WHO announces new names for SARS-CoV-2 variants
Biology/Immunity COVID Variants
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Let’s face it: B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 don’t easily roll off the tongue. While naming variants after the place they were first identified is common in virology, during the pandemic there has been concern about stigmatizing particular countries when using these names in public discussions. The WHO has adopted a new Greek alphabet naming system to Read more…
June 6, 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?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Both had sore arms and felt a little tired the next day. One kid had a headache the next day and the other had mild armpit pain that is now feeling better. One of them developed a mild rash on their arm near where they got their shot that is now almost gone. Both Read more…
June 5, 2021
Vaccine Talk from Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett
Vaccines Women in STEM
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Already missing the Nerdy Girl Saturday Q&A? You’re in luck! Grab your coffee, sit back and enjoy straight vaccine talk from the Moderna developer and Nerdy Girl in spirit Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett! Link to Original FB Post
June 4, 2021
Should you get vaccinated if you have already had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A: YES. Vaccination induces a more consistent and robust immune response even in those previously infected. 👉🏽 TL;DR: It is important to get vaccinated even if you have recovered from COVID-19. Vaccination boosts your immune response to COVID-19, giving you additional protection including to new variants.. ❓ What do we know about immunity following COVID-19 Read more…
June 4, 2021
Is it a HIPAA violation for someone to ask me if I got the Covid-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Businesses, employers, family, or friends can ask about someone’s vaccine status without violating HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US federal law that created national standards to protect patient health information from being disclosed without that person’s consent. This law only applies to certain organizations and businesses, called Read more…
June 3, 2021
Why does good hand washing work to prevent the spread of germs?
Staying Safe
Verdena Jennings, DO
Q: It’s just soap and water, right? A: Soap and water work together to create a matrix that germs cannot escape. When we wash our hands with soap for 20 seconds, soap molecules trap viruses, bacteria, and debris. Water rinses the matrix of soap and germs away from your skin. Hand sanitizer that is 60% Read more…
June 3, 2021
What is gene therapy? How is it different from vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
A: Gene therapies treat diseases using genetic tools. They usually work by making lasting changes to your DNA — the genetic “cookbook” that provides instructions to make you. Vaccines, by contrast, deliver a short-lived signal (e.g. a burst of protein), then disappear. Vaccines and gene therapies both use customized genetic tools to achieve their goals. Read more…
June 2, 2021
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines Videos
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19? Dr. Chana Davis, PhD from Fueled by Science explains as a scientist and a mom. It’s not just about helping us get to herd immunity, it’s about minimizing the risk to your child: “If you don’t vaccinate your kid ever…they will eventually get it.” ICYMI, watch Dr. Read more…
June 1, 2021
Nerdy Girls’ Favorite Science News Sources
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Today we are taking #GoodNewsTues quite literally – sharing out the Nerdy Girls’ favorite science news sources! Please let us know YOUR faves in the comments! The Nerdies’ List: 🐐Gretchen: NPR’s Goats and Soda and Kaiser Health News Morning Briefing ☝️Malia: Al Tompkins’ Covering COVID-19 Newsletter (via Poynter) 📉 Jenn: John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) on Twitter Read more…
June 1, 2021
Masks and Summer Camps for Kids
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
May 31, 2021
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
Let’s face it: B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 don’t easily roll off the tongue. While naming variants after the place they were first identified is common in virology, during the pandemic there has been concern about stigmatizing particular countries when using these names in public discussions. The WHO has adopted a new Greek alphabet naming system to Read more…
How did the two Nerdy Girl kids who are 12-15 years old do after getting their second Pfizer vaccine dose this past Thursday?
Families/Kids Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: Both had sore arms and felt a little tired the next day. One kid had a headache the next day and the other had mild armpit pain that is now feeling better. One of them developed a mild rash on their arm near where they got their shot that is now almost gone. Both Read more…
June 5, 2021
Vaccine Talk from Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett
Vaccines Women in STEM
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Already missing the Nerdy Girl Saturday Q&A? You’re in luck! Grab your coffee, sit back and enjoy straight vaccine talk from the Moderna developer and Nerdy Girl in spirit Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett! Link to Original FB Post
June 4, 2021
Should you get vaccinated if you have already had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A: YES. Vaccination induces a more consistent and robust immune response even in those previously infected. 👉🏽 TL;DR: It is important to get vaccinated even if you have recovered from COVID-19. Vaccination boosts your immune response to COVID-19, giving you additional protection including to new variants.. ❓ What do we know about immunity following COVID-19 Read more…
June 4, 2021
Is it a HIPAA violation for someone to ask me if I got the Covid-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Businesses, employers, family, or friends can ask about someone’s vaccine status without violating HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US federal law that created national standards to protect patient health information from being disclosed without that person’s consent. This law only applies to certain organizations and businesses, called Read more…
June 3, 2021
Why does good hand washing work to prevent the spread of germs?
Staying Safe
Verdena Jennings, DO
Q: It’s just soap and water, right? A: Soap and water work together to create a matrix that germs cannot escape. When we wash our hands with soap for 20 seconds, soap molecules trap viruses, bacteria, and debris. Water rinses the matrix of soap and germs away from your skin. Hand sanitizer that is 60% Read more…
June 3, 2021
What is gene therapy? How is it different from vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
A: Gene therapies treat diseases using genetic tools. They usually work by making lasting changes to your DNA — the genetic “cookbook” that provides instructions to make you. Vaccines, by contrast, deliver a short-lived signal (e.g. a burst of protein), then disappear. Vaccines and gene therapies both use customized genetic tools to achieve their goals. Read more…
June 2, 2021
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines Videos
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19? Dr. Chana Davis, PhD from Fueled by Science explains as a scientist and a mom. It’s not just about helping us get to herd immunity, it’s about minimizing the risk to your child: “If you don’t vaccinate your kid ever…they will eventually get it.” ICYMI, watch Dr. Read more…
June 1, 2021
Nerdy Girls’ Favorite Science News Sources
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Today we are taking #GoodNewsTues quite literally – sharing out the Nerdy Girls’ favorite science news sources! Please let us know YOUR faves in the comments! The Nerdies’ List: 🐐Gretchen: NPR’s Goats and Soda and Kaiser Health News Morning Briefing ☝️Malia: Al Tompkins’ Covering COVID-19 Newsletter (via Poynter) 📉 Jenn: John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) on Twitter Read more…
June 1, 2021
Masks and Summer Camps for Kids
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
May 31, 2021
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
A: Both had sore arms and felt a little tired the next day. One kid had a headache the next day and the other had mild armpit pain that is now feeling better. One of them developed a mild rash on their arm near where they got their shot that is now almost gone. Both Read more…
Vaccine Talk from Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett
Vaccines Women in STEM
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
Already missing the Nerdy Girl Saturday Q&A? You’re in luck! Grab your coffee, sit back and enjoy straight vaccine talk from the Moderna developer and Nerdy Girl in spirit Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett! Link to Original FB Post
June 4, 2021
Should you get vaccinated if you have already had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A: YES. Vaccination induces a more consistent and robust immune response even in those previously infected. 👉🏽 TL;DR: It is important to get vaccinated even if you have recovered from COVID-19. Vaccination boosts your immune response to COVID-19, giving you additional protection including to new variants.. ❓ What do we know about immunity following COVID-19 Read more…
June 4, 2021
Is it a HIPAA violation for someone to ask me if I got the Covid-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Businesses, employers, family, or friends can ask about someone’s vaccine status without violating HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US federal law that created national standards to protect patient health information from being disclosed without that person’s consent. This law only applies to certain organizations and businesses, called Read more…
June 3, 2021
Why does good hand washing work to prevent the spread of germs?
Staying Safe
Verdena Jennings, DO
Q: It’s just soap and water, right? A: Soap and water work together to create a matrix that germs cannot escape. When we wash our hands with soap for 20 seconds, soap molecules trap viruses, bacteria, and debris. Water rinses the matrix of soap and germs away from your skin. Hand sanitizer that is 60% Read more…
June 3, 2021
What is gene therapy? How is it different from vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
A: Gene therapies treat diseases using genetic tools. They usually work by making lasting changes to your DNA — the genetic “cookbook” that provides instructions to make you. Vaccines, by contrast, deliver a short-lived signal (e.g. a burst of protein), then disappear. Vaccines and gene therapies both use customized genetic tools to achieve their goals. Read more…
June 2, 2021
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines Videos
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19? Dr. Chana Davis, PhD from Fueled by Science explains as a scientist and a mom. It’s not just about helping us get to herd immunity, it’s about minimizing the risk to your child: “If you don’t vaccinate your kid ever…they will eventually get it.” ICYMI, watch Dr. Read more…
June 1, 2021
Nerdy Girls’ Favorite Science News Sources
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Today we are taking #GoodNewsTues quite literally – sharing out the Nerdy Girls’ favorite science news sources! Please let us know YOUR faves in the comments! The Nerdies’ List: 🐐Gretchen: NPR’s Goats and Soda and Kaiser Health News Morning Briefing ☝️Malia: Al Tompkins’ Covering COVID-19 Newsletter (via Poynter) 📉 Jenn: John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) on Twitter Read more…
June 1, 2021
Masks and Summer Camps for Kids
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
May 31, 2021
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
Already missing the Nerdy Girl Saturday Q&A? You’re in luck! Grab your coffee, sit back and enjoy straight vaccine talk from the Moderna developer and Nerdy Girl in spirit Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett! Link to Original FB Post
Should you get vaccinated if you have already had COVID-19?
Vaccines
Vijaya Knight, MD PhD (D)ABMLI
A: YES. Vaccination induces a more consistent and robust immune response even in those previously infected. 👉🏽 TL;DR: It is important to get vaccinated even if you have recovered from COVID-19. Vaccination boosts your immune response to COVID-19, giving you additional protection including to new variants.. ❓ What do we know about immunity following COVID-19 Read more…
June 4, 2021
Is it a HIPAA violation for someone to ask me if I got the Covid-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Businesses, employers, family, or friends can ask about someone’s vaccine status without violating HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US federal law that created national standards to protect patient health information from being disclosed without that person’s consent. This law only applies to certain organizations and businesses, called Read more…
June 3, 2021
Why does good hand washing work to prevent the spread of germs?
Staying Safe
Verdena Jennings, DO
Q: It’s just soap and water, right? A: Soap and water work together to create a matrix that germs cannot escape. When we wash our hands with soap for 20 seconds, soap molecules trap viruses, bacteria, and debris. Water rinses the matrix of soap and germs away from your skin. Hand sanitizer that is 60% Read more…
June 3, 2021
What is gene therapy? How is it different from vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
A: Gene therapies treat diseases using genetic tools. They usually work by making lasting changes to your DNA — the genetic “cookbook” that provides instructions to make you. Vaccines, by contrast, deliver a short-lived signal (e.g. a burst of protein), then disappear. Vaccines and gene therapies both use customized genetic tools to achieve their goals. Read more…
June 2, 2021
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines Videos
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19? Dr. Chana Davis, PhD from Fueled by Science explains as a scientist and a mom. It’s not just about helping us get to herd immunity, it’s about minimizing the risk to your child: “If you don’t vaccinate your kid ever…they will eventually get it.” ICYMI, watch Dr. Read more…
June 1, 2021
Nerdy Girls’ Favorite Science News Sources
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Today we are taking #GoodNewsTues quite literally – sharing out the Nerdy Girls’ favorite science news sources! Please let us know YOUR faves in the comments! The Nerdies’ List: 🐐Gretchen: NPR’s Goats and Soda and Kaiser Health News Morning Briefing ☝️Malia: Al Tompkins’ Covering COVID-19 Newsletter (via Poynter) 📉 Jenn: John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) on Twitter Read more…
June 1, 2021
Masks and Summer Camps for Kids
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
May 31, 2021
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
A: YES. Vaccination induces a more consistent and robust immune response even in those previously infected. 👉🏽 TL;DR: It is important to get vaccinated even if you have recovered from COVID-19. Vaccination boosts your immune response to COVID-19, giving you additional protection including to new variants.. ❓ What do we know about immunity following COVID-19 Read more…
Is it a HIPAA violation for someone to ask me if I got the Covid-19 vaccine?
Vaccines
Sarah Whitley Coles, MD
A: No. Businesses, employers, family, or friends can ask about someone’s vaccine status without violating HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US federal law that created national standards to protect patient health information from being disclosed without that person’s consent. This law only applies to certain organizations and businesses, called Read more…
June 3, 2021
Why does good hand washing work to prevent the spread of germs?
Staying Safe
Verdena Jennings, DO
Q: It’s just soap and water, right? A: Soap and water work together to create a matrix that germs cannot escape. When we wash our hands with soap for 20 seconds, soap molecules trap viruses, bacteria, and debris. Water rinses the matrix of soap and germs away from your skin. Hand sanitizer that is 60% Read more…
June 3, 2021
What is gene therapy? How is it different from vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
A: Gene therapies treat diseases using genetic tools. They usually work by making lasting changes to your DNA — the genetic “cookbook” that provides instructions to make you. Vaccines, by contrast, deliver a short-lived signal (e.g. a burst of protein), then disappear. Vaccines and gene therapies both use customized genetic tools to achieve their goals. Read more…
June 2, 2021
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines Videos
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19? Dr. Chana Davis, PhD from Fueled by Science explains as a scientist and a mom. It’s not just about helping us get to herd immunity, it’s about minimizing the risk to your child: “If you don’t vaccinate your kid ever…they will eventually get it.” ICYMI, watch Dr. Read more…
June 1, 2021
Nerdy Girls’ Favorite Science News Sources
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Today we are taking #GoodNewsTues quite literally – sharing out the Nerdy Girls’ favorite science news sources! Please let us know YOUR faves in the comments! The Nerdies’ List: 🐐Gretchen: NPR’s Goats and Soda and Kaiser Health News Morning Briefing ☝️Malia: Al Tompkins’ Covering COVID-19 Newsletter (via Poynter) 📉 Jenn: John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) on Twitter Read more…
June 1, 2021
Masks and Summer Camps for Kids
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
May 31, 2021
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
A: No. Businesses, employers, family, or friends can ask about someone’s vaccine status without violating HIPAA. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) is a US federal law that created national standards to protect patient health information from being disclosed without that person’s consent. This law only applies to certain organizations and businesses, called Read more…
Why does good hand washing work to prevent the spread of germs?
Staying Safe
Verdena Jennings, DO
Q: It’s just soap and water, right? A: Soap and water work together to create a matrix that germs cannot escape. When we wash our hands with soap for 20 seconds, soap molecules trap viruses, bacteria, and debris. Water rinses the matrix of soap and germs away from your skin. Hand sanitizer that is 60% Read more…
June 3, 2021
What is gene therapy? How is it different from vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Uncertainty and Misinformation Vaccines
A: Gene therapies treat diseases using genetic tools. They usually work by making lasting changes to your DNA — the genetic “cookbook” that provides instructions to make you. Vaccines, by contrast, deliver a short-lived signal (e.g. a burst of protein), then disappear. Vaccines and gene therapies both use customized genetic tools to achieve their goals. Read more…
June 2, 2021
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines Videos
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19? Dr. Chana Davis, PhD from Fueled by Science explains as a scientist and a mom. It’s not just about helping us get to herd immunity, it’s about minimizing the risk to your child: “If you don’t vaccinate your kid ever…they will eventually get it.” ICYMI, watch Dr. Read more…
June 1, 2021
Nerdy Girls’ Favorite Science News Sources
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Today we are taking #GoodNewsTues quite literally – sharing out the Nerdy Girls’ favorite science news sources! Please let us know YOUR faves in the comments! The Nerdies’ List: 🐐Gretchen: NPR’s Goats and Soda and Kaiser Health News Morning Briefing ☝️Malia: Al Tompkins’ Covering COVID-19 Newsletter (via Poynter) 📉 Jenn: John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) on Twitter Read more…
June 1, 2021
Masks and Summer Camps for Kids
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
May 31, 2021
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
Q: It’s just soap and water, right? A: Soap and water work together to create a matrix that germs cannot escape. When we wash our hands with soap for 20 seconds, soap molecules trap viruses, bacteria, and debris. Water rinses the matrix of soap and germs away from your skin. Hand sanitizer that is 60% Read more…
What is gene therapy? How is it different from vaccines?
Biology/Immunity Uncertainty and Misinformation VaccinesA: Gene therapies treat diseases using genetic tools. They usually work by making lasting changes to your DNA — the genetic “cookbook” that provides instructions to make you. Vaccines, by contrast, deliver a short-lived signal (e.g. a burst of protein), then disappear. Vaccines and gene therapies both use customized genetic tools to achieve their goals. Read more…
Why should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19?
Families/Kids Vaccines VideosWhy should we vaccinate our kids against COVID-19? Dr. Chana Davis, PhD from Fueled by Science explains as a scientist and a mom. It’s not just about helping us get to herd immunity, it’s about minimizing the risk to your child: “If you don’t vaccinate your kid ever…they will eventually get it.” ICYMI, watch Dr. Read more…
Nerdy Girls’ Favorite Science News Sources
Uncertainty and Misinformation
Lindsey Leininger, PhD MA
Today we are taking #GoodNewsTues quite literally – sharing out the Nerdy Girls’ favorite science news sources! Please let us know YOUR faves in the comments! The Nerdies’ List: 🐐Gretchen: NPR’s Goats and Soda and Kaiser Health News Morning Briefing ☝️Malia: Al Tompkins’ Covering COVID-19 Newsletter (via Poynter) 📉 Jenn: John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) on Twitter Read more…
June 1, 2021
Masks and Summer Camps for Kids
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
May 31, 2021
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
Today we are taking #GoodNewsTues quite literally – sharing out the Nerdy Girls’ favorite science news sources! Please let us know YOUR faves in the comments! The Nerdies’ List: 🐐Gretchen: NPR’s Goats and Soda and Kaiser Health News Morning Briefing ☝️Malia: Al Tompkins’ Covering COVID-19 Newsletter (via Poynter) 📉 Jenn: John Burn-Murdoch (@jburnmurdoch) on Twitter Read more…
Masks and Summer Camps for Kids
Families/Kids Reopening Staying Safe
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
May 31, 2021
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
Cases are coming down. Am I now safe from COVID-19 even if I’m unvaccinated?
Data and Metrics Staying Safe
Jennifer Beam Dowd, PhD
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
May 31, 2021
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
A: No, not yet. In some U.S states case and hospitalization rates AMONG the unvaccinated are still as high as during the winter surge. We recently highlighted the good news of declining cases in the U.S. While this is still true overall, the statistics obscure higher rates among those who are not vaccinated. With vaccines Read more…
What happened with that Yankees COVID-19 outbreak? What does it mean for vaccine effectiveness?
Testing and Contact Tracing Vaccines
Rachael Piltch-Loeb, PhD MSPH
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
May 30, 2021
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
A: While several vaccinated players tested positive, they were almost all asymptomatic. TL; DR- Nine members of the New York Yankees tested positive for COVID-19 after receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Among those who tested positive only one reported mild symptoms. These cases were discovered because the Yankees test regularly, unlike most other vaccinated Read more…
Can people with severe allergic reactions get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine?
Vaccines
Amanda Simanek, PhD MPH
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
May 29, 2021
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
A: If you have had an allergic reaction to any ingredient included in the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, then you should not get this type of COVID-19 vaccine. If you have an allergic reaction to the first dose of these vaccines, you should not get the second dose. If you have a history of severe Read more…
Do kids still have to wear masks?
Families/Kids Masks Videos
Malia Jones, PhD MPH
Link to Original FB Post
Link to Original FB Post

