Children 16 and younger are accounting for a growing number of new COVID-19 cases in Pima County and nationwide. And that rise comes at a time when more than 100,000 county residents — those younger than 12 — are ineligible for the vaccine as schools reopen across Arizona, a state that has prohibited mask mandates in classrooms. “We’re seeing the perfect storm of another resurgence,” said Helene Felman, MD, clinical associate professor of pediatrics at the College of Medicine – Tucson and chief of general pediatrics at Banner Health in Tucson.

Currently, the biggest limitation is access to care, said Laura Mercer, MD, MBA, a clinical assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of OB/GYN clerkship at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. Mercer, who was not involved with the National Academies report or the analysis of it, told Medscape Medical News that it's essential to emphasize "sexual health as a core element of routine primary and preventative care" to ensure it becomes more accessible to patients without the need to seek out specialty.

The FDA is speeding efforts to authorize extra doses of the coronavirus vaccines for Americans with weakened immune systems. Additional doses may help some people with weak immune systems, but others may show little improvement, and still others may not need extra doses at all. In a study of organ transplant recipients, only a third of the patients who received a third dose showed a benefit. “I wish we had a more rational process to identify individuals within these categories who actually need it versus not,” said Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, an immunologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

As gaps between health care needs and current solutions become more apparent, innovative education programs are preparing students for the future.

Researchers are studying existing therapies and those in clinical trials to pinpoint the most effective medications for concussion-related headaches.

A little more than 2 out of every 3 people who have mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 will go on to develop long-term symptoms. That's the troubling takeaway from a University of Arizona Health Sciences study launched in May 2020. "This is a real wake-up call for anyone who has not been vaccinated," said lead researcher Melanie Bell, PhD, a professor of biostatistics in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

Vaccines provide a high level of protection against COVID-19. That’s one of the findings of an ongoing research study following health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers in Arizona. Jeff Burgess, MD, MPH, professor and associate dean of research at the University of Arizona Health Sciences, discusses the AZ HEROES study, why the rise of the delta variant in Arizona is worrisome and why it is critical to study the COVID vaccine in people who have been vaccinated.

Pathogens and bacteria can survive in the bathroom for hours, weeks, or months. "Aerosols can spread anywhere from one to six feet, an average of three feet," said Kelly Reynolds, PhD, MSPH, professor and director of the Environment, Exposure Science and Risk Assessment Center at the University of Arizona.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey's ban on mask mandates takes effect at the end of September. The school year begins for districts across the state next week. According to researchers in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, coronavirus cases in people under the age of 15 have been consistently higher than those over the age of 65 since the end of March. Those numbers have also climbed dramatically since the beginning of July.

A little more than two out of every three people who have mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 will go on to develop long-term symptoms. That's the troubling takeaway from a University of Arizona Health Sciences' study launched in May 2020. "This is a real wake-up call for anyone who has not been vaccinated," said lead researcher Melanie Bell, PhD, a professor of biostatistics in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.