Category: COVID-19

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving

As a reminder, the University of Florida will be observing the Thanksgiving holiday next week on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 25 and 26. We wish you safe travels if you are traveling and joy with your loved ones.

The UF Health Screen, Test & Protect and Student Health Care Center teams want to remind you if you are traveling for Thanksgiving to wear a mask, sanitize frequently and follow CDC guidance to get to and from your destinations in a safe and healthy manner. If you become ill, stay away from others, get tested and seek medical care if needed.

Do you have questions about the COVID vaccine for children?

UF Health is hosting a webinar on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. to answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for children.

UF Health pediatric expert gives advice on COVID-19 vaccine for kids

On Nov. 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine in children who are 5 to 11 years old.

An unexpected conversation builds trust, overcomes one man’s hesitance

Mark Hall was skeptical about the COVID-19 vaccine and unvaccinated. One night at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille, Duane Mitchell, M.D., Ph.D., renowned cancer researcher and director of the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute, sat down next to Mark by chance. The two got to talking about the vaccine and Mark asked Dr. Mitchell all of the questions he had about the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness. After three hours of respectful conversation, Mark decided he was ready to get vaccinated if Dr. Mitchell would be by his side when he did. 

Engaging arts and culture to build vaccination confidence

The UF College of the Arts’ Center for Arts in Medicine, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Journalism and Communications, and Center for Public Impact Communications are collaborating to mount a rapid, multi-modal, campus-wide vaccine communication campaign, leveraging the strength of artists, culture-bearers and the arts to move people to action. 

Allergies should not dissuade you from getting vaccinated

Having a history of allergic reactions, experts say, is rarely a reason to avoid getting vaccinated. 

Dr. Michael Lauzardo answers questions about COVID-19 booster shots

As the delta variant of the coronavirus persists, federal officials are urgently studying the safety and effectiveness of a third dose of COVID-19 mRNA vaccines as well as a second shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. If the Food and Drug Administration and a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory committee agree to proceed, shots could be administered sometime this fall.

Michael Lauzardo, M.D., deputy director of UF’s Emerging Pathogens Institute and an associate professor in the UF College of Medicine, recently answered questions about the third vaccine dose.

Coping with the mental health challenges posed by COVID-19

Jacqueline Hobbs, M.D., Ph.D., says the burden of coping with stress caused by the upheaval of normal life means we all need to pay closer attention to our mental well-being. 

The effects of COVID-19 vaccines on children

Sonja A. Rasmussen, M.D., M.S., UF professor of pediatrics and epidemiology, recently discussed the safety and effects of the COVID-19 vaccines for children 12 and older as well as the importance of getting vaccinated to prevent infection and possible long-term consequences.  Looking for where you can get your child vaccinated? Locations throughout the state may be […]

Differences in COVID-19 severity internationally

Why are some countries in the grip of COVID-19 while others appear less affected? In a recent UF Health article, College of Veterinary Medicine Professor of infectious diseases Rhoel Dinglasan, Ph.D., M.P.H., discussed his research on COVID-19 severity internationally. Dinglasan suspects the answer is connected to people’s exposure to various infectious diseases in specific geographic […]