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271 - COVID-19 and Immunosuppressant Drugs Mar 10, 2021

Show notes

Does taking immunosuppressant drugs put you at higher risk of more serious disease from COVID-19? Dr. Caleb Alexander and PhD candidate Kayte Andersen talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about their new research looking into this question. They also discuss future research to tackle the next set of critical questions for the millions of people who need these medications to stay healthy.

KEYWORDS: immune response

270 - How to Talk About Climate Change and COVID-19 With YouTube's ClimateAdam Mar 09, 2021

Show notes

How do you have meaningful conversations around really big, complex problems like climate change or COVID-19? How can we address "climate anxiety?" Dr. Adam Levy—aka ClimateAdam on YouTube—a science journalist and communicator with a degree in atmospheric physics, talks with Lindsay Smith Rogers about his work trying to creatively "close the gap between research and action."

KEYWORDS: environmental health; policy; misinformation

269 - COVID-19 and Diabetes Mar 08, 2021

Show notes

We know that having diabetes is a risk factor for more serious COVID-19 disease, but is being seriously ill from COVID-19 a risk factor for diabetes? Hopkins endocrinologist Dr. Mihail Zilbermint talks with Stephanie Desmon about what we know—and don't know—about the relationship between COVID-19 and diabetes.

KEYWORDS: chronic disease; health equity

268 How did the COVID-19 pandemic begin? Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

Dr. David Relman, a professor of medicine and microbiology at Stanford, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about his view that more investigation is needed into the origins of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Dr. Relman also explains why stronger controls on research that involves pathogens with pandemic potential are urgently needed.

KEYWORDS: zoonotic virus; policy

267 - When Will Children Be Vaccinated Against COVID-19? Mar 04, 2021

Show notes

With a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines, the focus has been on getting the most vulnerable vaccinated first. But to reach the kind of population-level immunity needed to truly curb the pandemic, children will also need to be vaccinated. Dr. Kawsar Talaat, who led one of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine trials in adults, talks with Stephanie Desmon about when and how vaccines will be authorized for children.

KEYWORDS: child health; vaccine authorization; vaccine trial

266 - Caution and COVID-19: Why Vigilance Still Matters Mar 03, 2021

Show notes

Morale is up and case numbers are down at Johns Hopkins Hospital, but infection prevention expert Dr. Lisa Maragakis says vaccines are in a race against variants and we shouldn't let our guard down. Dr. Maragakis talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about "watching evolution in real time" with mutations of SARS-CoV-2, staying the course with infection prevention, and when things could really take a turn for the better if we resist the urge to relax too much, too quickly.

KEYWORDS: viral mutation; herd immunity; pandemic response

265 - Monica Gandhi and Vaccine Optimism Mar 02, 2021

Show notes

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Monica Gandhi returns to the podcast to talk about why she's so optimistic about COVID-19 vaccines and their ability to free us from the pandemic. Dr. Gandhi talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the great results from clinical trials, why she is hopeful the vaccines will work against variants, some guidance for the newly-vaccinated about returning to "normal" life, and her latest insights on masks.

KEYWORDS: vaccine trial; vaccine authorization; immune response

264 - Why Helping to Vaccinate the World Against COVID-19 is in America's Best Interests Mar 01, 2021

Show notes

Although America is struggling to vaccinate our most vulnerable populations in a race against variants, just vaccinating people here won't help bring the pandemic to an end around the world. Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University professor and public health expert, talks with Stephanie Desmon about how our ethical duty to ensure equitable distribution of the vaccine worldwide is not only the morally right thing to do, it's in our own national interests.

KEYWORDS: international health; supply chain; vaccine trial

263 - Healing from the Grief and Trauma of COVID-19 Feb 26, 2021

Show notes

This week, the US passed the tragic milestone of 500,000 lives lost to COVID-19. Each death generates a circle of trauma for family and friends. Annette March Grier is a nurse and the founder and president of Roberta's House, a support center to help grieving families in Baltimore. Grier talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how to cope with grief, how to help others, and what the nation needs to do to heal.

KEYWORDS: community mental health; intergenerational trauma

262 - A National Weather Service for Epidemics? Feb 25, 2021

Show notes

From seasonal flu to SARS, outbreaks and epidemics occur regularly and require sophisticated data analysis to help decision makers know how to respond. Dr. Caitlin Rivers from the Center for Health Security talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about President Biden's new federal directive to create a National Weather Service model for epidemics to track infectious disease threats. Someday soon, perhaps: Don't forget an umbrella...and a mask.

KEYWORDS: policy; forecast

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