Mia Smitt, a recently retired nurse practitioner, writes about coccidioidomycosis, citing the the University of Arizona Valley Fever Center for Excellence as a great reference for both health care providers and the public.

The roll-out of a booster vaccine is set to start the week of Sept. 20, aimed at people who had their second dose more than eight months ago. Those most vulnerable, including seniors and health care workers, would be eligible first. Some health leaders disagree with the move saying the primary concern shouldn't be for a booster of the vaccine, but rather getting our country and those in developing countries their first dose. "I personally, at this point, would not place third boosters shots as a priority in our public health response," said Joe Gerald, MD, PhD, an associate professor of public health policy and management at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. "I still think we should be focused on getting people our first and second shots."

Many vaccinated people have questions about how much protection they have against the virus. Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, an immunobiologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson, discusses the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines, the delta variant, and whether people may need a booster shot after eight months.

University of Arizona Health Sciences has announced it will launch HealthTech Connect, a consortium designed to build opportunities for companies and organizations to pursue cutting-edge innovations in health technology.

Breast milk acts as medicine, and providing breastfeeding support keeps mothers and babies healthy.

The University of Arizona is planning for in-person classes starting on Aug. 24. While face coverings are required in all indoor spaces where social distancing can't be maintained, the university is encouraging but is not mandating getting the COVID vaccine. "Delta is not done with us yet. It really changed the ballgame," said Joe Gerald, MD, PhD, an associate professor of public health policy at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the co-chair of the university's Public Health Advisory COVID Team. “The things that we might have considered to be sufficient to work a year ago, when we’re talking about coronavirus classic, just don’t make the same sense anymore because this is several times more transmissible, and it just changes the rules of the game.”

A University of Arizona researcher says COVID-19 conditions around the state could be more devastating by the end of the month. “No matter how I squeeze the lemon, this week's coronavirus update is sour,” Joe Gerald, MD, PhD, a researcher at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not include vertigo or dizziness as symptoms of COVID-19. But some doctors believe there could be a link. COVID has caused "a range of neurological symptoms, including dizziness" in patients, according to Natasha Bhuyan, MD, One Medical provider and clinical assistant professor of family, community and preventive medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.