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Coronavirus

I’m fully vaccinated and I also had COVID. Do I need a booster?
NPR

I’m fully vaccinated and I also had COVID. Do I need a booster?

John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine said the COVID-19 booster shot is safe for those with hybrid immunity, which occurs when someone who has already had the virus gets vaccinated. However, he said, hybrid immunity is already powerful on its own.

Public schools, COVID-19, and addressing education’s aging infrastructure
two panels depicting conditions in philadelphia public schools. the one on the left is a cartoon of students working in a classroom with issues such as mold, vermin, and asbestos and lead highlighted. on the right is an updated version of the same classroom with these issues removed and text below asks "what is your dream for philadelphia schools?"

Renderings developed by students in Planning Public Schools as Infrastructure, one showing deteriorating conditions in buildings and the other encouraging viewers to envision their future, on display outside of City Hall. (Image credit: Akira Drake Rodriguez)

Public schools, COVID-19, and addressing education’s aging infrastructure

Urban planners and architects are working to address one of the many challenges faced by public schools by designing healthy and engaging outdoor educational spaces.

Erica K. Brockmeier

Navigating holidays in a pandemic, again
A piece of pumpkin pie on a serving spatula, a dollop of whipped cream on top.

Navigating holidays in a pandemic, again

Experts from Penn’s Center for Public Health Initiatives and Positive Psychology Center offer six tips for making the holiday season joyful, fun, and safe.

Michele W. Berger, Erica K. Brockmeier

What COVID-19 precautions should I take over the holidays?
WHYY (Philadelphia)

What COVID-19 precautions should I take over the holidays?

Richard Wender of the Perelman School of Medicine said COVID-19 precautions are still needed this holiday season. “When you’re dealing with something like a global pandemic, you just gotta take life day-by-day and not act as if the ending has already arrived, because it hasn’t, and in many parts of the country, COVID rates are quite high right now,” he said.

Dozens of health groups urge businesses to voluntarily adopt Biden’s vaccine rule
The Washington Post

Dozens of health groups urge businesses to voluntarily adopt Biden’s vaccine rule

PIK Professor Ezekiel Emanuel coordinated a joint statement by dozens of health care associations calling on U.S. employers to voluntarily implement President Biden’s proposed vaccine-or-testing mandate. “We’re not getting [enough] volunteers coming forward” to get vaccinated, said Emanuel.

When should you get a COVID booster shot?
The Wall Street Journal

When should you get a COVID booster shot?

John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about COVID-19 booster shots, saying that, in other vaccines more generally, antibody levels often stabilize better after a booster shoot is administered. “The question is: Does [the level of antibodies] settle at a higher level and at a more steady level than it did with the primary [COVID-19] vaccination?” Wherry said. “That’s the hope.”

Medical expert: Herd immunity remains best way to get handle on COVID-19 pandemic
CBS News

Medical expert: Herd immunity remains best way to get handle on COVID-19 pandemic

Paul Offit of the Perelman School of Medicine said the U.S. may still be able to reach some form of herd immunity for COVID-19. “If you define herd immunity as a critical decrease in this virus’ ability to spread from one person to another, so much so that you have a dramatic decrease in hospitalizations and deaths, I think the answer is yes. But in order to do that, we’re going to have to figure out a way to vaccinate the unvaccinated,” he said.

Why don’t we have a COVID vaccine for pets?
The New York Times

Why don’t we have a COVID vaccine for pets?

Elizabeth Lennon of the School of Veterinary Medicine spoke about the need for COVID-19 vaccines for animals. Lennon said that, fortunately, “to date, there hasn’t been any documented cases of dogs or cats spreading the virus to people.”

CDC shifts pandemic goals away from reaching herd immunity
Los Angeles Times

CDC shifts pandemic goals away from reaching herd immunity

Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center said herd immunity, which assumes uniform behavior among individuals, is more complicated than people think it is. “Humans are not a herd,” she said.