Botswana lab known for identifying Omicron variant receives new recognition
When the lab of the Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership produced the first genetic sequence of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in fall 2021, the world took notice. More recognition came last month when the lab was…
Antiviral treatments for COVID underused in nursing homes
Even though nursing home residents face high risk of severe infection or death from COVID-19, nursing homes have underused antiviral treatments, even after Paxlovid, a highly effective antiviral pill, became widely available, according to a new study co-authored…
Experts reflect on COVID-19, share lessons for future pandemics
The U.S. response to the COVID-19 pandemic was full of missteps—ones that experts say can inform preparations for future global health emergencies.
Intimate partner violence early in pandemic linked with worse mental and overall health in women
Women who experienced intimate partner violence during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to suffer worse mental health and other adverse health effects, according to a new study led by Harvard Chan School.
U.S. governmental public health workforce shrank by half in five years, study finds
Nearly half of all employees in state and local public health agencies in the U.S. left their jobs between 2017 and 2021, and if such workforce contractions continue, more than 100,000 public health staff could leave their jobs…
Higher trust in public health agencies during COVID-19 driven more by beliefs that agencies led with clear, science-based recommendations and provided protective resources, than by beliefs that agencies controlled outbreak
In the first nationally representative survey of U.S. adults on reasons for trust in federal, state, and local public health agencies’ information during the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found that high levels of trust were not primarily due to…
Study highlights inequalities in early childhood vaccination in India
Despite progress made toward widespread early childhood vaccination in India, northeastern parts of the country and certain states account for most of the children who aren’t getting routine shots, according to a new study co-authored by researchers from…
Following healthy lifestyle may reduce risk of long COVID
Women who followed most aspects of a healthy lifestyle, including healthy body weight, not smoking, regular exercise, adequate sleep, high quality diet, and moderate alcohol consumption, had about half the risk of long COVID compared with women without…
New tools for preventing the next pandemic
Technologies such as genomic sequencing have proved to be invaluable in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and will be important in preventing future infectious disease outbreaks, according to the panel of experts who spoke at a Harvard T.H.…
Coronavirus rapid tests may be less effective for new variants
Rapid antigen tests for diagnosing COVID-19 may be less effective for new coronavirus variants, particularly the delta variant, according to researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.