Category: Infectious Diseases
Third Major Coronavirus Vaccine Shown To Be Effective and Cheaper
Joseph Eron, MD An Associated Press article reports the “drugmaker AstraZeneca said Monday that late-stage trials showed its coronavirus vaccine is highly effective, buoying the prospects of a relatively cheap, easy-to-store product that may become the vaccine of choice for the developing world.” Joe Eron, MD, chief of the division of infectious diseases, said that it is unclear … Read more
COVID-19 Vaccines Are Coming. How Will NC Roll Out Doses, and Will People Accept Them?
David Weber, MD, MPH From Governor Roy Cooper to infectious disease experts to ordinary residents, North Carolinians are thrilled by the prospects of two COVID-19 vaccines currently under trial with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “None of us can predict how many people will actually want the vaccine given people’s concerns for a variety of reasons,” said David Weber, MD, … Read more
Moderna’s Initial Vaccine Results ‘More Than Hoped For,’ Says Gay
Cindy Gay, MD, MPH Cindy Gay, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, oversees the clinical trial of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine candidate at UNC-Chapel Hill. She says the high initial efficacy rate shown by the drug “was more than we were hoping for.” Listen to her interview with WRAL News.
Smith, Cohen Recognized in Clarivate’s 2020 list of Highly Cited Researchers
Sidney Smith, MD, and Myron Cohen, MD Sidney Smith, MD, and Myron Cohen, MD, have been recognized in Clarivate’s 2020 list of Highly Cited Researchers™. Altogether the list includes 20 UNC School of Medicine and 16 UNC Chapel Hill researchers who have demonstrated significant influence in their chosen field or fields through the publication of multiple highly cited papers during … Read more
Sickbert-Bennett Featured in UNC Health Media Briefing About COVID Precautions During the Holidays
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, assistant professor in infectious diseases and medical director of UNC Medical Center Infection Prevention, participated in the UNC Health Media Briefing “COVID Precautions During the Holidays.”
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Coronavirus Today – Nov. 12 COVID Spread in Rural NC; Testing For Holiday Travelers and College Students; Insurance and Travel Testing
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, MS As North Carolina’s COVID-19 case counts rise steadily, the tightening grip of the coronavirus is having a disparate impact on the state’s rural counties. In a North Carolina Health News report, Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, associate professor of infectious diseases, told reporters college students could begin preparing for visits home now by isola … Read more
An Explanation For Some Covid-19 Deaths May Not Be Holding Up
Early in the pandemic, anti-il-6 drugs became a standard of care for treating COVID patients at many hospitals, widely believed to quell the immune system response. Now, evidence mounts that they are not effective. Jonathan Parr, MD, MPH, in infectious diseases, and William Fischer, MD, in pulmonary medicine, were interviewed by the New York Times.
‘Major advance’: Long-acting injectable more effective than daily pill in preventing HIV
A long-acting injectable drug, cabotegravir, is safe and more effective than a daily pill in preventing HIV acquisition, according to results from a study of 3,127 cisgender women in sub-Saharan Africa. “New HIV prevention agents that address the many needs of all individuals at risk for acquiring HIV are essential pillars of our strategy to end the HIV epidemic,” says Myron Cohe … Read more
Studies Find Mixed Results For Tocilizumab To Treat COVID-19
Healio reports on three studies recently published in JAMA Internal Medicine that evaluated the effects of tocilizumab against COVID-19, as well as an editorial by Jonathan Parr, MD, MPH, associate professor in infectious diseases. “Newly released randomized trials suggest a potential role for tocilizumab in COVID-19 but do not show clear evidence of efficacy, in contrast to obse … Read more
Wohl Says Pfizer’s Advancements On COVID-19 Vaccine Are Promising But Continued Precautions Are Needed As Cases Rise
David Wohl, MD, professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, said Pfizer’s advancements on the COVID-19 vaccine are promising. However, as virus cases spike in North Carolina, he encourages people to keep their guard up and continue to take the same precautions that were recommended in March.
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New Record: NC Reports 2,908 New Cases of Coronavirus
One month into Phase 3, coronavirus cases continue to climb in North Carolina. In a new WRAL report, Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, associate professor in infectious diseases, says contact tracing shows the majority of cases are connected through close contact where people are not wearing a mask or practicing social distancing.
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Sickbert-Bennett Explains How To Prepare For Family Visits During the Holidays
Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious diseases, recognizes three main factors that affect the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 in a social setting: “the size of the gathering, how much time you’ll be spending with others, and what kind of space you’re in,” said Sickbert-Bennett in an MSN Lifestyle article.