How do we overcome mistrust in the vaccines, especially with Black Americans?
Social and Racial Justice Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: As many as half of Black Americans have expressed reluctance to take the COVID-19 vaccines (1), which some attribute to the enduring legacy of the egregious Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Reticence to take the coronavirus vaccine is complicated. Listening and understanding history is critical. Contrary to many peoples’ understanding of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Black Read more…
We now have a third, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
We have GREAT news! We now have a third, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met this weekend to review and make recommendations on the this vaccine. Janssen is a pharmaceutical company owned by Read more…
Does the COVID vaccine only last 90 days?!
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. There is really no reason to think that protection from the vaccines wears off after 90 days. We know the vaccines last longer than 90 days. But we don’t know how long. The CDC recently updated their guidance about quarantining after an exposure and included some changes for people who have been vaccinated. Read more…
When do we expect pediatric vaccines to be available?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Best case estimate for availability of vaccines is still Fall 2021 for older kids (aged 12+ years) and late 2021 to early 2022 for younger kids (aged < 12 years). So far Pfizer and Moderna have started trials in kids (Pfizer trial including kids aged 12-15 years was fully enrolled in January and the Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In this live Q&A, we’re teaming up with our science gal-pals at @Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist and @Your Local Epidemiologist for a special retrospective on science on Facebook over this past year. We’ll be talking about why we started doing this and why we keep on doing it, how it’s changed us, and laughing about some Read more…
What is the difference between antibodies from vaccination and antibodies from having had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
Q: Is there a difference between the antibodies you develop from the vaccination and the antibodies you develop from having Covid19? Is there a reason that antibody tests aren’t a good indicator of whether the vaccine was effective for you. A: Antibodies developed from having from COVID-19 recognize different parts of the virus while antibodies Read more…
How should I prepare for my COVID-19 shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: When it’s finally your turn for the vaccine (yay!), there are a few simple things you can do to help everything go smoothly. Learn about the vaccine, know which arm you want your shot in, wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and talk to your primary care clinician about any questions you Read more…
What’s the news on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: As many as half of Black Americans have expressed reluctance to take the COVID-19 vaccines (1), which some attribute to the enduring legacy of the egregious Tuskegee Syphilis Study. Reticence to take the coronavirus vaccine is complicated. Listening and understanding history is critical. Contrary to many peoples’ understanding of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, Black Read more…
We now have a third, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine.
VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
We have GREAT news! We now have a third, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met this weekend to review and make recommendations on the this vaccine. Janssen is a pharmaceutical company owned by Read more…
Does the COVID vaccine only last 90 days?!
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. There is really no reason to think that protection from the vaccines wears off after 90 days. We know the vaccines last longer than 90 days. But we don’t know how long. The CDC recently updated their guidance about quarantining after an exposure and included some changes for people who have been vaccinated. Read more…
When do we expect pediatric vaccines to be available?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Best case estimate for availability of vaccines is still Fall 2021 for older kids (aged 12+ years) and late 2021 to early 2022 for younger kids (aged < 12 years). So far Pfizer and Moderna have started trials in kids (Pfizer trial including kids aged 12-15 years was fully enrolled in January and the Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In this live Q&A, we’re teaming up with our science gal-pals at @Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist and @Your Local Epidemiologist for a special retrospective on science on Facebook over this past year. We’ll be talking about why we started doing this and why we keep on doing it, how it’s changed us, and laughing about some Read more…
What is the difference between antibodies from vaccination and antibodies from having had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
Q: Is there a difference between the antibodies you develop from the vaccination and the antibodies you develop from having Covid19? Is there a reason that antibody tests aren’t a good indicator of whether the vaccine was effective for you. A: Antibodies developed from having from COVID-19 recognize different parts of the virus while antibodies Read more…
How should I prepare for my COVID-19 shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: When it’s finally your turn for the vaccine (yay!), there are a few simple things you can do to help everything go smoothly. Learn about the vaccine, know which arm you want your shot in, wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and talk to your primary care clinician about any questions you Read more…
What’s the news on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
We have GREAT news! We now have a third, safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met this weekend to review and make recommendations on the this vaccine. Janssen is a pharmaceutical company owned by Read more…
Does the COVID vaccine only last 90 days?!
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. There is really no reason to think that protection from the vaccines wears off after 90 days. We know the vaccines last longer than 90 days. But we don’t know how long. The CDC recently updated their guidance about quarantining after an exposure and included some changes for people who have been vaccinated. Read more…
When do we expect pediatric vaccines to be available?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Best case estimate for availability of vaccines is still Fall 2021 for older kids (aged 12+ years) and late 2021 to early 2022 for younger kids (aged < 12 years). So far Pfizer and Moderna have started trials in kids (Pfizer trial including kids aged 12-15 years was fully enrolled in January and the Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In this live Q&A, we’re teaming up with our science gal-pals at @Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist and @Your Local Epidemiologist for a special retrospective on science on Facebook over this past year. We’ll be talking about why we started doing this and why we keep on doing it, how it’s changed us, and laughing about some Read more…
What is the difference between antibodies from vaccination and antibodies from having had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
Q: Is there a difference between the antibodies you develop from the vaccination and the antibodies you develop from having Covid19? Is there a reason that antibody tests aren’t a good indicator of whether the vaccine was effective for you. A: Antibodies developed from having from COVID-19 recognize different parts of the virus while antibodies Read more…
How should I prepare for my COVID-19 shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: When it’s finally your turn for the vaccine (yay!), there are a few simple things you can do to help everything go smoothly. Learn about the vaccine, know which arm you want your shot in, wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and talk to your primary care clinician about any questions you Read more…
What’s the news on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: No. There is really no reason to think that protection from the vaccines wears off after 90 days. We know the vaccines last longer than 90 days. But we don’t know how long. The CDC recently updated their guidance about quarantining after an exposure and included some changes for people who have been vaccinated. Read more…
When do we expect pediatric vaccines to be available?
Families/Kids VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Best case estimate for availability of vaccines is still Fall 2021 for older kids (aged 12+ years) and late 2021 to early 2022 for younger kids (aged < 12 years). So far Pfizer and Moderna have started trials in kids (Pfizer trial including kids aged 12-15 years was fully enrolled in January and the Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In this live Q&A, we’re teaming up with our science gal-pals at @Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist and @Your Local Epidemiologist for a special retrospective on science on Facebook over this past year. We’ll be talking about why we started doing this and why we keep on doing it, how it’s changed us, and laughing about some Read more…
What is the difference between antibodies from vaccination and antibodies from having had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
Q: Is there a difference between the antibodies you develop from the vaccination and the antibodies you develop from having Covid19? Is there a reason that antibody tests aren’t a good indicator of whether the vaccine was effective for you. A: Antibodies developed from having from COVID-19 recognize different parts of the virus while antibodies Read more…
How should I prepare for my COVID-19 shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: When it’s finally your turn for the vaccine (yay!), there are a few simple things you can do to help everything go smoothly. Learn about the vaccine, know which arm you want your shot in, wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and talk to your primary care clinician about any questions you Read more…
What’s the news on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: Best case estimate for availability of vaccines is still Fall 2021 for older kids (aged 12+ years) and late 2021 to early 2022 for younger kids (aged < 12 years). So far Pfizer and Moderna have started trials in kids (Pfizer trial including kids aged 12-15 years was fully enrolled in January and the Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Staying Safe Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines VideosMalia Jones, PhD MPH
In this live Q&A, we’re teaming up with our science gal-pals at @Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist and @Your Local Epidemiologist for a special retrospective on science on Facebook over this past year. We’ll be talking about why we started doing this and why we keep on doing it, how it’s changed us, and laughing about some Read more…
What is the difference between antibodies from vaccination and antibodies from having had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Michelle Kinder, PhD
Q: Is there a difference between the antibodies you develop from the vaccination and the antibodies you develop from having Covid19? Is there a reason that antibody tests aren’t a good indicator of whether the vaccine was effective for you. A: Antibodies developed from having from COVID-19 recognize different parts of the virus while antibodies Read more…
How should I prepare for my COVID-19 shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: When it’s finally your turn for the vaccine (yay!), there are a few simple things you can do to help everything go smoothly. Learn about the vaccine, know which arm you want your shot in, wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and talk to your primary care clinician about any questions you Read more…
What’s the news on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
In this live Q&A, we’re teaming up with our science gal-pals at @Friendly Neighbor Epidemiologist and @Your Local Epidemiologist for a special retrospective on science on Facebook over this past year. We’ll be talking about why we started doing this and why we keep on doing it, how it’s changed us, and laughing about some Read more…
What is the difference between antibodies from vaccination and antibodies from having had COVID-19?
Biology/Immunity VaccinesMichelle Kinder, PhD
Q: Is there a difference between the antibodies you develop from the vaccination and the antibodies you develop from having Covid19? Is there a reason that antibody tests aren’t a good indicator of whether the vaccine was effective for you. A: Antibodies developed from having from COVID-19 recognize different parts of the virus while antibodies Read more…
How should I prepare for my COVID-19 shot?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: When it’s finally your turn for the vaccine (yay!), there are a few simple things you can do to help everything go smoothly. Learn about the vaccine, know which arm you want your shot in, wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and talk to your primary care clinician about any questions you Read more…
What’s the news on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
Q: Is there a difference between the antibodies you develop from the vaccination and the antibodies you develop from having Covid19? Is there a reason that antibody tests aren’t a good indicator of whether the vaccine was effective for you. A: Antibodies developed from having from COVID-19 recognize different parts of the virus while antibodies Read more…
How should I prepare for my COVID-19 shot?
VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: When it’s finally your turn for the vaccine (yay!), there are a few simple things you can do to help everything go smoothly. Learn about the vaccine, know which arm you want your shot in, wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and talk to your primary care clinician about any questions you Read more…
What’s the news on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: When it’s finally your turn for the vaccine (yay!), there are a few simple things you can do to help everything go smoothly. Learn about the vaccine, know which arm you want your shot in, wear loose fitting clothing, drink plenty of water, and talk to your primary care clinician about any questions you Read more…
What’s the news on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine?
VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: The news is GOOD!! TL;DR: The single-shot vaccine provides strong protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death, and requires only normal refrigeration. Johnson & Johnson is a “viral vector” vaccine, in which a non-replicating adenovirus (a cause of common cold) is used as a delivery service for instructions to create the coronavirus spike protein. Read more…
Any news yet about whether vaccines prevent asymptomatic infection?
Infection and Spread VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: YES! We are getting a steady trail of clues hinting that the vaccines DO IN FACT REDUCE INFECTIONS! This is magnificent news, and badly needed as we pass half a million COVID-19 deaths in the United States and many hundreds of thousands more worldwide. We can celebrate it as a real milestone in the Read more…
Do people who’ve already had COVID-19 need BOTH doses of the vaccine?
Biology/Immunity VaccinesJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: Possibly not. One shot may work as an effective booster in those previously infected. Given the large number of people who have been infected by SARS-COV-2 in many countries and the continued scarcity of vaccine doses, understanding the impact of the vaccines on the immunity of those previously infected is an important question. Several Read more…
Dr. Alison Buttenheim Testifies Before Congress
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
We’re interrupting your regular feed to bring you this shameless brag: On Friday, our co-founder Dr. Alison Buttenheim, PhD, MBA, of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, testified before Congress at a hearing of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology. The hearing, titled “Science of COVID-19 Vaccines and Read more…
Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness?
VaccinesAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines Videos
In this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: Why yes we can! Vaccine efficacy and effectiveness both measure the % reduction in disease in the vaccinated group compared to the unvaccinated group. Vaccine efficacy measures this under *optimal conditions*, such as a vaccine trial, and vaccine effectiveness measures this in *real world settings*. How was vaccine efficacy evaluated in vaccine trials? In Read more…
Dear Pandemic COVID Q&A
Mental Health Staying Safe Vaccines VideosIn this live Q&A, Dear Pandemic contributing scientists Drs. Sandra Albrecht and Malia Jones will be taking questions about pet birds, what 95% efficacy really means, when safety measures are just too much, and what’s up with that CDC thing about vaccines wearing off in 3 months. If you have a question, put it in Read more…
Is it normal to have pain in my armpit or breast after the COVID-19 vaccine?
VaccinesAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: Very possible and normal, specifically on the side you received the vaccination. Throughout your body, hundreds of lymph nodes work to filter your lymphatic fluid. When your body is mounting an immune response, after an infection or a vaccine, lymph nodes can swell with fluid. Lymph nodes are located all over our bodies, with Read more…
What’s in the vaccine from Oxford-AstraZeneca (and, what isn’t)?
Uncertainty and Misinformation VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
We’re getting a lot of questions about what is (and is not) in the COVID-19 vaccine made by Oxford-AstraZeneca. So here’s an explainer on the ingredients. This vaccine contains a virus that causes the common cold in chimpanzees. It has been genetically modified so that it can’t infect you, and also so that it delivers Read more…
Can mRNA vaccines change my DNA?
Uncertainty and Misinformation VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
A: No. The mRNA vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna contain a message which instructs your cells to make a protein shaped like a small part of the virus that causes COVID-19. The message is called messenger RNA or mRNA. Messenger RNA only contains the information it takes to make a certain protein. This can’t change Read more…
