Posts from Those Nerdy Girls

All the posts from our Those Nerdy Girls Facebook page dating back to May 1st, 2020, are currently archived here and can be searched for by category, key words, etc. Be sure to check back often as additional posts are being added each day.

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January 27, 2023

Which animals are getting COVID-19? What are the implications for humans?

Lauren Hale, PhD MA

A. TL; DR. Many (but not all) non-human species are also getting COVID-19, although most go undiagnosed. The implication for humans is that these animals may serve as a reservoir for variants of the virus. Over the course of the pandemic, the Nerdy Girls have occasionally provided updates on various non-human species that have been Read more…

January 26, 2023

I just heard about Missed Period Pills – is that really a thing?

Reproductive Health

A. August Burns, MPH, PA, CM and Alexandra Hall, MD

A: “Missed period pills” are the same medications used for an at-home abortion, but are taken much earlier and without confirming an actual pregnancy. If you are a few days late for a period, it could be due to a very early pregnancy OR to a variety of other things. Stress, illness, and hormonal fluctuations Read more…

January 25, 2023

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month!

General Health Reproductive Health

MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC

Q: Who should get Pap tests? At what point do they become unnecessary? – Debra in Washington A: Everyone with a cervix aged 21 to 65 years should be screened for cervical cancer every 3-5 years. Screening should use either a Pap test that looks for pre-cancer or cancer cells on the cervix and/or a Read more…

January 24, 2023

Do kids need COVID-19 vaccines?

Families/Kids Vaccines

Malia Jones, PhD MPH

Yes. Kids need COVID-19 vaccines. It is safe. It is necessary. When we compare kids who get COVID-19 to kids who do not get COVID-19, we see quite clearly that kids CAN and DO get really sick, and it is worth protecting them. And when we compare vaccinated kids to unvaccinated kids, the results are Read more…

January 23, 2023

Did you know it is National News Literacy Week?!!!

Uncertainty and Misinformation

Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH

It is! This week marks the 4th annual National News Literacy Week during which The News Literacy Project will be sharing tools and resources that can help us all become better at navigating news information and discuss how to rebuild trust in news media! TL; DR: Check out the events they have planned and sign Read more…

January 21, 2023

Is it OK to use Flonase, allergy sprays, saline mist, or Neti pots before I take a COVID-19 rapid test or will it change my results?

Testing and Contact Tracing

Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH

Great question from Leah!* The answer: Yes, it is OK! We don’t have evidence that using nose sprays or Neti pots will change your COVID-19 rapid test results! TL; DR: The SARS CoV-2 rapid antigen tests (aka COVID-19 rapid tests) become positive if they find a lot of the protein that that comes from SARS Read more…

January 20, 2023

Why have routine childhood vaccination rates been decreasing in the U.S.?

Infectious Diseases Vaccines

Sara Gorman, PhD, MPH

A: We don’t know for sure, but it’s probably due to decreased trust in vaccines as well as public health institutions during the pandemic and pandemic disruptions to routine healthcare. At the end of 2022, an outbreak of measles erupted in Ohio, with over 80 cases. Most who contracted measles were either completely unvaccinated or Read more…

January 18, 2023

Dear Pandemic Live Q&A 01-18-23

COVID Variants Infectious Diseases Masks Socializing Staying Safe Testing and Contact Tracing Videos

Chana Davis, PhD

Those Nerdy Girls deliver a New Year’s message from our CEO Dr. Ashley Ritter and also share advice on staying healthy during the tripledemic, including testing, masking, and more. Hosted by Those Nerdy Girls with: – Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD:TNG CEO & Founding Member – Chana Davis, PhD: TNG Contributing Writer & Founder at Fueled Read more…

January 18, 2023

Do rapid antigen tests detect the latest COVID-19 variants?

Testing and Contact Tracing

Chana Davis, PhD

Rapid antigen tests can detect the latest COVID-19 variants, but their performance may be weaker than it was with the original SARS-CoV-2 strains. There is a good chance that you will have to test more than once to get your first positive test. The answer to the question “how well do antigen tests work?” is Read more…

January 17, 2023

When can I get another COVID booster?

Vaccines

Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD

I got my updated/bivalent booster in September, and I’m worried my protection is waning. A: We don’t know yet, but the FDA may be giving guidance soon. We love this enthusiasm for vaccine protection (!), but here is currently no authorization or recommendation for additional COVID-19 boosters if you have already received the bivalent/Omicron updated Read more…

Nerdy Merch

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