Can IUDs be used as emergency contraception?
Reproductive Health
MK Haber, FNP-C, IBCLC
Yes! Intra-uterine devices (IUDs) are in fact the most effective form of emergency contraception there is. They do require a clinical visit and can be expensive without insurance, which can make them a challenge when time is of the essence. But IUDs are nearly 100% (99.9%) effective at pregnancy prevention when inserted within 5 days Read more…
Last Chance for US Households to Order Free Rapid Tests
Testing and Contact Tracing
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
LAST CHANCE for U.S. households to place an order for free COVID-19 rapid tests mailed straight to your door. According to the website, “Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2 because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests.” Every home in the U.S. is eligible to Read more…
I think I have a problem with my substance use. What can I do?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
💁🏽 If you think you have a problem with how you are using substances (anything like marijuana, opioids, stimulants, or prescription medications used for other purposes), know that you are not alone. Rates of substance use* and/or drug overdose have increased since March 2020. There are many possible reasons for this including: isolation, lack of Read more…
When are Omicron-specific boosters coming?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Both Pfizer and Moderna have asked FDA to authorize “bivalent” COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, and they could be available to people 12 and up as early as the first week of September. Bivalent means that the vaccine is designed to protect against two strains of the virus. In this case, the two strains are the Read more…
How do the monkeypox vaccines work?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a live, attenuated FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox and smallpox. This means that the vaccine contains a weakened version of the vaccinia virus, a virus very similar to monkeypox and smallpox. This weakened virus cannot make copies of itself or spread. The body recognizes the virus and makes antibodies Read more…
How well do COVID-19 rapid antigen tests work? Is a single antigen test enough?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus very well when used at the right time – when viral levels are high. Repeat (serial) testing is a powerful way to catch more SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce false negatives. In a recent study, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detected the virus roughly 80% of the time when Read more…
What does a deep dive into the immune system of people with long COVID reveal?
Long COVID
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
New study alert! A recent study available as a preprint found multiple biologic similarities in people experiencing long COVID. This early research informs future studies on the diagnosis of long COVID using self-reported symptoms and laboratory data as well as potential target mechanisms for the treatment of this debilitating condition. The underlying cause of long Read more…
Let’s talk about drinking.
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
Yes! Intra-uterine devices (IUDs) are in fact the most effective form of emergency contraception there is. They do require a clinical visit and can be expensive without insurance, which can make them a challenge when time is of the essence. But IUDs are nearly 100% (99.9%) effective at pregnancy prevention when inserted within 5 days Read more…
Last Chance for US Households to Order Free Rapid Tests
Testing and Contact TracingJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
LAST CHANCE for U.S. households to place an order for free COVID-19 rapid tests mailed straight to your door. According to the website, “Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2 because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests.” Every home in the U.S. is eligible to Read more…
I think I have a problem with my substance use. What can I do?
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
💁🏽 If you think you have a problem with how you are using substances (anything like marijuana, opioids, stimulants, or prescription medications used for other purposes), know that you are not alone. Rates of substance use* and/or drug overdose have increased since March 2020. There are many possible reasons for this including: isolation, lack of Read more…
When are Omicron-specific boosters coming?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Both Pfizer and Moderna have asked FDA to authorize “bivalent” COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, and they could be available to people 12 and up as early as the first week of September. Bivalent means that the vaccine is designed to protect against two strains of the virus. In this case, the two strains are the Read more…
How do the monkeypox vaccines work?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a live, attenuated FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox and smallpox. This means that the vaccine contains a weakened version of the vaccinia virus, a virus very similar to monkeypox and smallpox. This weakened virus cannot make copies of itself or spread. The body recognizes the virus and makes antibodies Read more…
How well do COVID-19 rapid antigen tests work? Is a single antigen test enough?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus very well when used at the right time – when viral levels are high. Repeat (serial) testing is a powerful way to catch more SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce false negatives. In a recent study, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detected the virus roughly 80% of the time when Read more…
What does a deep dive into the immune system of people with long COVID reveal?
Long COVID
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
New study alert! A recent study available as a preprint found multiple biologic similarities in people experiencing long COVID. This early research informs future studies on the diagnosis of long COVID using self-reported symptoms and laboratory data as well as potential target mechanisms for the treatment of this debilitating condition. The underlying cause of long Read more…
Let’s talk about drinking.
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
LAST CHANCE for U.S. households to place an order for free COVID-19 rapid tests mailed straight to your door. According to the website, “Ordering through this program will be suspended on Friday, September 2 because Congress hasn’t provided additional funding to replenish the nation’s stockpile of tests.” Every home in the U.S. is eligible to Read more…
I think I have a problem with my substance use. What can I do?
General Health Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
💁🏽 If you think you have a problem with how you are using substances (anything like marijuana, opioids, stimulants, or prescription medications used for other purposes), know that you are not alone. Rates of substance use* and/or drug overdose have increased since March 2020. There are many possible reasons for this including: isolation, lack of Read more…
When are Omicron-specific boosters coming?
Vaccines
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Both Pfizer and Moderna have asked FDA to authorize “bivalent” COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, and they could be available to people 12 and up as early as the first week of September. Bivalent means that the vaccine is designed to protect against two strains of the virus. In this case, the two strains are the Read more…
How do the monkeypox vaccines work?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a live, attenuated FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox and smallpox. This means that the vaccine contains a weakened version of the vaccinia virus, a virus very similar to monkeypox and smallpox. This weakened virus cannot make copies of itself or spread. The body recognizes the virus and makes antibodies Read more…
How well do COVID-19 rapid antigen tests work? Is a single antigen test enough?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus very well when used at the right time – when viral levels are high. Repeat (serial) testing is a powerful way to catch more SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce false negatives. In a recent study, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detected the virus roughly 80% of the time when Read more…
What does a deep dive into the immune system of people with long COVID reveal?
Long COVID
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
New study alert! A recent study available as a preprint found multiple biologic similarities in people experiencing long COVID. This early research informs future studies on the diagnosis of long COVID using self-reported symptoms and laboratory data as well as potential target mechanisms for the treatment of this debilitating condition. The underlying cause of long Read more…
Let’s talk about drinking.
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
💁🏽 If you think you have a problem with how you are using substances (anything like marijuana, opioids, stimulants, or prescription medications used for other purposes), know that you are not alone. Rates of substance use* and/or drug overdose have increased since March 2020. There are many possible reasons for this including: isolation, lack of Read more…
When are Omicron-specific boosters coming?
VaccinesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
Both Pfizer and Moderna have asked FDA to authorize “bivalent” COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, and they could be available to people 12 and up as early as the first week of September. Bivalent means that the vaccine is designed to protect against two strains of the virus. In this case, the two strains are the Read more…
How do the monkeypox vaccines work?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a live, attenuated FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox and smallpox. This means that the vaccine contains a weakened version of the vaccinia virus, a virus very similar to monkeypox and smallpox. This weakened virus cannot make copies of itself or spread. The body recognizes the virus and makes antibodies Read more…
How well do COVID-19 rapid antigen tests work? Is a single antigen test enough?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus very well when used at the right time – when viral levels are high. Repeat (serial) testing is a powerful way to catch more SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce false negatives. In a recent study, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detected the virus roughly 80% of the time when Read more…
What does a deep dive into the immune system of people with long COVID reveal?
Long COVID
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
New study alert! A recent study available as a preprint found multiple biologic similarities in people experiencing long COVID. This early research informs future studies on the diagnosis of long COVID using self-reported symptoms and laboratory data as well as potential target mechanisms for the treatment of this debilitating condition. The underlying cause of long Read more…
Let’s talk about drinking.
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
Both Pfizer and Moderna have asked FDA to authorize “bivalent” COVID-19 vaccine booster shots, and they could be available to people 12 and up as early as the first week of September. Bivalent means that the vaccine is designed to protect against two strains of the virus. In this case, the two strains are the Read more…
How do the monkeypox vaccines work?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a live, attenuated FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox and smallpox. This means that the vaccine contains a weakened version of the vaccinia virus, a virus very similar to monkeypox and smallpox. This weakened virus cannot make copies of itself or spread. The body recognizes the virus and makes antibodies Read more…
How well do COVID-19 rapid antigen tests work? Is a single antigen test enough?
Testing and Contact Tracing
Chana Davis, PhD
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus very well when used at the right time – when viral levels are high. Repeat (serial) testing is a powerful way to catch more SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce false negatives. In a recent study, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detected the virus roughly 80% of the time when Read more…
What does a deep dive into the immune system of people with long COVID reveal?
Long COVID
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
New study alert! A recent study available as a preprint found multiple biologic similarities in people experiencing long COVID. This early research informs future studies on the diagnosis of long COVID using self-reported symptoms and laboratory data as well as potential target mechanisms for the treatment of this debilitating condition. The underlying cause of long Read more…
Let’s talk about drinking.
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
The JYNNEOS vaccine is a live, attenuated FDA-approved vaccine for the prevention of monkeypox and smallpox. This means that the vaccine contains a weakened version of the vaccinia virus, a virus very similar to monkeypox and smallpox. This weakened virus cannot make copies of itself or spread. The body recognizes the virus and makes antibodies Read more…
How well do COVID-19 rapid antigen tests work? Is a single antigen test enough?
Testing and Contact TracingChana Davis, PhD
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus very well when used at the right time – when viral levels are high. Repeat (serial) testing is a powerful way to catch more SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce false negatives. In a recent study, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detected the virus roughly 80% of the time when Read more…
What does a deep dive into the immune system of people with long COVID reveal?
Long COVID
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
New study alert! A recent study available as a preprint found multiple biologic similarities in people experiencing long COVID. This early research informs future studies on the diagnosis of long COVID using self-reported symptoms and laboratory data as well as potential target mechanisms for the treatment of this debilitating condition. The underlying cause of long Read more…
Let’s talk about drinking.
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus very well when used at the right time – when viral levels are high. Repeat (serial) testing is a powerful way to catch more SARS-CoV-2 infections and reduce false negatives. In a recent study, COVID-19 rapid antigen tests detected the virus roughly 80% of the time when Read more…
What does a deep dive into the immune system of people with long COVID reveal?
Long COVIDAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
New study alert! A recent study available as a preprint found multiple biologic similarities in people experiencing long COVID. This early research informs future studies on the diagnosis of long COVID using self-reported symptoms and laboratory data as well as potential target mechanisms for the treatment of this debilitating condition. The underlying cause of long Read more…
Let’s talk about drinking.
General Health Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
New study alert! A recent study available as a preprint found multiple biologic similarities in people experiencing long COVID. This early research informs future studies on the diagnosis of long COVID using self-reported symptoms and laboratory data as well as potential target mechanisms for the treatment of this debilitating condition. The underlying cause of long Read more…
Let’s talk about drinking.
General Health Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
Q: I am still drinking a lot. It all started during 2020. How can I stop drinking? A: Recognize that there is a problem. Get social, get help, and find what works for you. TL; DR. You aren’t alone. Alcohol related deaths are up and so are drinking rates. To get help, start with recognizing Read more…
What are my options if I don’t want to be pregnant right now?
Reproductive Health
If now is not a good time for you to be pregnant, it’s important to 1️⃣ know your options and 2️⃣ make a plan (and a backup plan). You can think of your options in three basic categories, which we’ll call Plans A, B, and C. Plan A: Use Birth Control or Practice Abstinence. Abstaining Read more…
If I got the smallpox vaccine as a kid, am I protected against monkeypox?
Infectious Diseases VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious Diseases
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
Short answer: Probably to some degree, but just how much is up in the air. Because the virus that causes monkeypox is similar to the smallpox virus, smallpox vaccines are effective at preventing people from getting monkeypox. Prior studies using the Dryvax vaccine (the first-generation smallpox vaccine that was used during smallpox eradication), showed that Read more…
Can COVID-19 trigger shingles?
Infectious DiseasesMalia Jones, PhD MPH
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
In a nutshell, yes. Researchers recently found that people over 50 who had COVID were more likely to get shingles than people who did not have COVID. This risk persists for at least 6 months following COVID-19 infection. A separate study looked at people who got either mRNA vaccine for COVID-19 and found NO elevated Read more…
How can we make public indoor spaces safer with on-going risks from COVID?
Infection and Spread Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
Answer: Ventilation (add outdoor air to dilute virus in inside air) Filtration (capture and remove virus from inside air) Thanks to Whitney Robinson, PhD and Kathleen Harper, MSPH for making this convenient one-pager with tips on improving indoor air quality to minimize spread of COVID-19 (and other viruses) in public and shared spaces. Full document Read more…
