Living through a pandemic has a way of making you think about your immune system. Is it strong? Could it be stronger? Is it up to the task of fighting off COVID-19, flu and other viruses? While no one can prevent every illness, most of us can make some simple changes that could improve our…
In an important step that could bring us closer to the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Food and Drug Administration has granted full approval to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for people ages 16 and up. The three vaccines available in the United States—Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson—have been available under an emergency use authorization…
As vaccines for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) become available, you might be hearing stories of a small number of people who were vaccinated and still tested positive for the virus, including a congressman from Massachusetts who had received both doses. Fear not: This doesn’t mean the vaccines don’t work. Their job is to prevent serious…
Viruses are constantly changing, and new versions—called variants—often arise. News of variants of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus is spreading nearly as fast as the variants themselves. To learn more about these variants, we talked to Dirk Dittmer, PhD, professor of microbiology and immunology at UNC School of Medicine. 1. When it comes to viruses,…
Last month, Pfizer and Moderna shared preliminary results from their coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine trials. We talked to UNC Health infectious disease expert Cindy Gay, MD, MPH, who leads the Moderna clinical trial at UNC, about what the data from these trials tell us. 1. Clinical trials show the first two vaccines are about…
After weeks of exciting news about the promising results of the Pfizer and Moderna coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine trials, a small subset of Americans is actually receiving vaccines. This is a momentous occasion because clinical trials show the first two vaccines are about 95 percent effective at preventing people from getting sick with COVID-19. With a continued…
Clinical research related to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exploded in recent months as public and private researchers look for ways to test, treat and prevent the illness. When it comes to vaccines, there are five selected by the U.S. federal government for funding and accelerated development under Operation Warp Speed: Moderna’s mRNA-1273, The…
UNC urologist and male fertility specialist Matt Coward, MD, would like to start a conversation about male infertility. As the general understanding of male infertility has grown over the years, the myth that fertility issues are a female problem has been debunked. But, he says, there is still a wide gap in the number of…
The statistics are enough to give any parent a sick feeling: Each week, about a dozen children ages 12 and under are killed in traffic accidents. Many more are injured, sometimes seriously. Research shows that many of these children were not buckled in properly, despite the safety and legal consequences (a ticket for driving an…
