Skip to Content Skip to Content

Public Health

The controversy surrounding vaccinations, then and now
Person in a white coat reaching into a refrigerator full of bagged vaccines.

Image: Dan Burke

The controversy surrounding vaccinations, then and now

Robert Aronowitz, Walter H. and Leonore C. Annenberg Professor in the Social Sciences, reflects on vaccine hesitancy today compared to the past, and the politicization of public health.

From Omnia

Yelp star ratings may reveal county-level death rate disparities
Empty hospital bed and wheelchair in a health care facility with curtains drawn.

Yelp star ratings may reveal county-level death rate disparities

A one-star disparity on health care facility Yelp reviews could indicate a 60-death-per-year difference between some United States counties where those facilities are located.

From Penn Medicine News

COVID now a ‘major cause of death’ in kids but many parents remain hesitant on vaccine

COVID now a ‘major cause of death’ in kids but many parents remain hesitant on vaccine

Researchers co-led by Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center found that full FDA approval will help convince parents to get their children vaccinated against COVID-19. “As more evidence of children getting vaccinated appears, people will feel more comfortable,” Jamieson said.

Penn Libraries acquires the personal papers of historian and activist Elizabeth Fee
Two hardcover books on a table, “AIDS: The Burden of History” and “AIDS: The Making of a Chronic Disease.”

Two of Elizabeth Fee’s most influential books: “AIDS: The Burden of History” and “AIDS: The Making of a Chronic Disease.” (Image: Penn Libraries News)

Penn Libraries acquires the personal papers of historian and activist Elizabeth Fee

The papers of the pioneering historian and health advocate, who died in 2018, adds to the Libraries’ growing collection of materials charting the history of public health activism.

From Penn Libraries

A new West Philly partnership puts anti-violence agencies, Penn, and the DA’s Office under one roof

A new West Philly partnership puts anti-violence agencies, Penn, and the DA’s Office under one roof

The West/Southwest Collaborative Response to Gun Violence is a new partnership that unites grassroots organizations, victim-support staff from the District Attorney’s Office, and researchers from the Penn Injury Science Center. Sara Solomon of the Center called for “a better bridge between research, what we know, and practice to be implemented and adapted to the context of the community.”

Four facts about the COVID-19 boosters
Stock image of two vials of COVID-19 vaccines. One is upright, the other laying on its side. They both say "COVID-19 vaccine, LOT: D66A443, EXP: 03.22, INJECTION ONLY"

Four facts about the COVID-19 boosters

The FDA and CDC endorsed boosters of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines just a month after the agencies did the same for a Pfizer/BioNTech booster. Here’s what’s known today about these shots.

Michele W. Berger

Twitter accounts tied to China lied that COVID came from Maine lobsters

Twitter accounts tied to China lied that COVID came from Maine lobsters

Kathleen Hall Jamieson of the Annenberg Public Policy Center said public health disinformation from China-based social media accounts is nothing new. "Early in the pandemic, Chinese sources spread the theory that SARS CoV-2 originated at Fort Detrick and was spread to China by U.S. military," she said. "The platforms can remove it, or if they decide against doing so, can downgrade it or flag it and attach fact-checking content."

Mandates likely work to increase vaccine uptake
Five rows of COVID-19 vaccine vials. The vials are angled diagonally, from bottom left to top right.

Mandates likely work to increase vaccine uptake

Rather than causing a backlash, vaccination requirements will succeed at getting more people inoculated, according to research from PIK Professor Dolores Albarracín and colleagues at Penn.

Michele W. Berger , Michele W. Berger

Five things to know about the upcoming flu season
health care worker injects vaccine into patient's arm

Flu shots are a simple way to lower the risk of getting hit with the respiratory virus this fall and winter. Students are required to get vaccinated, and faculty, staff, and postdocs are strongly encouraged to do so.

Five things to know about the upcoming flu season

Thanks to COVID prevention measures, last year’s flu season was among the mildest in years. Penn experts explain why this year may be different and how to prepare.

Katherine Unger Baillie