COVID-19 vaccines: CDC says people ages 65 and up should get a shot this spring – a geriatrician explains why it’s vitally important

As you get older, you’re at higher risk of severe infection and your immunity declines faster after vaccination.

Laurie Archbald-Pannone, Associate Professor of Medicine and Geriatrics, University of Virginia • conversation
March 14, 2024 ~6 min

Drugs of the future will be easier and faster to make, thanks to mRNA – after researchers work out a few remaining kinks

The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the promise of using mRNA as medicine. But before mRNA drugs can go beyond vaccines, researchers need to identify the right diseases to treat.

Li Li, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School • conversation
Jan. 4, 2024 ~9 min


Health misinformation is rampant on social media – here's what it does, why it spreads and what people can do about it

Studies show that health misinformation on social media has led to fewer people getting vaccinated and more lives lost to COVID-19 and other life-threatening diseases.

Monica Wang, Associate Professor of Public Health, Boston University • conversation
Dec. 13, 2023 ~11 min

COVID-19 vaccine mandates have come and mostly gone in the US – an ethicist explains why their messy rollout matters for trust in public health

Vaccine policies fall on a spectrum, from mandates to recommendations. Deciding what to use and when is not so much a science but a balancing act between personal autonomy and public good.

Rachel Gur-Arie, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Health Innovation, Arizona State University • conversation
Oct. 18, 2023 ~9 min

Vaccines against COVID-19, the seasonal flu and RSV are our best chance of preventing a winter surge

Newly approved and updated vaccines are the best tools available to combat COVID-19, the flu and RSV, as infections and hospitalizations tick upward and cold and flu season gets underway.

Libby Richards, Associate Professor of Nursing, Purdue University • conversation
Oct. 12, 2023 ~9 min

CDC greenlights two updated COVID-19 vaccines, but how will they fare against the latest variants? 5 questions answered

Only time and data will tell whether the CDC-recommended reformulated shots can stand their ground against the ever-changing SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Mitzi Nagarkatti, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina • conversation
Sept. 13, 2023 ~11 min

What does ending the emergency status of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US mean in practice? 4 questions answered

The emergency status allowed the federal government to cut through a mountain of red tape, with the goal of responding to the pandemic more efficiently.

Amy Lauren Fairchild, Dean and Professor of Public Health, The Ohio State University • conversation
May 10, 2023 ~11 min

Many people are tired of grappling with long COVID – here are some evidence-based ways to counter it

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach for long COVID treatment, but exercise focusing on breathing and pacing yourself throughout the day often helps.

Kyle B. Enfield, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Virginia • conversation
May 9, 2023 ~9 min


Gain-of-function research is more than just tweaking risky viruses – it's a routine and essential tool in all biology research

From cancer immunotherapy and antibiotics to GMO crops and pandemic surveillance, gain of function is a cornerstone of basic research.

Anice Lowen, Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University • conversation
May 8, 2023 ~11 min

What the research shows about risks of myocarditis from COVID vaccines versus risks of heart damage from COVID – two pediatric cardiologists explain how to parse the data

Parsing the risk of myocarditis from viral infection versus vaccination is challenging, and researchers are intensely studying the various factors that are at play.

Jennifer H. Huang, Associate Professor of Pediatric Cardiology, Oregon Health & Science University • conversation
March 13, 2023 ~12 min

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