11/15
Coronavirus
The evolving science of face masks and COVID-19
The evolving science of face masks and COVID-19
Experts agree that masks should be used—and increasingly, they are emphasizing the use of better masks to combat the spread of the coronavirus.
How vaccines protect communities
How vaccines protect communities
While individuals who are vaccinated feel relief that they’re better protected, the rollout of vaccines to anyone in their community is still good news.
A partnership to help fight COVID and develop a STEM career pipeline
A partnership to help fight COVID and develop a STEM career pipeline
Working with the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative, University City District’s workforce development program, Penn Medicine is creating pathways to science careers for local jobseekers.
Striking a balance in camp planning
Striking a balance in camp planning
Amidst the uncertainties of the pandemic and with time to plan, this year organizers of summer camp offerings at Penn have developed an array of in-person and virtual programs.
Eviction linked to depression risk in young adults
Eviction linked to depression risk in young adults
Research from sociologist Courtney Boen and anthropologist Morgan Hoke shows that this issue, compounded by the toll of the pandemic, disproportionately affects low-income households and communities of color.
Campus public health measures help mitigate the spread of COVID-19
Alongside regular saliva-based COVID-19 testing, other tools such as contact tracing, quarantine and isolation facilities, and health and well-being monitoring platforms are critical for protecting and supporting the campus community.
Looking out for speech disturbance may be the most important stroke sign
With COVID-19 protocols, fewer in-person doctor visits and ubiquitous face masks make tell-tale signs of stroke like facial drooping and arm weakness harder to detect.
Finding beauty in everything, through a camera lens
Finding beauty in everything, through a camera lens
Karen Reivich of Penn’s Positive Psychology Center turned to photography to reconnect to herself during the pandemic. It helped her discover a new way of seeing the world.
Behavior Change for Good unveils effective strategies to boost vaccination rates
Behavior Change for Good unveils effective strategies to boost vaccination rates
Texts with “reserved for you” messaging boosted flu vaccine rates by up to 11%.
Annenberg researchers use data science skills for social justice
Annenberg researchers use data science skills for social justice
Data scientists at the Annenberg School for Communication are working with the Amistad Law Project to create an open access dashboard of data that can aid efforts to help the incarcerated communiy.
In the News
Los Angeles Times
Column: How a blunder by a respected medical journal is fueling an anti-vaccine lie
Jeffrey S. Morris of the Perelman School of Medicine says that even with a 100% effective vaccine, there would have been high levels of morbidity and mortality from COVID-19 in 2021.
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CNN
After four years with COVID-19, the U.S. is settling into a new approach to respiratory virus season
Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center says that the sense of urgency around vaccination has faded as attention on respiratory viruses wanes.
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CBS News
The mRNA miracle workers
Nobel laureates Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine appear on “Sunday Morning” to discuss their careers, their mRNA research, and the COVID-19 vaccines.
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Philadelphia Inquirer
Paul Offit looks back on COVID-19, misinformation, and how public health lost the public’s trust in new book
“Tell Me When It’s Over,” a new book by Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine, chronicles the initial years of the COVID-19 pandemic and the mishaps of public health agencies. Recent surveys by the Annenberg Public Policy Center find that mistrust of vaccines has continued to grow through last fall.
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Minnesota Public Radio
Review of COVID death stats finds likely undercount in official numbers
A paper co-authored by Penn researchers found that COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. were likely undercounted in official statistics during the first 30 months of the pandemic.
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Boston Globe
You should still get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Nobel Prize winner who helped discover it explains why
Drew Weissman of the Perelman School of Medicine, who won the Nobel Prize along with Katalin Karikó, discusses the backlash against vaccinations and whether to receive the latest COVID vaccine.
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