Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS, associate professor of infectious diseases, talked with CBS-17 about face coverings for children as school starts back, emphasizing comfort is especially important. Sickbert-Bennett has extensively researched masks throughout the pandemic and says parents should find a mask that kids are willing to wear properly all day long. Watch or read the report.

Doctors: Masks and Social Distancing Crucial As COVID-19 Cases Skyrocket (August 5, 2021) A WRAL.com news report acknowledges doctors are learning more everyday about the Delta variant, and as new information is released, it can be confusing and overwhelming. David Weber, MD, MPH, professor of medicine in infectious diseases, said it takes 15 minutes for delta particles … Continued

HIV-related mortality has decreased since 1996 due to improving treatments and evolving care guidelines, but the extent to which persons entering HIV care have a higher risk for death over the following years, compared with peers in the general population, has been unclear. Joseph Eron, MD, the Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professor of Medicine … Continued

Myron Cohen, MD, is the lead investigator of a study recently published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that shows bamlanivimab monotherapy reduced the incidence of infection in skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities with high risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure. The randomized phase 3 clinical trial included 966 residents and staff … Continued

The delta variant now accounts for half of the COVID-19 cases in many areas of the U.S., President Joe Biden said Tuesday, urging unvaccinated Americans to get the COVID-19 shots as the U.S. faces a dramatic rise in the “hypertransmissible” variant of the coronavirus. An NBC Today Health report asks experts about the effectiveness of … Continued

So much of the world hoped for vaccines that were effective for a long time in fighting COVID-19. Cindy Gay, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, who leads the UNC School of Medicine’s Moderna clinical trial, recognized a study published in the journal Nature that suggests vaccines could be … Continued

A fourth COVID-19 vaccine potentially on its way was developed and tested in the Triangle. It’s a North Carolina success story but the current vaccines are a success story for the country. “Just look at the numbers,” said David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division infectious diseases, in a CBS-17 news story. “We’ve … Continued

Results released by Novavax on Monday, June 14 reveal another promising vaccine candidate for the world’s battle against COVID-19. UNC joined the Novavax phase III clinical trial at the end of 2020, with Cindy Gay, MD, associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases, as the principal investigator. “It is critical to continue our research … Continued

The National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) recently awarded five research grants to address vaccine hesitancy, uptake, and implementation among populations who experience health disparities. A total of $14.5 million has been committed over five years for these five grants, subject to available funds. Over $3.67 million has been provided by the Office … Continued

Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS, associate professor in the division of infectious diseases, talked with NewsNation (WGN) about new CDC guidelines relaxing mask requirements and what the changes mean for the US. Under new CDC guidelines, fully vaccinated persons do not need to wear masks in indoor settings. Watch the news story. Sickbert-Bennett also contributed to … Continued

David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, was consulted for a number of news stories about COVID-19 vaccines, the week of April 1-7, 2021. CBS-17: How Vaccines Can Win the ‘Race’ Against COVID-19 Variants – April 5 Thousands of North Carolinians are receiving doses of the COVID-19 vaccine every day. … Continued

While the pandemic made this year particularly challenging for fellowship recruitment efforts and interviews, a series of videos showing each program’s strengths was a creative solution, introducing viewers to faculty and current fellows, with a brief glimpse into what it might be like to join the program. And although it was impossible to replicate the … Continued