The University of Arizona is participating in a nationwide COVID-19 post-vaccination study to help determine whether or not vaccinated individuals who are exposed to COVID-19 are still able to transmit the virus to others. Dr. Lori Fantry, a professor and associate clinical director of the College of Medicine’s Infectious Diseases Division, says the school hopes to enroll at least 100 students in the coming weeks.

Dr. Shad Marvasti, an associate professor of Family, Community and Preventive Medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix, expects a growing body of knowledge about the vaccines over the next six months. “At this point what we know from vaccine immunity is that it lasts at least six months, and studies are underway now looking beyond the six months time frame, to see whether or not there is still immunity."

"We're at the beginning of the end," said Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor of public health policy and management in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Dr. Leila Barraza, an associate professor at the College of Public Health, added, "There's still individuals out there that are vulnerable to COVID-19, and we still need to be considerate of that."

Dr. Kelly Reynolds, professor and chair of the Department of Community, Environment and Policy at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, shares information that can be used to make more informed decisions about the need for improved water treatment options.

In Arizona and Pima County, COVID-19 cases have fallen for the second consecutive week after trending upward from the end of March through much of April. “It’s not a big decline, but it’s there, it’s noticeable,” said Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor of public health policy and management in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

A University of Arizona sleep expert says insomnia has been on the rise for decades, but anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic has made it worse. Dr. Sairam Parthasarathy, director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Sciences and a professor at the College of Medicine – Tucson, calls it “coronasomnia.”

With the Senior Awards Luncheon canceled due to COVID-19, the UArizona College of Medicine – Tucson convocation served as the award venue for the Class of 2021.

Fully vaccinated people mostly no longer need to wear masks or stay six feet apart when indoors, per the CDC. Masks also aren't needed outdoors, even in crowded areas. “It’s a step in the right direction in terms of showing people how powerful the vaccines are. It also helps to show another reason why you should get vaccinated, so it provides another incentive," said Dr. Farshad Fani Marvasti, a physician and associate professor at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.

The Class of 2021 was recognized at a series of scaled-back live graduation ceremonies, designed with COVID-19 health and safety protocols in mind.

Liliana Rounds discovered a potential prostate cancer biomarker during her graduate studies in the Cancer Biology Interdisciplinary Program.