The Necessity of a COVID-19 Booster Shot Still Unknown March 2, 2021 While COVID-19 vaccines are proven to be effective, it is still unclear if a booster shot will be needed after the initial doses. Dr. Shad Marvasti with the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix says it depends on immunity response. “We don’t know ultimately how long the immunity will last from the vaccine. We know that it’s going to be at least three months, if not, maybe six months, potentially up to a year," Marvasti said. KJZZ-FM (NPR) Phoenix
The Immunity, Inflammation and Aging Link: Building Better Defenses Against Disease March 1, 2021 UArizona Health Sciences researchers are improving health by studying the interactions that govern the immune defense system against invading microbes. Read more Thumbnail
I Recovered from COVID. Now What? What We Know (and Don't) about Life after the Virus Feb. 28, 2021 Columnist Joanna Allhands interviews medical experts about COVID-19 recovery. "When we say 'recovered,' it's in terms of how likely you are to transmit the virus to others," said Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine –Tucson. Arizona Republic
Data Shows Far More White Seniors in Arizona Are Getting Covid-19 Vaccines than Seniors of Color. The Inequity Could Get Worse Feb. 26, 2021 Experts say low-income seniors of color face many obstacles that are preventing them from getting a COVID-19 vaccination. A mobile vaccine program, run between the University of Arizona College of Public Health's Phoenix campus and Maricopa County, is aimed at reducing some of the glaring inequities in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine among seniors that have become increasingly evident in Arizona. Arizona Republic
The Vaccine Leads the March to Ending the COVID-19 Pandemic Feb. 26, 2021 In an editorial, University of Arizona College of Medicine virologists Felicia Goodrum Sterling and James Alwine, write: It is essential that until we meet vaccination goals, we must remain vigilant with masking, distancing, avoiding crowds and hand hygiene to contain the spread of variants until enough are vaccinated to control the pandemic. The Hill
Hope on the Horizon as More Arizonans Get Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 Feb. 26, 2021 The COVID-19 vaccine is a powerful tool, but doctors still urge caution. The vaccine is effective at preventing severe illness from coronavirus, but it's unclear how it impacts transmission. "Being vaccinated means you're at low risk, not no risk, and so we still should be mindful of the most high-risk activities like indoor dining, large public gatherings," said Joe Gerald, an associate professor in the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Arizona's Family (3TV/CBS 5) Phoenix
More than 25m Drink from the Worst U.S. Water Systems, with Latinos Most Exposed Feb. 26, 2021 Millions of people in the U.S. are drinking water that fails to meet federal health standards, including by violating limits for dangerous contaminants. Latinos are disproportionately exposed, according to the Guardian's review of more than 140,000 public water systems across the U.S. and county-level demographic data. Paloma Beamer, an exposure science researcher at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, found that most Latino residents in Nogales, Arizona, thought that drinking tap water was as unsafe as drinking alcohol and driving, and more detrimental to their health than smoking. The Guardian (UK)
UArizona Involved in a Study of Female Firefighters’ Health Risks Feb. 26, 2021 Researchers at the University of Arizona Health Sciences received a $1.5 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to study the effects of stress and the risk of cancer and reproductive health issues in female firefighters. KOLD-TV (Tucson, AZ)
As More Arizonans Get Vaccinated, Disparities Continue Feb. 25, 2021 Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, said disparities in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout are a concern, since racial and ethnic minority groups have been disproportionately hard-hit by the virus. KJZZ-FM (NPR) Phoenix
Data Shows More White Seniors in Arizona Are Getting COVID-19 Vaccines Than Seniors of Color. The Inequity Could Get Worse Feb. 25, 2021 Experts say low-income seniors of color face many obstacles that are preventing them from getting a COVID-19 vaccination. A mobile vaccine program, run between the University of Arizona College of Public Health's Phoenix campus and Maricopa County, is aimed at reducing some of the glaring inequities in the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine among seniors that have become increasingly evident in Arizona. USA Today