You asked, we searched, we shared! Our last “Top 5” COVID-19 compilation blog was a hit with audiences, so we decided to release another list of must-read material.
We’re sharing our picks for articles that keep you up to date on some of the most recent news surrounding COVID-19, the ongoing vaccine rollout, and lingering questions about life during a pandemic. We hope this list is helpful as we understand it’s sometimes hard to know which articles clearly communicate important vaccine and science messages.
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ICE COLD
- Why do the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines need to be kept so cold to remain useful? This article, while published in November 2020, remains accurate. Think of these vaccines like a handful of M&Ms. Not sure what chocolate candy has to do with the vaccine storage? Read on to see what that means.
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/11/17/935563377/why-does-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-need-to-be-kept-colder-than-antarctica
UNLIKELY VACCINE
- Developing a vaccine for the deadly Ebola virus took years of work from dozens of scientists across three continents ... and almost never happened. Read about the fascinating genesis of Ervebo, Merck’s Ebola vaccine that has been approved and is already saving lives in Africa.
- https://www.statnews.com/2020/01/07/inside-story-scientists-produced-world-first-ebola-vaccine/
BY THE NUMBERS
- We’re hearing a lot of information related to numbers lately – some very large and some relatively small. What’s one of the smaller numbers with huge implications for the near future? Vaccine “effectiveness,” which is an estimate of the percentage of people protected by immunization. How is effectiveness calculated? How do we interpret what it means? We found this article especially helpful for answering these questions.
- https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/learning/what-does-95-effective-mean-teaching-the-math-of-vaccine-efficacy.html
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TO GO OR DINE IN?
- We’ve continually heard that we need to avoid crowded, poorly-ventilated, and indoor spaces to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This article provides some important insights from five health professionals on their approach to the question, “Is indoor dining safe (right now)?” We love supporting local restaurants so just a friendly reminder that at many locations you can patronize the business without eating inside.
- https://www.popsci.com/story/health/indoor-dining-health-advice
LIFE AFTER VACCINE
- As of the beginning of February, Virginia is in Phase 1b of the COVID-19 immunization campaign and over 750,000 Virginians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. There’s a chance that you, reading this, are one of those people! So, what happens after immunization? Can we go about our lives without following COVID-19 precautions like wearing masks, staying distanced, and staying home? This article seeks to answer that by explaining why you have to keep wearing a mask and social distancing after you get the vaccine.
- https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/01/12/956051995/why-you-should-still-wear-a-mask-and-avoid-crowds-after-getting-the-covid-19-vac
What have we missed? What are you reading that resonates, explains clearly, and/or answers questions? Or what questions do you have that aren’t being answered and/or topics you aren’t hearing about that you yearn for more scientific context? Let us know by sending us a message through Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or email us at [email protected] with “Top 5 blog” as your subject line. We always appreciate hearing from you.
Need a vaccine? Learn how to get your shot at Vaccinate.Virginia.gov or call 1-877-VAX-IN VA. 8am - 8pm. Language translation available TTY users dial 7-1-1.
¿Necesitas vacunarte? Enterate como conseguir tu vacuna Vaccinate.Virginia.gov o llamando al 1-877-829-4682 de 8am a 8pm. Traduccion disponible en tu idioma. Usuarios de TTY pueden marcar al 7-1-1.
