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309 - How the COVID-19 Crisis in a Vaccine-Generating Powerhouse Like India Took Hold, and What This Means for the World's Supply of Other Life-saving Vaccines May 04, 2021

Show notes

India produces much of the world's vaccines in normal times, and even produced enough COVID-19 vaccines that it was donating doses to poorer countries earlier this year. So how did a vaccine powerhouse with an existing distribution infrastructure end up with one of the world's worst COVID crises? Dr. Anita Shet of the Johns Hopkins International Vaccine Access Center talks with Stephanie Desmon about India's vaccine situation, what the crisis could mean for the supply of other critical vaccines, and what needs to be done to stem the outbreak.

308 - Ghost Guns: Untraceable DIY Firearms May 03, 2021

Show notes

Ghost guns are firearms that can be made at home from kits or 3D printed parts. They're unregulated and untraceable, meaning no background check is required to purchase them. Dr. Alex McCourt, a public health lawyer with the Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy, talks with Stephanie Desmon about why these guns are so dangerous, what we know and don't know about their use in violent crimes, and Biden's proposal for ATF regulation.

307 - An Update on COVID-19 in Canada with The Dose's Dr. Brian Goldman Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

Canada is experiencing a serious wave of COVID infections with the majority from variants of concern like B.1.1.7. British Columbia currently has one of the highest rates of P.1 outside of Brazil itself where the variant was first discovered. Dr. Brian Goldman, the host of two CBC podcasts and a clinician at Sinai Health System in Toronto, returns to the podcast to talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the factors that contributed to Canada's COVID crisis, including logistical issues with distributing vaccines.

306 - The Dire COVID-19 Crisis in India Apr 29, 2021

Show notes

India is in the throes of the world's worst COVID-19 infection with overwhelmed health systems, and a shortage of oxygen, hospital beds, testing, and medications. Dr. Amita Gupta, chair of the Johns Hopkins India Institute, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how this "unprecedented public health disaster" snuck up on the country after they successfully controlled the first wave back in the fall. They also discuss what needs to be done to address the crisis, and how you as an individual can help. Note: Please consider donating to the following organizations: https://giving.jhu.edu/ways-to-give/international-giving/johns-hopkins-india-institute/ https://www.jhpiego.org/countries-we-support/india/

305 - "Red Flag" Laws: Extreme Risk Protection Orders and What Went Wrong in Indiana Apr 28, 2021

Show notes

The recent mass shooting in Indianapolis sparked a national conversation about "red flag" laws, or Extreme Risk Protection Orders. Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with Dr. Shannon Frattaroli of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Prevention and Policy, and Josh Horwitz of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence about ERPOs and what went wrong in Indiana, and what needs to be done to implement laws effectively that keep firearms from people at high risk of harming themselves or others.

304 - COVID-19 and the Amish and Mennonite Communities of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Apr 27, 2021

Show notes

Lancaster County is home to one of the largest Amish and Mennonite, or "Plain", communities in the US. In the last year, it's estimated that 90% of families had a case of COVID-19 in their household, but experts don't know for sure how widespread infections were because of a lack of testing data. Reporter Nicole Brambila talks with Stephanie Desmon about the challenges of getting Plain families to adopt public health measures, and how past experiences from polio and measles outbreaks can offer insights for rallying the communities to get vaccinated.

303 - A Digital Problem With An Old-School Solution: COVID-19 Vaccinations in San Francisco Apr 26, 2021

Show notes

Early in the vaccine rollouts, 14 clinics in the San Francisco Health Network texted their most vulnerable patients a webform to sign up for COVID-19 vaccine appointments. Dr. Anna Robert, director of primary care, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how the webform went viral with people from all over the Bay area taking appointments meant for specific individuals, how the clinics addressed the situation, and what they learned about outreach to patients who most need the vaccine but may be hesitant to sign up.

302 - COVID-19 Research Update: Reinfection Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with Hopkins researchers who break down three papers looking at reinfection. Dr. Sheree Schwartz, an epidemiologist, talks about a CDC paper on reinfections in a single Kentucky nursing home. Henri Garrison-Desany, a doctoral student in epidemiology, talks about two papers: a Lancet paper from Denmark and one in the Journal of Infection from Brazil. These researchers are part of the Hopkins novel coronavirus research consortium, with many summaries of new studies available at http://ncrc.jhsph.edu.

301 - Earth Day: Why COVID-19 Has Caused an Increase in Ocean Pollution Apr 22, 2021

Show notes

COVID is creating massive environmental issues such as the 1.56 billion face masks that entered the oceans in 2020 alone. Teale Phelps Bondaroff, the Director of Research for Oceans Asia, talks with Stephanie Desmon about how improperly discarded PPE to a massive rise in the production of single-use plastics are setting the world significantly back in controlling its problem with microplastics and pollution.

KEYWORDS: environmental health; policy

300 - COVID-19 Vaccines and People with Disabilities Apr 21, 2021

Show notes

61 million Americans have a disability yet most haven't been prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines. And while eligibility has opened up across the nation, there remain significant barriers for people with disabilities to get appointments. Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities talks with Stephanie Desmon about how COVID has exacerbated longstanding gaps in health equity for people with disabilities, and also some silver linings of the pandemic that she hopes will remain.

KEYWORDS: vaccine distribution; telemedicine; healthcare infrastructure

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