Now that COVID-19 vaccines are available for adults and children five years of age and older, families and individuals are thinking more about upcoming holiday gatherings. Although over 78 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one vaccine dose, families and friends should still exercise caution if celebrating in close contact.  COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to drop, but the possibility of viral transfer is still a reality, with most states currently experiencing high levels of community-wide spread. You can still do several things to preserve safety, reduce the...

If you smoke cigarettes, it can be difficult to think of your life any other way. One reason is that nicotine is a highly-addictive drug. In fact, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), most smokers use cigarettes because they are addicted to nicotine itself. However, nicotine addiction can have severe consequences—including lung cancer. Nicotine addiction also affects more than just smokers because of the harmful effects of secondhand smoke exposure.  This year, on November 18, the American Cancer Society will sponsor the Great American Smokeout. This event recognizes the...

Crisis often brings out the best in people and performance, and no better example has been the herculean efforts of public health workers throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. These people have worked tirelessly to conduct contact tracing, track the spread of disease, and issue mask and vaccination guidance at the peril of political and public backlash.  Unfortunately, since they are not frontline healthcare workers who deal directly with patients, they are often overlooked. However, the stressors they encounter are just as real, and as leaders, it is time for you to recognize these stressors and...

As of October 21, 2021, COVID-19 vaccinations have been increasing. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 189 million people aged 12 and over (57 percent) have received their complete vaccination. Nevertheless, 57 percent is far below the 75-80 percent vaccination rate necessary for herd immunity. The country’s inability to reach the 70 percent vaccination rate could partly be because of the failure to reach the moveable middle. This group consists of about 30-40 percent of the U.S. population who are ambivalent, at best, about getting the COVID-19...

Mix and Match Booster Vaccine Recommendations. What You Should Know “Mix and match COVID-19 vaccine,” also known as heterologous booster vaccination, means everyone who’s eligible for a booster can either stay with their original brand or opt for a new COVID-19 vaccine if they prefer. A highly anticipated National Institutes of Health study with data on “mixing and matching” COVID-19 vaccines was released on Wednesday (October 13, 2021). Although the study still needs to be peer-reviewed, it found that people who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine produced stronger antibody levels after...