Data from the CDC has found that five million people in the U.S., roughly 8% of those who received a first dose, have missed their second shot of the COVID-19 vaccine. Yet many scientists see a glimmer of hope: 8% missed means 92% returned, which is surprisingly high. "I see that as a really amazing win," said Saskia Popescu, an infection prevention epidemiologist at the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. "There's not enough credit that goes into acknowledging how national vaccination in the middle of a pandemic is a Herculean effort."

A new study found people may benefit from taking blood pressure medication even if they don’t have hypertension. Dr. Joseph Alpert, a professor of medicine and a cardiologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson and Sarver Heart Center, said some people with mildly elevated blood pressure levels are given blood pressure-lowering medications. “Studies show that they have lower risk for stroke, for example, if we get their BP down to the new lower levels of BP,” Alpert said.

Mobile applications can’t replace doctors, but they can be useful tools if you want to take a proactive approach to skin care.

A new mobile health unit program is getting more vaccines in the arms of rural, Hispanic and other hard-to-reach populations in southern Arizona.

Whether they’re behind the scenes mixing vaccines or putting shots in patients’ arms, PharmD students are getting hands-on job training.

The Asthma & Airway Disease Research Center has revolutionized our scientific understanding of asthma and other respiratory diseases.

"Everywhere we go, we take variants with us," said Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion at the University of College of Medicine – Phoenix. "If anyone is infected with the variant in New York and the Midwest, any other part of the world, and they're coming to Phoenix, Sky Harbor, they're bringing the variant with them."

While the UA POD may be decommissioning at the end of June, the pandemic is not over. As health departments battle vaccine hesitancy, the College of Public Health’s Mobile Health Unit is working to increase access to the vaccine for communities of color, building on their work in providing preventative care for these communities. Dr. Cecilia Rosales, associate dean of community engagement and outreach, discusses the MOVE UP initiative.

College of Nursing student Alexa Kingman and Sharon Hom, a clinical assistant professor, share their learning and teaching experiences during the pandemic.