admin – Page 8 – BIDMC’s COVID-19 Initiatives

Posts by admin

COVID-19 vaccine may not provide full protection for transplant patients

A recent study of transplant recipients, who take drugs to suppress their immune system, found that most failed to produce antibodies against the coronavirus after a first dose of vaccine. Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) who worked on developing the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, noted it is expected that vaccines will have reduced immune response in immune-suppressed populations.

Advocates want NIH to use its Moderna vaccine patent to push for global access

Public health advocates and academics are asking for the government to exert NIH patent rights over the Moderna vaccine to make it more widely available in the developing world. Kenneth Mayer, MD (Infectious Disease, BIDMC) noted that requiring technology sharing and using the WHO to work with technology organizations in other countries are amongst the things the government can do in a regulated way.

What hospitals have learned in the pandemic

Kevin Tabb, MD (CEO, BILH) shared lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, including approaches to patient care, telehealth, vaccine development and vaccination rollout.

Can vaccines help long-haul COVID-19 sufferers?

In this article about long-haul COVID-19 sufferers, Jason Maley, MD (Pulmonary, BIDMC) described the common symptoms long-haul COVID-19 patients experience.

Beth Israel Deaconess researchers create tool to assess safety of reopening businesses

In an article published in npj Digital Medicine, researcher-physicians from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), including Ashley O’Donoghue, PhD (Healthcare Delivery Science, BIDMC) and Jennifer P. Stevens, MD, MS (Healthcare Delivery Science, BIDMC), used anonymized cell-phone data to build a Business Risk Index, which quantifies the potential risk of COVID-19 transmission in these establishments

Three Feet or Six? Distancing Guideline for Schools Stirs Debate

In a study led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) physician-researchers, including Polly van den Berg, MD (Infectious Diseases, BIDMC) and Westyn Branch-Elliman, MD, MMSc (Infectious Diseases, BIDMC), the research team found no substantial difference in the number of cases of COVID-19 among either students or staff in school districts that implemented a distancing policy of three feet versus six feet between students

Business Leader of the Year: Dickson led the region through the pandemic

Kevin Tabb, MD (CEO, BILH) spoke about how he, Dr. Eric Dickson, President and CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care, and their major-hospital counterparts in Massachusetts have held regular calls throughout the pandemic to help coordinate care or check in on whether others were dealing with similar issues they might be able to share insight on.

Fauci Says Three-Feet Social Distancing May Suffice To Reopen Schools

Responding to a new study by BIDMC researchers, Dr. Anthony Fauci said three feet of social distancing may indeed be enough to safely reopen schools and that new guidance on the issue should be coming soon from the CDC.

Four Surprising Ways COVID Changed the World a Year Into the Pandemic

Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) who led the vaccine development collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and BIDMC noted how fast vaccine development can proceed when there is a true global emergency and sufficient resources.

Study concludes: Little difference in COVID-19 positivity rates between schools practicing 3 or 6 feet of social distancing

In a study led by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) physician-researchers, including Polly van den Berg, MD (Infectious Diseases, BIDMC) and Westyn Branch-Elliman, MD, MMSc (Infectious Diseases, BIDMC), the research team found no substantial difference in the number of cases of COVID-19 among either students or staff in school districts that implemented a distancing policy of three feet versus six feet between students.

3 feet, or 6? Study of Massachusetts schools finds reduced spacing between students can be safe in class

Researchers, including physicians from BIDMC, collected information from hundreds of Massachusetts school districts over 16 weeks to examine whether COVID-19 is more likely to be transmitted if students are seated closely together. The team found no substantial difference in the number of cases of COVID-19 among either students or staff in school districts that implemented a distancing policy of three feet versus six feet between students.

As Massachusetts prepares for final phase of reopening, businesses warn recovery ‘is not going to be flicking a switch’

As Massachusetts prepares for final phase of reopening, businesses warn recovery 'is not going to be flicking a switch'

How approval of Johnson & Johnson’s ‘one and done’ COVID-19 vaccine could change Canada’s vaccination game

How approval of Johnson & Johnson's 'one and done' COVID-19 vaccine could change Canada's vaccination game

Mass. Residents find other paths to secure COVID-19 vaccine appointments

Mass. Residents find other paths to secure COVID-19 vaccine appointments

Transcript: The Path Forward: Vaccines with Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky

Transcript: The Path Forward: Vaccines with Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky

A year into Covid, top health execs keep rivalry on the sidelines

A year into Covid, top health execs keep rivalry on the sidelines

Kevin Hill, MD (Addiction Psychiatry, BIDMC) and Mia Hazel, MD (Addiction Psychiatry BIDMC), shared data showing those with addictions are eight times more likely than those without to get COVID-19. They have found that increasing the frequency of virtual appointments has been essential for helping patients stay engaged in recovery treatment.

How The Pandemic Has Made Staying Sober Even More Difficult

Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) spoke to recently emerged data from the Johnson & Johnson trial where researchers looked for signs of infection in 3,000 participants up to 71 days after getting the single-dose vaccine. Risk of infection in that study seemed to fall by about 74 percent.

Plan to Ditch the Mask After Vaccination? Not So Fast.

Pharmaceutical giant Merck will help manufacture the newly authorized Johnson & Johnson single-shot COVID-19 vaccine. Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) shared that the collaboration could greatly accelerate the rollout of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine at a time when acceleration of the vaccine campaign in the US and throughout the world is needed.

Merck to help rival Johnson & Johnson make COVID-19 vaccine.

The first round of voting for STAT Madness began today. Included in the first round is the BIDMC team, led by Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC), who in collaboration with Johnson & Johnson developed and conducted preclinical testing of a single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, which is one of three COVID-19 vaccines cleared for emergency use in the U.S.

STAT Madness has begun. Vote for the best innovations in biomedicine