization of additional booster shots has people wondering if there is a way to tell if you Read more…
Do I need a 2nd booster?
VaccinesMegan Madsen, DO
A friendly Family Medicine physician’s thoughts. At this point in the pandemic, it’s easy to oscillate between feeling weary at the thought of more vaccines (Will we ever have had enough?!) and feeling panicked at the idea of being left unprotected (What if I don’t get a booster for my booster? Will I need a Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a Read more…
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer? A: No. If an unvaccinated person gets a blood transfusion from a vaccinated donor, the unvaccinated person does not become vaccinated. That’s true for COVID-19 vaccines and all other vaccines, too. Not even if the blood donation happens right after Read more…
Moderna will submit for approval of its kids’ vaccine
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: Moderna’s kids vaccine hit high marks for safety and antibody response, but efficacy against mild illness was not as high as earlier trials (likely due to Omicron). Moderna announced yesterday (via press release) that they will submit for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their vaccine for kids aged 6 months to < 6 years. Read more…
Should I get a booster shot if I’ve already had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
A friendly Family Medicine physician’s thoughts. At this point in the pandemic, it’s easy to oscillate between feeling weary at the thought of more vaccines (Will we ever have had enough?!) and feeling panicked at the idea of being left unprotected (What if I don’t get a booster for my booster? Will I need a Read more…
I got J&J. Which booster should I get?
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a Read more…
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer? A: No. If an unvaccinated person gets a blood transfusion from a vaccinated donor, the unvaccinated person does not become vaccinated. That’s true for COVID-19 vaccines and all other vaccines, too. Not even if the blood donation happens right after Read more…
Moderna will submit for approval of its kids’ vaccine
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: Moderna’s kids vaccine hit high marks for safety and antibody response, but efficacy against mild illness was not as high as earlier trials (likely due to Omicron). Moderna announced yesterday (via press release) that they will submit for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their vaccine for kids aged 6 months to < 6 years. Read more…
Should I get a booster shot if I’ve already had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
A: First of all, there is no question that you SHOULD get a booster. As for which one, either of the mRNA vaccines is recommended for nearly everyone who got J&J as their first vaccine. And if you got J&J and you already got a booster, you may now be eligible for another one–read on Read more…
đź“Ł Have you heard about the new covid.gov website?
Masks Testing and Contact Tracing Treatments VaccinesAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a Read more…
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer? A: No. If an unvaccinated person gets a blood transfusion from a vaccinated donor, the unvaccinated person does not become vaccinated. That’s true for COVID-19 vaccines and all other vaccines, too. Not even if the blood donation happens right after Read more…
Moderna will submit for approval of its kids’ vaccine
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: Moderna’s kids vaccine hit high marks for safety and antibody response, but efficacy against mild illness was not as high as earlier trials (likely due to Omicron). Moderna announced yesterday (via press release) that they will submit for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their vaccine for kids aged 6 months to < 6 years. Read more…
Should I get a booster shot if I’ve already had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
Yes! ✋🏾 We have! ✋🏾 It is still early, but it is pretty neat from a nerdy girl standpoint. It helps people get a lot of questions answered in one place. We tried it out and especially thought it was helpful to order free COVID-19 tests and to find COVID-19 treatment once someone receives a Read more…
US FDA Approves Extra Booster For Adults 50+ and the Immunocompromised
Health Policy VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer? A: No. If an unvaccinated person gets a blood transfusion from a vaccinated donor, the unvaccinated person does not become vaccinated. That’s true for COVID-19 vaccines and all other vaccines, too. Not even if the blood donation happens right after Read more…
Moderna will submit for approval of its kids’ vaccine
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: Moderna’s kids vaccine hit high marks for safety and antibody response, but efficacy against mild illness was not as high as earlier trials (likely due to Omicron). Moderna announced yesterday (via press release) that they will submit for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their vaccine for kids aged 6 months to < 6 years. Read more…
Should I get a booster shot if I’ve already had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
NEWS: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a “2nd booster” of Pfizer or Moderna vaccines for adults over age 50. Key points: A 4th dose is authorized for anyone 50 and over who received a booster of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine more than 4 months ago. An additional booster (a 5th dose) is Read more…
If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer?
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Q: If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer? A: No. If an unvaccinated person gets a blood transfusion from a vaccinated donor, the unvaccinated person does not become vaccinated. That’s true for COVID-19 vaccines and all other vaccines, too. Not even if the blood donation happens right after Read more…
Moderna will submit for approval of its kids’ vaccine
Families/Kids Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: Moderna’s kids vaccine hit high marks for safety and antibody response, but efficacy against mild illness was not as high as earlier trials (likely due to Omicron). Moderna announced yesterday (via press release) that they will submit for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their vaccine for kids aged 6 months to < 6 years. Read more…
Should I get a booster shot if I’ve already had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
Q: If an unvaccinated person gets blood from a vaccinated person, will the vaccine transfer? A: No. If an unvaccinated person gets a blood transfusion from a vaccinated donor, the unvaccinated person does not become vaccinated. That’s true for COVID-19 vaccines and all other vaccines, too. Not even if the blood donation happens right after Read more…
Moderna will submit for approval of its kids’ vaccine
Families/Kids VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
TL;DR: Moderna’s kids vaccine hit high marks for safety and antibody response, but efficacy against mild illness was not as high as earlier trials (likely due to Omicron). Moderna announced yesterday (via press release) that they will submit for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their vaccine for kids aged 6 months to < 6 years. Read more…
Should I get a booster shot if I’ve already had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
TL;DR: Moderna’s kids vaccine hit high marks for safety and antibody response, but efficacy against mild illness was not as high as earlier trials (likely due to Omicron). Moderna announced yesterday (via press release) that they will submit for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of their vaccine for kids aged 6 months to < 6 years. Read more…
Should I get a booster shot if I’ve already had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe Vaccines
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
Yes! Even if you have already been infected, getting the recommended booster vaccine is a good idea. There is some evidence that hybrid immunity, or immunity obtained from getting vaccinated and having a COVID-19 infection, can provide good protection against COVID-19. So why should I get a booster if I had COVID? Hybrid immunity can Read more…
What does it mean to be immunocompromised?
Staying Safe VaccinesAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
➡️ Put simply, if you are immunocompromised it means that your immune system does not work like the system of a non-immunocompromised person. It can’t tell when a cell is harmful or not so it does not mount an immune response (i.e. it can’t fight an infection as well). So to be immunocompromised, someone’s immune Read more…
Do J&J vaccine recipients need a 2nd or even 3rd shot?
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
If you got a J&J shot initially, you should *definitely* get a booster. And if it was us (and it was, for some of us), we would pick an mRNA booster. It’s not likely to produce worse protection, and it eliminates the very small risk of a serious adverse event linked to the J&J vaccine. Read more…
What is going on with the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine for 5-11 year old kids?
Families/Kids VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Chana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
You may have seen a lot of news about the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for 5–11-year-old kids in the last few days. One new report out of New York suggested that the COVID-19 vaccine for these kids does not provide much protection against getting infected. Another study from the CDC shows that the vaccines continue to Read more…
Does breastfeeding protect my baby from COVID-19?
Families/Kids VaccinesChana Davis, PhD
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
A: Breastfeeding can likely help protect babies from COVID-19 but we don’t know yet how well. Antibodies from vaccination or infection are transferred through breast milk, but they are short-lived and do not enter the bloodstream. By contrast, antibodies transferred during pregnancy enter the fetal bloodstream, where they often persist for six months or more, Read more…
What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19?
VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
UPDATED 2/22 RE: Booster dose after use of monoclonal antibodies or convalescent plasma. A: Most people who get COVID-19 after receiving the primary vaccine series can get their booster dose on the normal schedule, as long as they meet the criteria for ending isolation. One exception is people who develop multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). For Read more…
Great Videos on Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19
VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
Football season over? No more Olympics? Already watched everything on Netflix? Embrace your inner Nerd and check out these great videos on Viruses, Vaccines, & Pandemic Science from the American Museum of Natural History: Viruses, Vaccines, and COVID-19 Link to Original FB Post
