The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends certain groups receive a second COVID-19 booster shot. This means that if someone had previously received three Moderna or Pfizer shots, they can now get a fourth shot. For those who received two Johnson & Johnson shots, or a Johnson & Johnson shot and a…
Editor’s note: This article originally ran October 26, 2021, and was updated November 22, 2021, January 10, 2022 and May 2, 2022, to reflect updated public health guidance. COVID-19 booster shots remain incredibly important as the pandemic continues, with case counts ebbing and flowing and new variants expected. People who are vaccinated and boosted have…
Editor’s note: This article originally ran October 3, 2021, and was updated January 10, 2022, to reflect updated public health guidance. When you look at the scientific data—and our country’s lived reality—there is no debate: COVID-19 vaccines work. The overwhelming majority of people who have been hospitalized with or died from COVID-19 over the past…
Editor’s note: This article originally ran December 3, 2021, and was updated January 10, 2022, to reflect updated public health guidance. Pregnancy is all about timing: when you ovulate, when you conceive, your first, second and third trimesters, your due date. So when should pregnant women or women trying to conceive receive their COVID-19 booster…
Editors note: For the latest guidance on boosters, see “Simplifying Boosters: How to Know When to Get One.” A much larger swath of the population recently became eligible for COVID-19 vaccine boosters, but you need to meet certain criteria to get this supplemental third shot. First, you have to have received the second dose of…
Mask mandates are lifted. Crowds are gathering for sporting events, concerts and graduation ceremonies. People aren’t required to stay 6 feet apart. This return to semi-normalcy is cause for celebration for most healthy people, especially those who are vaccinated, boosted and exercise a little caution. But for people whose immune systems are weak, letting down…
For the first time in more than two years, people are coming face-to-face. And while it’s nice to see smiles again, the risk of COVID-19 infection is still very real. If no one else is wearing a mask at the grocery store or on an airplane, is there any benefit to wearing one yourself? Yes,…
If you’re pregnant, you have a lot to do to stay healthy for you and your unborn baby—take a daily prenatal vitamin, eat a healthy diet and attend routine checkups, to name a few. It’s also critical to stay up to date on your vaccinations, since being pregnant puts you at a higher risk of…
If you’re experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 and a COVID-19 test confirms you have the virus, you may wonder what treatment options are available to help you feel better and avoid getting seriously ill. Here’s the good news: Most people who get sick with COVID-19 will be able to recover at home, especially if they’ve been…
Editor’s note: This article originally ran December 23, 2021, and was updated January 10, 2022. If it seems like COVID-19 is everywhere right now—it is. The United States is now experiencing its highest case counts of the pandemic, thanks to the highly contagious omicron variant. “This is going to be a very difficult winter as…
If your New Year’s resolutions include getting into better shape or exercising more, one of the first steps toward meeting your goal may be finding a gym or fitness center. A gym can be a big investment, so you want to make sure you choose the right one for you. We spoke with UNC Wellness…
We are now in the midst of another surge in COVID-19 cases caused by the new omicron variant. The variant appears to be significantly more contagious than the delta variant, so you may be wondering if you need to upgrade or change the type of mask you’re wearing. We asked Emily Sickbert-Bennett, PhD, director of…
