Posts by Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH

When will an updated COVID-19 booster be available? Should I wait to get it? September 2, 2023

Has there been a recent increase in the number of people who identify as transgender in the U.S.? August 12, 2023

What’s up with this new ‘Arcturus’ subvariant of SARS-CoV-2? April 24, 2023

Can kids 6 months to 4 years old get an updated COVID-19 vaccine (targeting both the original and BA.4 and BA.5 strains of SARS-CoV-2)? April 8, 2023

Is there an easy way to search your past posts? March 25, 2023

Isn’t boy vs. girl just a simple matter of different sex chromosomes (XX vs. XY) and body parts? February 17, 2023

Did you know it is National News Literacy Week?!!! January 23, 2023

Does getting COVID-19 rapid tests covered by your insurance require you to pay out-of-pocket and then get reimbursed? January 10, 2023

FREE COVID-19 RAPID TESTS ARE BACK December 15, 2022

Where can I get my kid who is <5 years old a COVID-19 vaccine? December 12, 2022

Is there an easy way to figure out if I am eligible for a COVID-19 booster shot? November 21, 2022

How can I tell if a news source is legit or not? October 29, 2022

Can the COVID-19 vaccine or booster cause me to get a false positive COVID-19 test result? October 11, 2022

Is 2 months the minimum or guideline for getting the updated booster after my last dose? September 21, 2022

🌟🌟Free COVID-19 rapid test kit ALERT🌟🌟 September 6, 2022

What is confirmation bias? What is motivated reasoning? How do they impact the spread of misinformation? August 10, 2022

Why do long COVID estimates seem to vary so much from study to study? July 20, 2022

Does your risk of long COVID differ by variant? June 27, 2022

Two Important Updates on COVID-19 Booster Doses May 24, 2022

Did you know you can get 8 more *FREE* COVID-19 rapid tests sent directly to your house? May 17, 2022

If I worked with my boss on Saturday, we wore masks, he tested positive on Monday, and I’m boosted, what do I do? April 29, 2022

With so many people using home tests (which mostly go unreported), how can we rely on COVID-19 data to understand community levels of transmission? April 15, 2022

Is there any easy way to determine whether and for how long I need to isolate or quarantine? April 2, 2022

How can we equip the next generation of Nerdy Girls to stop the spread of misinformation? March 18, 2022

What are the booster shot guidelines if you had COVID-19? February 22, 2022

What counts as being “exposed?” Update! February 5, 2022

Pfizer initiated a request for FDA emergency use authorization of their vaccine in kids aged 6 months to <5 years today! February 1, 2022

If I haven’t had a booster shot yet, am I considered unvaccinated? January 18, 2022

Did you already answer a question about…? January 8, 2022

💥Breaking News – FDA Amends Pfizer EUA💥!! January 3, 2022

Why should we get a booster with the existing COVID vaccine when a new one is in the works for Omicron? December 21, 2021

I keep hearing all these new terms since the omicron variant came on the scene-can you clarify what all these words mean? December 11, 2021

Is it safe to attend holiday gatherings with family who are absolutely against any COVID-19 mitigation efforts? November 20, 2021

If my child is almost 12 years old, should I wait for the higher dose when the Pfizer vaccine for 5-11s is approved? November 2, 2021

When can we expect a variant specific (i.e. Delta variant) booster shot? October 5, 2021

What counts as being exposed to COVID-19? September 18, 2021

PANDEMIC SHERO ALERT!!! August 28, 2021

Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I am pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or think I might want to get pregnant soon? July 17, 2021

What are the TOP 5 Reasons to Get Vaccinated? July 2, 2021

Were COVID-19 vaccines developed too fast to be safe? June 25, 2021

If I got the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, can I get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine if a booster shot is needed? June 20, 2021

How did the two Nerdy Girl kids who are 12-15 years old do after getting their second Pfizer vaccine dose this past Thursday? June 6, 2021

Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine? May 30, 2021

Is the need to test different doses of the COVID-19 vaccine in kids versus adults related to differences in body size or weight? May 15, 2021

What is the new guidance for wearing masks outdoors, particularly if we are vaccinated? April 28, 2021

How will we know when a COVID-19 booster shot will be needed? April 19, 2021

Any more examples of pandemic heroes? April 3, 2021

Any news on COVID-19 vaccine trials for kids? March 27, 2021

When we need a booster for the new variants, will we need to have the same company’s vaccine as our first? March 20, 2021

When do we expect pediatric vaccines to be available? February 27, 2021

Can you please help us understand vaccine efficacy vs. effectiveness? February 20, 2021

Why don’t we know whether vaccinated people can still spread the virus? February 13, 2021

Are you ready for some football?!!! February 6, 2021

Is there a timeline for vaccinations for children? Do the “herd immunity” projections include children? January 23, 2021

If I get vaccinated and I’m with another person who has gotten vaccinated, is it safe to spend time together without masks? January 16, 2021

Happy New Year’s Eve from Those Nerdy Girls December 31, 2020

What’s up with the new CDC guidelines for shorter quarantine periods? December 16, 2020

If I traveled over the holiday weekend, should I be taking any steps to protect others around me? December 1, 2020

Today is Small Business Saturday, what can I do to stay safe and support small business today? November 28, 2020

As winter approaches and many of us are facing unprecedented levels of COVID-19 in our communities, how can we stay safe AND stay sane over the next few months? November 17, 2020

I heard there was a large COVID-19 outbreak at an overnight summer school retreat in WI. What happened?! November 6, 2020

Does the new CDC guidance about avoiding 15 minutes cumulative contact mean with masks or without masks? October 29, 2020

Did a recent CDC study show that 85% of people who wear masks get COVID? October 19, 2020

Could you provide any updates on safety of air travel at this time in advance of holidays? October 16, 2020

Why wasn’t a test-only strategy sufficient for preventing transmission of COVID-19 in the White House? October 9, 2020

Once a person has covid-19, when is it safe to interact with them again? September 23, 2020

Are temperature checks an adequate screening tool for COVID-19? September 20, 2020

As we approach seasonal influenza season, how will I know if my symptoms are from the flu or covid-19? If I am not sure, what should I do? September 13, 2020

What should I be considering when it comes to deciding on participation in team sports for my kids this Fall? September 4, 2020

Some cloth masks have a pocket to insert a filter, is this necessary? If so, what material is best for the filter? August 30, 2020

Is it okay to let friends use our bathroom? August 27, 2020

What do we know about the true prevalence of COVID-19 “long-haulers”? August 19, 2020

What safety precautions should I take when traveling by air? August 16, 2020

Ack! What is this I hear about coronavirus being detected in frozen food?!! August 14, 2020

What is considered “exposure” to someone who has COVID-19? Once you find out you were exposed, what should you do? August 9, 2020

With cases rising again around the US, is the concept of a “pod” or “bubble” of connected households still reasonable? July 28, 2020

Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’? July 23, 2020

Do you have any other tips to help kids get used to wearing masks? July 15, 2020

What steps should families who want to visit relatives who are older and/or more vulnerable to complications of COVID-19 take to protect their loved ones? July 12, 2020

How can it be that COVID-19 cases are increasing but deaths are decreasing in the U.S.? July 8, 2020

Why is outdoors safer than indoors? June 28, 2020

I don’t currently have any symptoms, but I want to visit older family members soon, so I went and got a PCR test for COVID-19 (i.e., the kind that detects *current* infection). My test came back negative, so I am in the clear, right? June 22, 2020

If someone in my household tests positive for COVID-19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household safe? June 7, 2020

What historical factors contributed to many U.S. cities becoming highly segregated, and how is this related to the racial inequities in COVID-19 we are seeing today? June 2, 2020

I keep seeing headlines reporting that CDC changed their guidelines regarding whether SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via touching contaminated surfaces, is that true? May 24, 2020

Can people get re-infected with SARS-CoV-2? May 21, 2020

I keep hearing about a move towards a “harm reduction” phase of the pandemic response, what does this mean? May 17, 2020

My state is starting to re-open, but it isn’t clear when or if childcare or camps will be available in my area–what will we do with the kids all summer?!? May 15, 2020

Should I just get it over with and go to a ‘COVID party’? May 6, 2020

Does wearing a cloth mask protect me, or protect others? May 2, 2020

Should those who have had COVID-19 and recovered be issued an “immunity passport” or “risk-free certificate”? April 26, 2020

Could over 20% of individuals living in New York City really already have been exposed to COVID-19? April 24, 2020

What is a danger of relaxing social distancing measures prematurely? April 21, 2020

What does contact tracing look like now, what could it look like in the future and do I need to be worried about privacy? April 18, 2020

What do individuals who are infected with coronavirus and are asymptomatic, pre-symptomatic or mildly symptomatic have in common? April 14, 2020

What is the correct way to wear a cloth mask? April 14, 2020