Category: Infectious Diseases
Sickbert-Bennett Discusses Research On Double Masks and New CDC Guidance On Masking Outdoors
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS In an article published by Explico.co, Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS, associate professor of infectious diseases, described mask combinations that were tested on volunteers, from a single cloth mask to folded surgical masks. The studies found that wearing a full coverage mask, such as a bandana or neck warmer over a surgical mask provided the bes … Read more
Switching Shots: Health Experts Discuss Different Brands For COVID-19 Vaccine Booster
David Weber, MD, MPH With supply and demand a concern for COVID-19 vaccines in some communities, a WRAL news story asked the question: Is it safe to mix different brands of vaccines? Guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration currently recommend staying consistent with the type of vaccine a patient receives, especially … Read more
Gay Says It’s Early to Assume a COVID-19 Booster Will Be Needed, But Good to be Prepared
Cindy Gay, MD, MPH It’s possible a COVID-19 vaccine booster will be necessary, just as it is with other vaccines. Moderna is readying for that next inoculation by the fall. But Cindy Gay, MD, MPH, assistant professor in the division of infectious diseases, says it’s too early to know if we’ll need it by then. “I think it’s just a little premature because we really don’t have the … Read more
Wohl Explains Why the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Should Be Returned to Use, and Offers Guidance On NC’s Reopening
David Wohl, MD David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, explained the importance of returning the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to use in vaccinating patients worldwide. He appeared in a NewsNation interview, Friday, April 23, 2021. Watch the news report. In an ABC-11 news report, Wohl also expressed caution regarding Governor Cooper’ … Read more
Monoclonal Antibody Injection Significantly Reduces COVID-19 Progression
Myron Cohen, MD Data from a phase 3 clinical trial for REGEN-COV, a combination monoclonal antibody therapy (casirivimab with imdevimab), is part of the NIH-sponsored COVID Prevention Network, co-led by Myron Cohen, MD, the Yeargan-Bate Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Epidemiology. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced positive data from … Read more
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Wohl Responds to Questions About the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Pause
David Wohl, MD A News & Observer story reports on the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services decision to temporarily halt use of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at the urging of the federal government. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases says the discovery of six people with serious side effects out of 7 million doses … Read more
Wohl Answers Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines in Multiple News Reports
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. The numbers of cases of the mutated variant s … Read more
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Chances of Catching COVID-19 After Vaccination
David Wohl, MD A CBS-17 news story reports on a new study that measures the risk of contracting COVID-19 after becoming vaccinated, published in the New England Journal of Medicine. David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, called the study “remarkable” but still described the vaccine effort as a “race” because the virus continues to spread and … Read more
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One Vaccine Dose or Two?
David Wohl, MD A WNCN news story reports on a real-world CDC vaccine study that raises questions about prioritizing single shots for more people. The study found the two-dose COVID-19 vaccines to be highly effective after the first shot. But if one dose works so well outside of clinical trials, should national and state leaders change their priorities to getting more people that … Read more
Department of Medicine Grants & Funding: March 1 – March 31, 2021
Division of Hematology Patrick Ellsworth, MD, received a Research Restart Award from the American Society of Hematology, which helps ensure research continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nigel Mackman, PhD, received a grant award for “Tissue factor-dependent coagulation in thrombosis and immune responses” from the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Division of Infe … Read more
Marking Carolina’s Pandemic Year: Big Tent, One Team
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Emily Ciccone, MD, (right), a fellow in the division of infectious diseases, worked in Uganda studying respiratory illnesses in children with staff of the Kasese Health Centre. Many leaders and researchers from the division of infectious diseases and the UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases are featured in a new story from The Well … Read more
Eron Awarded Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professorship
Joe Eron, MD, professor of medicine and chief of the division of infectious diseases was awarded the Herman and Louise Smith Distinguished Professorship on March 10, 2021. Joe Eron, MD Joe Eron, MD, professor of medicine and adjunct professor of epidemiology, is an internationally recognized researcher, teacher and clinician who treats HIV patients at UNC Eastowne. Eron also ser … Read more