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Coronavirus

Scientists report earliest known coronavirus infections in five U.S. states

Scientists report earliest known coronavirus infections in five U.S. states

Scott Hensley of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on new research that identifies seven people who may be been infected with COVID-19 before the first confirmed cases in the U.S. “This is an interesting paper because it raises the idea that everyone thinks is true, that there were infections that were going undiagnosed,” he said.

Hospital doctors are seeing far fewer COVID-19 patients now. That feels good

Hospital doctors are seeing far fewer COVID-19 patients now. That feels good

George Anesi and Benjamin Sun of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the decline in coronavirus patients since the vaccines became more widely available. Anesi said, of the few current cases at Penn Medicine, “the strong, strong majority are unvaccinated. That’s very discouraging for us because almost all of those are preventable.”

Workers sue over vaccine mandates

Workers sue over vaccine mandates

Eric Feldman of the Law School discussed the lawsuits filed by workers against employers’ COVID-19 vaccine requirements. “There’s a distinction that’s not drawn in this lawsuit between mandatory vaccination and compulsory vaccination,” he said. “Compulsory vaccination is literally holding people down and jabbing a needle in their arm and forcing them to get vaccinated against their will; mandatory vaccination isn’t forcing anyone to get vaccinated.”

In countries where vaccines are available, offers of free airline tickets and apartments for the fully inoculated

In countries where vaccines are available, offers of free airline tickets and apartments for the fully inoculated

Emily Largent of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about tactics to incentivize COVID-19 immunization, such as lotteries and giveaways. “I’m generally optimistic that we will see some increase, but it’s not going to get us to the high levels of vaccination” needed, she said. “Incentives are not going to move everyone who is holding out over the finish line.”

New study predicts a summer baby boom

New study predicts a summer baby boom

Hans-Peter Kohler of the School of Arts & Sciences said data showing an increase in births at one large hospital system may be indicative of “more women choosing this system as compared to other providers,” rather than a baby boom.

Vaccine protection may diminish need for yearly boosters

Vaccine protection may diminish need for yearly boosters

Paul Offit and John Wherry of the Perelman School of Medicine said the COVID-19 vaccines appear to be effective enough to not require yearly booster shots. Regardless, said Wherry, “Even if we require boosters or get to the point where we see immunity waning a little bit, we still are going to be far better off than we were a year ago.”