Some experts differ in their conclusions of whether a third shot is needed for recipients of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, an immunologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson said it’s normal for antibody levels to fall over the course of several months. Vaccination triggers a “blood-thirsty competition” among antibodies, he explained, and only the best ones survive ― “the antibodies that stick most tightly to the virus.”

The Arizona Bioindustry Association announced that Celebrating Life & Science, a one-hour broadcast event highlighting inspiring stories of Arizonans working together and using science to make life better for people everywhere will premiere on ABC15 on Sunday, Oct. 3. Janko Nikolich-Zugich, MD, PhD, department head of immunobiology at the College of Medicine – Tucson, will be featured as the Arizona Bioscience Researcher of the Year.

Former U.S surgeon general Dr. Richard Carmona takes on a new role as a senior adviser to the Arizona governor to boost vaccine and public health awareness.

Michael Grandner, PhD, the director of the Sleep and Health Research Program at the College of Medicine – Tucson, shares his expertise to help people get healthy sleep.

Two members of the Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center are studying biological mechanisms of opioids in hopes of reducing negative side effects.

The Comprehensive Pain and Addiction Center will oversee the first peer support experiential learning and apprenticeship program in rural Arizona.

Arizona is already starting to see cases of the flu. "I think this is something that tells us in terms of the flu numbers that we could have an earlier flu season this year. So if people were thinking about when to get their flu shot, sooner rather than later, especially if they're in more higher-risk populations," said Farshad Fani Marvasti, MD, an associate professor and director of the public health, prevention and health promotion curriculum at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.

Concerns about waning immunity from the Covid-19 vaccines have led to calls for booster shots. But a decrease in antibodies over time is normal and protection against severe disease and death remains strong even as protection against infection decreases. "The quality of antibodies in the body improves over time. It takes way fewer of them to protect you," said Deepta Bhattacharya, PhD, an immunologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

Last year's influenza season turned out to be the mildest on record, but health experts have renewed warnings that a ‘twindemic’ – in which flu and COVID-19 cases simultaneously rise and overwhelm hospitals – may be possible this year. “Last year, we didn’t have a very big flu season because people were using masks and that decreased the flu season activity. If we do the same thing this year and we wear masks as much as we can, then the flu season will not hit us as hard as years prior," said Ricardo Correa, MD, endocrinologist and associate professor of medicine at the College of Medicine – Phoenix.