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Coronavirus

Underselling the vaccine

Underselling the vaccine

Aaron Richterman of the Perelman School of Medicine said overemphasizing the COVID-19 vaccine’s imperfections and unknowns may do more harm than good. “Not being completely open because you want to achieve some sort of behavioral public health goal—people will see through that eventually,” he said.

The backlog in mammograms during the COVID-19 pandemic
Picture of many days listed on a wall calendar

The backlog in mammograms during the COVID-19 pandemic

The backlog of diagnostic mammograms is not expected to return to regular operations for nearly six months at best, and a lack of early detection will have health implications on cancer management for years to come.

From Penn LDI

One step closer to an at-home, rapid COVID-19 test
A hand in a black rubber gloves holding a cell phone with a sensor attached. A dropper is touching the sensor.

Created in the lab of César de la Fuente, this miniaturized, portable version of rapid COVID-19 test, which is compatible with smart devices, can detect SARS-CoV-2 within four minutes with nearly 100% accuracy. (Image: Courtesy of César de la Fuente)

One step closer to an at-home, rapid COVID-19 test

The lab of César de la Fuente is working on a paper-based biosensor that could provide results in minutes. Clinical trials began Jan. 5.

Michele W. Berger

Penn Dining spring 2021: Four takeaways
Wayfinding sign at beginning of Penn Eats pickup area.

Penn Dining spring 2021: Four takeaways

As students return to campus, dining services has adopted measures to support new safety and public health protocols at both residential and retail cafés on campus.
A how-to guide for COVID-19 testing at Penn
a person standing in front of a desk receiving instructions on where to go inside of a tent for covid testing

A how-to guide for COVID-19 testing at Penn

With the launch of Penn Cares, Penn Today provides additional details on the new testing program, how eligible members of the Penn community can enroll, and how the testing procedure works.

Erica K. Brockmeier

How can the world allocate COVID-19 vaccines fairly?
Hands holding a box of COVID vaccine vials.

How can the world allocate COVID-19 vaccines fairly?

It’s an ethical question many Penn experts are contemplating. One fact is certain, they say: Distribution must not exacerbate disparities and inequities in health care.

Michele W. Berger

Could cutting or delaying doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to immunize more people make the pandemic last longer?

Could cutting or delaying doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to immunize more people make the pandemic last longer?

Steven Joffe of the Perelman School of Medicine commented on the unknown efficacy of a single dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which was designed to be given in two doses. “Those unknowns are why some people say, ‘We should stick with what we know. By all means, do the trials to test [varied regimens], but don’t just wing it.’ Others say, ‘We are in a race against the virus.’ I’m not going to come down on one side or the other,” he said.