Health Sciences In The Media

If you’re feeling more symptoms with the COVID-19 vaccine than with the flu shot, you’re not alone. Health experts say there’s a reason for that. Deepta Bhattacharya, an immunobiologist at the College of Medicine – Tucson, says the reason why more people are having more reactions to COVID-19 vaccines compared to flu vaccines is because they're made differently. “Vaccines are really engineered and designed to trigger some of that inflammation.” Bhattacharya says the flu vaccine does not trigger the same reaction.

Dr. Francisco Moreno, associate vice president of diversity and inclusion, and Dr. Elizabeth Connick, chief of infectious diseases at the College of Medicine – Tucson, discuss vaccine hesitancy in Pima County.

If you got the Pfizer vaccine, will you really need to get a third shot within a year? Thursday, the CEO of Pfizer said that’s likely the case. However, a local expert says not so fast. “I think it was some speculation more than anything,” said Deepta Bhattacharya, associate professor of immunobiology at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

Scientists discussed the mechanisms of chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment at a session dedicated to symptom science at the AACR Annual Meeting. These effects extend to children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which is the most prevalent cancer among children and adolescents. The disease has a 90% five-year survival rate, thanks, in part, to multiagent chemotherapy and aggressive treatment to the central nervous system. Research presented by nurse-scientist Ida M. Moore of the University of Arizona College of Nursing in Tucson showed that children performed poorly over time, even three years after starting treatment.

The Arizona Department of Health Services launched a new public service announcement as part of the “Roll Up Your Sleeve to Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19” campaign. The new PSA features community leaders, local celebrities, and influencers from several industries including Dr. Cecilia Rosales, associate dean of of Community Engagement and Outreach and Phoenix Programs at the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health.

There are now quite a few observational studies and large reviews of the available evidence that show low vitamin D levels are associated with higher risks of contracting COVID-19 or with becoming seriously ill. "What is clear from a number of studies is that there's a strong relationship in terms of your levels prior to infection," says Dr. Shad Marvasti, director of public health, prevention and health promotion at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.

A small but growing number of colleges will require students to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, saying it is the most assured way of returning to some semblance of pre-pandemic campus life. "Many colleges have required certain vaccinations for years but the standards aren't uniform," said Leila Barraza, an associate professor at the University of Arizona Zuckerman College of Public Health. Still, outbreaks on college campuses are relatively common.

Adults with osteoarthritis were more likely to use NSAIDs if they were more familiar with the drugs' risks and benefits, new data showed. Patient knowledge – and, by extension, NSAID use – was lower among patients of Hispanic ethnicity. Study author Dr. Ernest Vina, a rheumatologist and researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, discusses the findings and their implications.

The Arizona Department of Health Services is recommending a pause in the use of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, following the guidance of federal officials. The University of Arizona does not administer the J&J vaccine and only administers the Pfizer vaccine. The estimated risk of a blood clot from the J&J vaccine is about 1 in a million while the overall risk of dying if you get COVID-19 is about 1 in 100, said Deepta Bhattacharya, an associate professor of immunobiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson.

Dr. Murtaza Akhter, an emergency physician at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, breaks down what the surge of COIVD-19 cases in Michigan means for other states in the U.S.