Category: Infectious Diseases
COVID Vaccine Hesitancy Persists Among North Carolina Youth
David Weber, MD, MPH WTVD news reports health officials are working to improve the vaccination rate among youth in North Carolina. According to the latest data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, four percent of doses being doled out are going to kids ages 12-17 and seven percent of the doses for ages 18-24. David Weber, MD, MPH, said the vaccine is v … Read more
Wake Teen Opening For Biden During NC Visit
David Wohl, MD WTVD news reported a Wake County native will deliver a speech alongside Governor Cooper on Thursday during President Biden’s visit to North Carolina to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations. The story also reported that the White House recognized it is unlikely the country will reach President Biden’s goal of 70% of people having one dose by July 4th, and focused on othe … Read more
Study Suggests Masks, Distancing Are Still Important Even With Vaccination
Ross Boyce, MD Ross Boyce, MD, assistant professor in the division of infectious diseases, contributed to a study recently published in JAMA that considered the association of simulated COVID-19 vaccinations and nonpharmaceutical interventions with infections, hospitalizations, and mortality. Mehul D. Patel, PhD, assistant professor in the department of emergency medicine, led th … Read more
Newly Released Trial Results Show Novavax COVID-19 Vaccine Highly Effective
Cindy Gay, MD, MPH 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 on COVID-19 … Read more
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COVID-19 Testing At Lowest Point in a Year, At-Home Testing May Boost Numbers
David Wohl, MD With the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, the rush to test turned into the rush to vaccinate. “It’s not just vaccination,” said David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, in a CBS-17 report. “Testing still is a part of this, understanding what we’re dealing with.” Testing peaked in January with an average of almost 70,000 tests … Read more
How Kindness Can Be Contagious in Healthcare
Joseph Tucker, MD, PhD In partnership with local people and health professionals, Joe Tucker, MD, PhD, associate professor in the division of infectious diseases with UNC Global Health colleagues developed a pay-it-forward intervention to promote influenza vaccination among at-risk individuals during COVID-19. “You are an overworked health professional in an under-developed rural … Read more
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Triangle Doctors, Scientists Help Produce Novavax’s COVID-19 Vaccine
With a visit from then-President Donald Trump, FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies’ Innovation Center in Morrisville announced it would manufacture components for Novavax’s attempt at producing a COVID-19 vaccine. Eleven months later, clinical trials show it to be more than 90 percent effective. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, discussed … Read more
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From Infertility to Magnetism, COVID-19 Vaccine Myths Abound
David Wohl, MD With vaccination rates dropping in North Carolina, medical experts are concerned that not enough people are protected from COVID-19. Currently, North Carolina sits at 54% of adults at least partially vaccinated, below the national average of 63%. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, explained to The News & Observer that … Read more
Vaccine Lottery and Boosting COVID Immunity
Credit: Spectrum News Governor Roy Cooper has instituted a vaccine lottery to help boost vaccination rates in the state. Spectrum News interviewed David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, to get his perspective on the effectiveness of the lottery. Watch the Spectrum Interview here.
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Will We Need Boosters? What Will a Rollout Look Like? Wohl Answers Questions About the Next Round of Shots
David Wohl, MD With the COVID-19 vaccine rollout slowing down, many people are wondering if they will need to come back to a clinic for a booster shot. In a report from WBTW-News 13, David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases responded to questions about the possibility of booster shots. “We know that boosters shots are probably going to happen,” … Read more
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As Overall COVID-19 Hospital Numbers Shrink, Share of Black, Latino Patients Climbs to Near-Pandemic Highs
David Wohl, MD The percentages of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the state who are Black and Latino remains near pandemic highs, a CBS17.com data analysis found. The overall daily hospitalization totals have plummeted over the past few months to their lowest levels in more than a year. But of those who are being admitted to hospitals, a higher share of them come from those two … Read more
Hightow-Weidman Earns Vaccine Hesitancy Grant
Lisa Hightow-Weidman, MD, MPH 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 h … Read more