Coronavirus | Penn Today

FDA aims to be ‘nimble’ on COVID-19 vaccine changes for variants

Genevieve Kanter of the Perelman School of Medicine described three potential scenarios for updates to the COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA could require a new emergency use authorization (EUA), it could allow amendments to the existing EUA, or the original vaccines could have enough data to achieve full FDA approval by the time an update is needed, she said.

Young person sitting at a table, leaning chin on crossed arms, wearing a mask. There are books, colored pencils, an abacus, a notepad and more scattered around.

Children, the pandemic, and long-term mental health consequences

New work from Penn Nursing and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia describes the importance of recognizing COVID-19’s psychological effects on young people and the pivotal role pediatric nurses in all settings can play.

Person wearing a face mask stands outside their door looking at an eviction notice in their hand.

Evicted and infected: How the housing crisis could worsen the COVID-19 pandemic

A research team found that evictions could lead to a considerable uptick in COVID-19 infections in U.S. cities. With rising eviction rates, COVID cases in Philadelphia could cause 53,000 additional infections.

Black babies are twice as likely to be born preterm. CHOP doctors are using COVID-19 to explore why

Heather Burris and Jaya Aysola of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the pandemic’s effects on preexisting preterm birth and prenatal care disparities.

University of Pennsylvania doctor brings transparency to COVID vaccine for Black community

Florencia Greer-Polite of the Perelman School of Medicine is working to show that the COVID-19 vaccine is safe. “I was losing sleep about the idea that Black people in this country were dying at higher rates of coronavirus and were not going to take the vaccine,” she said.

Penn cardiologist explains how COVID-19 can affect the heart

Rhondalyn McLean of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about how COVID-19 can affect the heart. “If the heart has already been weakened by a heart attack or other damage from long-standing high blood pressure, for instance, then the heart is less able to handle those stressors,” she said. “By that, I mean the stressors of infection and inflammation due to COVID-19. So you end up with a vicious cycle—the heart needing to work better, but unable to do so.”

Pandemic sleep issues persist as some battle ‘COVID-somnia,’ while others rest more

The Perelman School of Medicine's Jennifer Goldschmied was quoted on the reasons many people are having trouble sleeping during the COVID epidemic.

A masked teacher crouches down at a desk to talk with a masked student at school.

Penn Wharton Budget Model analyzes cost of area school closures

The model shows students’ future wage losses in four Philadelphia-area counties far exceed cost to the community.

Good vaccine news

Aaron Richterman of the Perelman School of Medicine spoke about the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines being distributed in the U.S. “In terms of the severe outcomes, which is what we really care about, the news is fantastic,” he said.

a crowd of peaceful masked protesters with one sign in the middle that reads racism is a pandemic too

Systemic racism and its impact on health and wellness

The fifth of 13 conversations in Penn’s “Racism and Anti-Racism in Contemporary America” preceptorial highlighted racial health disparities and discussed policies that could support a more equitable future.

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