Public Health | Penn Today

healthcare professional with syringe and vaccine

Ensuring an ethical path to a ‘warp speed’ vaccine

Penn scholars consider the ethical implications of the development and allocation of a COVID-19 vaccine.

a group of people walking outside on campus while wearing masks

Using PennOpen Pass for the early detection of COVID-19

The daily symptom tracker is a critical step in ongoing efforts to safely resume academic, research, and clinical activities across campus.

one gloved hand holds syringe and another cleans arm with cotton ball prior to vaccine

How misinformed vaccine beliefs affect policy views

There is broad support in the U.S. for pro-vaccination policies, but as many as 20% of Americans hold negative views about vaccines. The Annenberg Public Policy Center shows that such misinformed vaccine beliefs are the strongest driver of opposition to pro-vaccination public policies.

woman holding smartphone in her hand while seated

A data-driven approach to understanding domestic violence during the pandemic

Four takeaways from Penn researchers show there’s more to learn to protect those at risk for intimate partner violence.

Have L.A.'s homeless people dodged a COVID-19 catastrophe?

Dennis P. Culhane of the School of Social Policy & Practice spoke about the seemingly low rate of COVID-19 infections among homeless people in Los Angeles. “It’s possible being outside is protective relative to inside,” he said. Still, without more comprehensive antibody testing, “I’m not so sure we can say there hasn’t been a huge hit.”

Nurse in full PPE including a face shield.

Wide variation across hospitals in nurse staffing is threat to public’s health

Researchers at the Penn found that the understaffing at hospitals during the first surge of COVID patients has had adverse consequences on nurses and on patient care.

hen in a coop with two eggs on hay on the ground

Poultry in a pandemic: Getting the facts on keeping backyard flocks

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Penn Vet’s Sherrill Davison has seen an increase in phone calls from new flock owners looking for general management resources for their birds. Here, she offers health and safety advice for keeping flocks healthy.

When it comes to its gun violence epidemic, Philly is struggling to control the spread

Elinore Kaufman of the Perelman School of Medicine and Therese Richmond of the School Nursing weighed in on gun violence as a public health issue in Philadelphia. “For my patients, I think it’s been pretty awful,” Kaufman said. “And for their families and their loved ones and their community, it’s just as sad.”

A hand in a medical glove is see holding a face mask with the words "Mask Tehran."

Iranian, American health experts share coronavirus experiences in rare talk

The coronavirus crisis and the move to online events presented Penn’s Middle East Center with a rare opportunity to foster the first public conversation about the virus between senior health officials in Iran and counterparts in the United States.

Ambulance with lights flashing on city street at night.

Trauma centers weathered increase in gun violence from city’s COVID hotspots

A study evaluating how Philadelphia’s Level 1 trauma centers responded during the worst of COVID-19 showed a disproportionate number of patients from the hardest-hit neighborhoods.

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