📣Have you heard about 988?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
⬇️Here is a little information about what it is and how it can help. 988 is the new three digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 was signed into law in 2020). People can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat. 🪂 If you are in the U.S. (or five major U.S. Read more…
Q: What should I do if I get COVID on vacation 🌴?
Staying Safe Travel
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
The “Summer of BA.5” is here (with apologies to Bryan Adams). BA.5 is better at evading existing immunity than even the super sneaky original Omicron variants. If you’re like us, you’re hearing of more COVID-19 infections than ever in your social circles, especially people who are traveling. We *totally* understand the urge to travel and Read more…
Just the Facts: Emergency Contraception
Health & Wellness Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
As many states heavily restrict or ban abortions, understanding family planning options and reproductive health is critical. One option is emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is not intended to replace routine birth control, but is safe and effective when needed. There is a whole lotta misinformation out there so let’s take a step back and answer Read more…
How do I know if I have panic disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I feel on edge….A LOT! How do I know if I have panic disorder? Good question! About 2% of the population will have symptoms of panic disorder in any given year. Panic disorder usually starts during teenage years or in early adulthood. If you think you have it, ask yourself a couple of questions: ❓Do Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Those Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
Busting Vasectomy Myths!
Health & Wellness Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
After the US Supreme Court decision, many more people are seeking out vasectomy. Sadly, a ton of misinformation is circulating around the interwebs and beyond. Buckle up and let’s bust some vasectomy myths with truth bombs! First off, what is a vasectomy? A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that cuts or blocks the tubes in Read more…
Rapid Antigen Testing: When to Test
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Here’s the latest scoop on when to test for Omicron with rapid antigen tests: NOTE: Be sure to scroll down for more info and resources. 🦠If you’re exposed: Your first positive antigen test could come as early as 2 days or as late as 10 days after exposure. The sweet spot for antigen testing is Read more…
What’s new about the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8?
Health & Wellness
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The American Heart Association recently updated their checklist for cardiovascular health. The 8 items on this list (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) provide guidance for maintaining cardiovascular health. The biggest update to this checklist of recommendations is the addition of sleep duration as a critical component Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
⬇️Here is a little information about what it is and how it can help. 988 is the new three digit number for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988 was signed into law in 2020). People can call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org/chat. 🪂 If you are in the U.S. (or five major U.S. Read more…
Q: What should I do if I get COVID on vacation 🌴?
Staying Safe TravelJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
The “Summer of BA.5” is here (with apologies to Bryan Adams). BA.5 is better at evading existing immunity than even the super sneaky original Omicron variants. If you’re like us, you’re hearing of more COVID-19 infections than ever in your social circles, especially people who are traveling. We *totally* understand the urge to travel and Read more…
Just the Facts: Emergency Contraception
Health & Wellness Reproductive Health
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
As many states heavily restrict or ban abortions, understanding family planning options and reproductive health is critical. One option is emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is not intended to replace routine birth control, but is safe and effective when needed. There is a whole lotta misinformation out there so let’s take a step back and answer Read more…
How do I know if I have panic disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I feel on edge….A LOT! How do I know if I have panic disorder? Good question! About 2% of the population will have symptoms of panic disorder in any given year. Panic disorder usually starts during teenage years or in early adulthood. If you think you have it, ask yourself a couple of questions: ❓Do Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Those Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
Busting Vasectomy Myths!
Health & Wellness Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
After the US Supreme Court decision, many more people are seeking out vasectomy. Sadly, a ton of misinformation is circulating around the interwebs and beyond. Buckle up and let’s bust some vasectomy myths with truth bombs! First off, what is a vasectomy? A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that cuts or blocks the tubes in Read more…
Rapid Antigen Testing: When to Test
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Here’s the latest scoop on when to test for Omicron with rapid antigen tests: NOTE: Be sure to scroll down for more info and resources. 🦠If you’re exposed: Your first positive antigen test could come as early as 2 days or as late as 10 days after exposure. The sweet spot for antigen testing is Read more…
What’s new about the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8?
Health & Wellness
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The American Heart Association recently updated their checklist for cardiovascular health. The 8 items on this list (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) provide guidance for maintaining cardiovascular health. The biggest update to this checklist of recommendations is the addition of sleep duration as a critical component Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
The “Summer of BA.5” is here (with apologies to Bryan Adams). BA.5 is better at evading existing immunity than even the super sneaky original Omicron variants. If you’re like us, you’re hearing of more COVID-19 infections than ever in your social circles, especially people who are traveling. We *totally* understand the urge to travel and Read more…
Just the Facts: Emergency Contraception
Health & Wellness Reproductive HealthSarah Whitley Coles, MD
As many states heavily restrict or ban abortions, understanding family planning options and reproductive health is critical. One option is emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is not intended to replace routine birth control, but is safe and effective when needed. There is a whole lotta misinformation out there so let’s take a step back and answer Read more…
How do I know if I have panic disorder?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I feel on edge….A LOT! How do I know if I have panic disorder? Good question! About 2% of the population will have symptoms of panic disorder in any given year. Panic disorder usually starts during teenage years or in early adulthood. If you think you have it, ask yourself a couple of questions: ❓Do Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Those Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
Busting Vasectomy Myths!
Health & Wellness Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
After the US Supreme Court decision, many more people are seeking out vasectomy. Sadly, a ton of misinformation is circulating around the interwebs and beyond. Buckle up and let’s bust some vasectomy myths with truth bombs! First off, what is a vasectomy? A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that cuts or blocks the tubes in Read more…
Rapid Antigen Testing: When to Test
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Here’s the latest scoop on when to test for Omicron with rapid antigen tests: NOTE: Be sure to scroll down for more info and resources. 🦠If you’re exposed: Your first positive antigen test could come as early as 2 days or as late as 10 days after exposure. The sweet spot for antigen testing is Read more…
What’s new about the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8?
Health & Wellness
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The American Heart Association recently updated their checklist for cardiovascular health. The 8 items on this list (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) provide guidance for maintaining cardiovascular health. The biggest update to this checklist of recommendations is the addition of sleep duration as a critical component Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
As many states heavily restrict or ban abortions, understanding family planning options and reproductive health is critical. One option is emergency contraception. Emergency contraception is not intended to replace routine birth control, but is safe and effective when needed. There is a whole lotta misinformation out there so let’s take a step back and answer Read more…
How do I know if I have panic disorder?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
I feel on edge….A LOT! How do I know if I have panic disorder? Good question! About 2% of the population will have symptoms of panic disorder in any given year. Panic disorder usually starts during teenage years or in early adulthood. If you think you have it, ask yourself a couple of questions: ❓Do Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines Videos
Those Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
Busting Vasectomy Myths!
Health & Wellness Uncertainty and Misinformation
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
After the US Supreme Court decision, many more people are seeking out vasectomy. Sadly, a ton of misinformation is circulating around the interwebs and beyond. Buckle up and let’s bust some vasectomy myths with truth bombs! First off, what is a vasectomy? A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that cuts or blocks the tubes in Read more…
Rapid Antigen Testing: When to Test
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Here’s the latest scoop on when to test for Omicron with rapid antigen tests: NOTE: Be sure to scroll down for more info and resources. 🦠If you’re exposed: Your first positive antigen test could come as early as 2 days or as late as 10 days after exposure. The sweet spot for antigen testing is Read more…
What’s new about the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8?
Health & Wellness
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The American Heart Association recently updated their checklist for cardiovascular health. The 8 items on this list (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) provide guidance for maintaining cardiovascular health. The biggest update to this checklist of recommendations is the addition of sleep duration as a critical component Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
I feel on edge….A LOT! How do I know if I have panic disorder? Good question! About 2% of the population will have symptoms of panic disorder in any given year. Panic disorder usually starts during teenage years or in early adulthood. If you think you have it, ask yourself a couple of questions: ❓Do Read more…
Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 07-08-22
Families/Kids Long COVID Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines VideosThose Nerdy Girls will answer questions about long COVID, outdoor transmission, rapid antigen testing, and more. Featuring: Amanda Simanek, PhD, MPH, DP Founding Member Chana Davis, PhD – DP Contributing Writer ➡️ Welcome, Intros, and chit chat (0:00-0:53) ➡️ Should I vaccinate my child against COVID-19? (0:54-3:39) Check out this link to the live Q&A Read more…
Busting Vasectomy Myths!
Health & Wellness Uncertainty and MisinformationSarah Whitley Coles, MD
After the US Supreme Court decision, many more people are seeking out vasectomy. Sadly, a ton of misinformation is circulating around the interwebs and beyond. Buckle up and let’s bust some vasectomy myths with truth bombs! First off, what is a vasectomy? A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that cuts or blocks the tubes in Read more…
Rapid Antigen Testing: When to Test
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
Here’s the latest scoop on when to test for Omicron with rapid antigen tests: NOTE: Be sure to scroll down for more info and resources. 🦠If you’re exposed: Your first positive antigen test could come as early as 2 days or as late as 10 days after exposure. The sweet spot for antigen testing is Read more…
What’s new about the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8?
Health & Wellness
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The American Heart Association recently updated their checklist for cardiovascular health. The 8 items on this list (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) provide guidance for maintaining cardiovascular health. The biggest update to this checklist of recommendations is the addition of sleep duration as a critical component Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
After the US Supreme Court decision, many more people are seeking out vasectomy. Sadly, a ton of misinformation is circulating around the interwebs and beyond. Buckle up and let’s bust some vasectomy myths with truth bombs! First off, what is a vasectomy? A vasectomy is a surgical procedure that cuts or blocks the tubes in Read more…
Rapid Antigen Testing: When to Test
Testing and Contact TracingChana Davis, PhD
Here’s the latest scoop on when to test for Omicron with rapid antigen tests: NOTE: Be sure to scroll down for more info and resources. 🦠If you’re exposed: Your first positive antigen test could come as early as 2 days or as late as 10 days after exposure. The sweet spot for antigen testing is Read more…
What’s new about the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8?
Health & Wellness
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
The American Heart Association recently updated their checklist for cardiovascular health. The 8 items on this list (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) provide guidance for maintaining cardiovascular health. The biggest update to this checklist of recommendations is the addition of sleep duration as a critical component Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
Here’s the latest scoop on when to test for Omicron with rapid antigen tests: NOTE: Be sure to scroll down for more info and resources. 🦠If you’re exposed: Your first positive antigen test could come as early as 2 days or as late as 10 days after exposure. The sweet spot for antigen testing is Read more…
What’s new about the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8?
Health & WellnessLauren Hale, PhD MA
The American Heart Association recently updated their checklist for cardiovascular health. The 8 items on this list (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) provide guidance for maintaining cardiovascular health. The biggest update to this checklist of recommendations is the addition of sleep duration as a critical component Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
The American Heart Association recently updated their checklist for cardiovascular health. The 8 items on this list (diet, physical activity, nicotine exposure, sleep, weight, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure) provide guidance for maintaining cardiovascular health. The biggest update to this checklist of recommendations is the addition of sleep duration as a critical component Read more…
The past few years have been difficult. How do I know if I have PTSD?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Megan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
PTSD is complex, but in a nutshell, it is the body’s response to a stressful or fear provoking event. It causes our bodies to go into a constant state of preparation to fight something dangerous or scary. Over time this can lead to depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and physical health symptoms. PTSD is not something Read more…
If mom is vaccinated while pregnant, does it help her baby’s immunity after birth?
Families/Kids VaccinesMegan Madsen, DO
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial Justice
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
New data point toward yes! We already knew that moms vaccinated during pregnancy pass on anti-spike protein antibodies to their unborn babies that last up to 6 months after birth, and that these antibodies are found in breast milk as well. We also know that vaccinated moms pass on higher amounts of antibodies than moms Read more…
Threats to reproductive rights are a public health crisis.
Health & Wellness Health Policy Social and Racial JusticeAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVID
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
This past week has been a sucker punch to women and science. Those Nerdy Girls are committed to providing actionable, factual science communication around public health crises. While the majority of our content to date has covered COVID-19, there are a number of public health topics that require further coverage. If we are not talking Read more…
Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant?
Long COVIDAmanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious Diseases
Lauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
A: Two recent studies point to yes. TL:DR; Among vaccinated people, the odds of reporting long COVID were lower for the Omicron BA.1 variant compared to Delta, but higher for Omicron BA.2 compared to BA.1. Study #1 In the UK, researchers identified ~56K people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 during the Omicron BA.1 wave and ~41K Read more…
What’s the link between deforestation and public health/infectious diseases?
Infectious DiseasesLauren Hale, PhD MA
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
We are thrilled to introduce Nerdy Guest Andrea Johnson to talk about deforestation and infectious disease. 1.) Tell me about your background and training. I’m currently an Advisor to the Climate and Land Use Alliance, a philanthropic alliance that helps major foundations align their grantmaking end to fight deforestation and secure the rights and livelihoods Read more…
Do I have OCD?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
Help! The pandemic has me worrying about germs 🧫…do I have OCD? 🤔 Not necessarily. OCD can include worries about germs, but can be a LOT more than that. Let’s talk a little bit more about OCD to understand why. OCD is a chronic mental health condition with typical symptoms including frequent and unwanted thoughts Read more…
Which vaccine is best for little kids?
Families/Kids VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEM
Sandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
Two vaccines were authorized for children in the 6 months-5 years age group on the same day, leaving many parents wondering which is best. Each has its pros and cons. The bottom line: if low side effects is your priority and you don’t mind three visits to the clinic over the course of three months, Read more…
******Conoce a las Nerdy Girls – Maggie Hayes******
Posts en Español Women in STEMSandra Albrecht, PhD MPH
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
En esta edición de la serie de “Conoce a las Nerdy Girls”, les presentamos a Maggie Hayes. Maggie es nuestra becaria del lenguaje español y las comunicaciones científicas y ella nos ayuda con las operaciones, traducciones, y interacciones comunitarias aquí en Querida Pandemia. Maggie es una estudiante en la Universidad de Wisconsin-Madison en EE.UU. estudiando Read more…
Latest hepatitis headlines don’t tell the whole story!
Infectious DiseasesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
A new CDC analysis concludes that “the number of children hospitalized for hepatitis of unknown cause *has not increased* compared to before the COVID-19 pandemic.” (Emphasis in the original.) Great–but this study is full of important limitations. The real takeaway here is “We couldn’t find any difference, but that could have been because of data Read more…
FDA approves Moderna & Pfizer COVID vaccines for kids under 5
VaccinesAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Kristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
BREAKING NEWS: The Vaccine and Other Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), an FDA advisory committee, met over the last two days to discuss data for COVID-19 vaccines in children under 5 years of age (among other topics). Here are the big takeaways!!! The committee voted unanimously that the benefits of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Read more…
Get the Facts on Predatory Publishing and Fake Scientific Journals
Uncertainty and MisinformationKristen Panthagani, MD, PhD
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
Misinformation Alert Predatory scientific publishing is a thing. There is an entire industry of essentially fake, for-profit “journals” that will publish just about anything for a fee. Academics get “invitations” to publish in these journals all the time. Most often they have humorous flaws like odd salutations “Greetings of the day, Respected Doctor!” or other Read more…
Why is my PCR test still positive if I’ve taken Paxlovid, isolated and have been asymptomatic for many days?
Testing and Contact TracingJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
Constance from Astoria, NY asks: “I tested positive for COVID-19, took Paxlovid, and isolated for 12 days. My symptoms are gone. Why does my PCR test show I’m positive?” Great question, Constance! PCR tests are very sensitive, picking up even old fragments of viral RNA that may be leftover in your body but not capable Read more…
