Health Sciences In The Media

The next free COVID-19 Coalition webinar focusing on what you need to know about the emerging coronavirus variants will be Jan. 26 at 6 p.m. ET. Saskia Popescu, an infectious disease epidemiologist and adjunct professor at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, is a panelist.

Even people who have recovered from the coronavirus or already gotten a vaccine should keep taking precautions, according to Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. “While it gives peace of mind, based on the research that's been done to show how efficacious it is in terms of preventing severe illness, it doesn't necessarily keep you from being a source of infection to other people,” Marvasti said.

Will vaccines bring life back to normal? “When community transmission rates are very high, as they are now, you will hear of people getting infected even after the vaccines,” said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. “But as more and more people get vaccinated, the chances of that happening will drop by a lot. At that point, we can very much look forward to going out to dinner, etc., and still be safe.”

Kelly A. Reynolds, MSPH, PhD, wrote an article about the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new report in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases on the health and cost burden of waterborne disease in the United States.

Naomi Bishop, an associate librarian at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Library in Phoenix, is one this year's I Love My Librarian Award winners, presented by the American Library Association and sponsored by Carnegie Corporation of New York. Each honoree receives $7,500, and a $750 donation to their library. The winners are nominated by library patrons for expertise, dedication and profound impact on their communities. Bishop was one of 10 winners for being “a champion for social justice.”

"Arizona Spotlight" host Mark McLemore talks to William "Scott" Killgore, PhD, from the University of Arizona Department of Psychiatry, about his research into emotions and decision making. It’s an attempt to better understand the changes that come from living through a global pandemic, focusing on topics like stress, loneliness, and how to measure people’s willingness to take a coronavirus vaccine. McLemore also talks to Judith S. Gordon, PhD, the lead researcher behind "See Me Serene," a free guided imagery phone app developed by a College of Nursing team. It is designed to help reduce anxiety and the negative health effects that arise from social isolation.

Dr. Thomas Ardiles of the College of Medicine – Phoenix said it's incredible just how quickly Covid can cause permanent scarring to an otherwise healthy person's lungs. "The accelerated damage can happen in a period of weeks where a smoker may take 30 to 40 years to develop permanent damage," Dr. Ardiles said.

In just seven hours today, nearly 44,000 Arizonans have made appointments to be vaccinated at the state’s first 24/7 COVID-19 vaccination site at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Those without computer access or needing extra help registering can call 1-844-542-8201, staffed through support from the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center at the University of Arizona, the Banner Health Poison and Drug Information Center, and Crisis Response Network’s 211 Arizona program.

The Arizona Interscholastic Association's decision to move ahead with the high school winter sports season while requiring athletes to wear masks during competition was met with skepticsm by some health experts. "Even with the masks, it is a risk for athletes due to the fact they are not isolated,'' said Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.

Back in August, the University of Arizona launched an anonymous COVID-19 exposure notification app. The university believes that the app has helped reduce the average number of people infected on campus by at least 12%. "It gives people another edge. A way to really take charge of their own health, to have better awareness of their exposure," said Kacey Ernst, infectious disease epidemiologist and professor at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.