What to do if you are exposed to someone with symptoms of or confirmed COVID-19
Testing and Contact Tracing
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Our colleagues @IMPACT4HC provide great guidance in this infographic. Key takeaways: *Get tested for COVID-19 if you have been exposed.* Vaccinated, unvaccinated, symptomatic, asymptomatic – everyone should follow up with a test to prevent the spread of infection to others. *If you have an exposure, go for the PCR test.* PCR tests do a Read more…
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
Pandemic Heroines in the Kids’ Vaccine Trials
Families/Kids Vaccines Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
As we prepare for yet another back-to-school season amid massive pandemic uncertainty, all of us parents are anxiously awaiting the results of those kids’ vaccine trials. WHEN WHEN WHEN?? Well, there’s no news on that front. But while we wait, let’s honor the little (and big) heroines and heroes of those trials. Parents are taking Read more…
How does a pandemic end?
Uncategorized
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: I’ll borrow a phrase from T.S. Eliot. This is how a pandemic ends. Not with a bang but a whimper. There is no single indicator that a pandemic is over. In our modern times, we wait for a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare when a pandemic begins and when it Read more…
Update on Pandemic Pets
Families/Kids Reopening
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Nerdy Girl Lauren’s family recently added a puppy to the mix, and it got us wondering about the current situation regarding pets adopted during the pandemic. First the good news! 🐶 According to this Time article, both employers and employees are now taking a hard look at what can be done to make pets a Read more…
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The Janssen vaccine may increase the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but we don’t yet know for sure. Even if it does, the risk of GBS is extremely small. Currently, there is no evidence that the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer or Moderna) increase the risk of GBS. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a neurological disorder that Read more…
How does natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: Our colleagues @IMPACT4HC provide great guidance in this infographic. Key takeaways: *Get tested for COVID-19 if you have been exposed.* Vaccinated, unvaccinated, symptomatic, asymptomatic – everyone should follow up with a test to prevent the spread of infection to others. *If you have an exposure, go for the PCR test.* PCR tests do a Read more…
Are vaccinated people infected with Delta *really* as contagious as the unvaccinated?
COVID Variants Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
Pandemic Heroines in the Kids’ Vaccine Trials
Families/Kids Vaccines Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
As we prepare for yet another back-to-school season amid massive pandemic uncertainty, all of us parents are anxiously awaiting the results of those kids’ vaccine trials. WHEN WHEN WHEN?? Well, there’s no news on that front. But while we wait, let’s honor the little (and big) heroines and heroes of those trials. Parents are taking Read more…
How does a pandemic end?
Uncategorized
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: I’ll borrow a phrase from T.S. Eliot. This is how a pandemic ends. Not with a bang but a whimper. There is no single indicator that a pandemic is over. In our modern times, we wait for a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare when a pandemic begins and when it Read more…
Update on Pandemic Pets
Families/Kids Reopening
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Nerdy Girl Lauren’s family recently added a puppy to the mix, and it got us wondering about the current situation regarding pets adopted during the pandemic. First the good news! 🐶 According to this Time article, both employers and employees are now taking a hard look at what can be done to make pets a Read more…
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The Janssen vaccine may increase the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but we don’t yet know for sure. Even if it does, the risk of GBS is extremely small. Currently, there is no evidence that the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer or Moderna) increase the risk of GBS. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a neurological disorder that Read more…
How does natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: Probably not. And when you count the reduction in getting infected in the first place, vaccinated people are much less likely to transmit the virus. 💥 TL;DR: Vaccinated people likely *can* transmit the virus, but this risk is NOT the same as the unvaccinated. Among growing concerns about Delta, recent news that vaccinated people Read more…
Risks of Delta and Kids
COVID Variants Families/Kids Staying SafeJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
Pandemic Heroines in the Kids’ Vaccine Trials
Families/Kids Vaccines Women in STEM
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
As we prepare for yet another back-to-school season amid massive pandemic uncertainty, all of us parents are anxiously awaiting the results of those kids’ vaccine trials. WHEN WHEN WHEN?? Well, there’s no news on that front. But while we wait, let’s honor the little (and big) heroines and heroes of those trials. Parents are taking Read more…
How does a pandemic end?
Uncategorized
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: I’ll borrow a phrase from T.S. Eliot. This is how a pandemic ends. Not with a bang but a whimper. There is no single indicator that a pandemic is over. In our modern times, we wait for a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare when a pandemic begins and when it Read more…
Update on Pandemic Pets
Families/Kids Reopening
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Nerdy Girl Lauren’s family recently added a puppy to the mix, and it got us wondering about the current situation regarding pets adopted during the pandemic. First the good news! 🐶 According to this Time article, both employers and employees are now taking a hard look at what can be done to make pets a Read more…
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The Janssen vaccine may increase the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but we don’t yet know for sure. Even if it does, the risk of GBS is extremely small. Currently, there is no evidence that the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer or Moderna) increase the risk of GBS. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a neurological disorder that Read more…
How does natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
We are getting TONS of questions about weighing the risks of Delta and kids. We’ll continue to address specific topics, but wanted to share this thoughtful article on the topic that heavily features our own Nerdy Girl Dr. Lindsey Leininger. As she wisely states, “There are no easy answers, only tough trade-offs in so many Read more…
Pandemic Heroines in the Kids’ Vaccine Trials
Families/Kids Vaccines Women in STEMMalia Jones, PhD MPH
As we prepare for yet another back-to-school season amid massive pandemic uncertainty, all of us parents are anxiously awaiting the results of those kids’ vaccine trials. WHEN WHEN WHEN?? Well, there’s no news on that front. But while we wait, let’s honor the little (and big) heroines and heroes of those trials. Parents are taking Read more…
How does a pandemic end?
Uncategorized
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: I’ll borrow a phrase from T.S. Eliot. This is how a pandemic ends. Not with a bang but a whimper. There is no single indicator that a pandemic is over. In our modern times, we wait for a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare when a pandemic begins and when it Read more…
Update on Pandemic Pets
Families/Kids Reopening
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Nerdy Girl Lauren’s family recently added a puppy to the mix, and it got us wondering about the current situation regarding pets adopted during the pandemic. First the good news! 🐶 According to this Time article, both employers and employees are now taking a hard look at what can be done to make pets a Read more…
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The Janssen vaccine may increase the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but we don’t yet know for sure. Even if it does, the risk of GBS is extremely small. Currently, there is no evidence that the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer or Moderna) increase the risk of GBS. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a neurological disorder that Read more…
How does natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
As we prepare for yet another back-to-school season amid massive pandemic uncertainty, all of us parents are anxiously awaiting the results of those kids’ vaccine trials. WHEN WHEN WHEN?? Well, there’s no news on that front. But while we wait, let’s honor the little (and big) heroines and heroes of those trials. Parents are taking Read more…
How does a pandemic end?
UncategorizedVerdena Jennings, DO
A: I’ll borrow a phrase from T.S. Eliot. This is how a pandemic ends. Not with a bang but a whimper. There is no single indicator that a pandemic is over. In our modern times, we wait for a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare when a pandemic begins and when it Read more…
Update on Pandemic Pets
Families/Kids Reopening
Gretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Nerdy Girl Lauren’s family recently added a puppy to the mix, and it got us wondering about the current situation regarding pets adopted during the pandemic. First the good news! 🐶 According to this Time article, both employers and employees are now taking a hard look at what can be done to make pets a Read more…
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The Janssen vaccine may increase the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but we don’t yet know for sure. Even if it does, the risk of GBS is extremely small. Currently, there is no evidence that the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer or Moderna) increase the risk of GBS. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a neurological disorder that Read more…
How does natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: I’ll borrow a phrase from T.S. Eliot. This is how a pandemic ends. Not with a bang but a whimper. There is no single indicator that a pandemic is over. In our modern times, we wait for a statement from the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare when a pandemic begins and when it Read more…
Update on Pandemic Pets
Families/Kids ReopeningGretchen Peterson, Chief Operations Officer
Nerdy Girl Lauren’s family recently added a puppy to the mix, and it got us wondering about the current situation regarding pets adopted during the pandemic. First the good news! 🐶 According to this Time article, both employers and employees are now taking a hard look at what can be done to make pets a Read more…
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The Janssen vaccine may increase the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but we don’t yet know for sure. Even if it does, the risk of GBS is extremely small. Currently, there is no evidence that the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer or Moderna) increase the risk of GBS. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a neurological disorder that Read more…
How does natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
Nerdy Girl Lauren’s family recently added a puppy to the mix, and it got us wondering about the current situation regarding pets adopted during the pandemic. First the good news! 🐶 According to this Time article, both employers and employees are now taking a hard look at what can be done to make pets a Read more…
Does the COVID-19 vaccine cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
VaccinesSarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: The Janssen vaccine may increase the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but we don’t yet know for sure. Even if it does, the risk of GBS is extremely small. Currently, there is no evidence that the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer or Moderna) increase the risk of GBS. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a neurological disorder that Read more…
How does natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: The Janssen vaccine may increase the risk of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), but we don’t yet know for sure. Even if it does, the risk of GBS is extremely small. Currently, there is no evidence that the mRNA vaccines (like Pfizer or Moderna) increase the risk of GBS. Guillain-Barré Syndrome is a neurological disorder that Read more…
How does natural immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection differ from immunity generated by COVID-19 vaccines?
Biology/Immunity VaccinesVijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and Spread
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A. COVID-19 vaccines induce higher levels and a broader range of neutralizing antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein than does natural infection. Vaccine-induced antibodies are less likely to be affected by changes in the RBD seen in the current SARS-CoV-2 variants, and are therefore more likely to be more effective Read more…
What should I make of the “leaked” CDC slides last week? Is Delta worse than we thought?!
COVID Variants Data and Metrics Infection and SpreadJennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental Health
Aparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: KEEP CALM AND VAX ON. Just when we thought our summer might be more relaxing than last year, SARS-CoV-2 is humbling us again. But despite the emotionally amped up headlines (which are, after all, designed to make you click), we’re here to reassure you that in countries with access to vaccinations, the trajectory is Read more…
How can I cope with the uncertainty of the pandemic?
Mental HealthAparna Kumar, PhD CRNP MPH
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
Masks
Verdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: Bring awareness to how you feel, draw on your current strategies, and work towards acceptance of uncertainty. Things seem to be in a state of change and you may feel like you are on a rollercoaster. New guidelines, unknowns about return to work and school, and changing expectations about how our lives will be Read more…
What do the new CDC mask guidelines really mean?
MasksVerdena Jennings, DO
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data Literacy
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: The take-home message is that mitigation works. What we have learned from four influenza pandemics, HIV, and SARS pandemics in the last 100 years is that taking steps to protect ourselves and others works. The CDC guidelines released earlier suggest that vaccinated people in virus hotspots across the country should wear masks indoors. This Read more…
What is the difference between absolute risk and relative risk and why on Earth should I care?
Data and Metrics Data LiteracySarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants Vaccines
Ashley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: It turns out, how we describe risks REALLY matters and helps us better understand our healthcare choices. Read below for a review of how risk is calculated and communicated (and can be used for trickery!). The TLDR version: Absolute risk reduction is the number you actually want to know most of the time. Buckle Read more…
What should I do about the large discrepancies in vaccine efficacy against the Delta variant being reported across studies?
COVID Variants VaccinesAshley Ritter, APRN, PhD
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
A: Delta variant, waning immunity, imperfect measurement, or something else? There are a number of reasons why COVID-19 vaccine efficacy may differ across studies. These new reports are measuring the effectiveness of the vaccines in real world settings instead of in a clinical trial. Isolating individual variables in a real-world setting can be difficult. Instead, Read more…
