What It Will Take to Get a Next-Generation COVID Vaccine

Nearly 4 years since the first messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccines were developed, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus is evolving more quickly than tailored boosters can be made ready and continues to kill hundreds of Americans every week. Scientists around the world have been trying to break new ground with the next generation of vaccines, but the unprecedented speed and collaboration with which those first mRNA shots were developed and made available to the public have not been replicated.

Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health, Long COVID, Medscape, ScienceS HoOctober 30, 2024Vaccines, Universal Vaccines, mRNA, Public Health, Pan-Coronavirus, saRNA, sa-mRNAComment

MDs' One-Word Summary of Long COVID Progress: 'Frustration'

Researchers and clinicians now have a greater understanding of what health agencies formally call post-COVID condition, but the wide spectrum of symptoms, slow progress in launching pharmacologic clinical trials, and the research toward understanding the underlying causes mean standardized diagnostic tests and definitive treatments remain elusive. This piece follows a doctor and his patient as they navigate the complexities and challenges around long COVID. Read the full story on Medscape.

For Some MDs, Long COVID Burnout Is a New Reality

Dhaval Desai is one of thousands of physicians across the United States who have experienced burnout and depression, exacerbated by the pandemic. After 4 years, the impact is still being felt. I spoke with Desai about his experiences, a journey he documented in his book, Burning Out on the Covid Front Lines. Read the full story here.

Long COVID Coverage

From reinfection risks to the leading hypotheses on the causes behind long COVID, learn more about this potentially debilitating condition in these stories written for WebMD.

Inside a Long COVID Clinic's Fight to Meet Crushing Patient Needs

Insufficient funding from state and federal health agencies towards long COVID has led to significant hurdles in patient care, especially for vulnerable and underserved communities, according to interviews and surveys with more than a dozen clinics, doctors, advocates, and patients. At the same time, a lack of training and education on long COVID within the broader medical community is also hurting patients. I explore these challenges through the experiences of one long COVID clinic at the University of Washington.

‘Snake Oil’ Fake Cures for Long COVID Leave Patients at Risk

From fad diets and vitamins to “blood washing” and stem cell therapy, long COVID patients are seeking out experimental therapies in a desperate bid to find hope and relief from debilitating symptoms. But doctors worry about the potential harm – both physical and financial – some of these unproven and overhyped treatments could cause.

NüVoices Podcast: The End of China’s Zero-Covid Policy with Dr. Jennifer Bouey

In this first episode of the NüVoices 2023 podcast season, I spoke with Dr. Jennifer Bouey, an epidemiologist and global health equity expert, to try and make sense of zero-Covid’s sudden end in China. She discusses the reasons behind China’s relatively low vaccination rate, the country’s decision not to import mRNA vaccines, and how Spring Festival travel could impact China’s public health policy.

And if you missed it, listen to our 2022 year-end recap episode as well with the NüVoices Podcast Team.

China, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health, NuVoices, Podcast, Politics, ScienceS HoJanuary 25, 2023Dr. Jennifer Bouey, Zero-COVID, Lunar New Year, Public Health, Vaccines, VaccinationComment

Long COVID Could Cost the Economy Trillions, Experts Predict

Staffing challenges across multiple industries have been attributed in part to the "great resignation" and in part because so many infected workers were out, especially during the Omicron waves. But increasingly, economists and health care professionals alike worry about long COVID's impact on employers and the broader economy.

WebMD, Medscape, Health, Economy, COVID-19, Coronavirus, Business, U.S.S HoOctober 24, 2022Long COVID, COVID-19, U.S. Economy, Employment, Disability InsuranceComment

CTVNews.ca: COVID-19 Pandemic Coverage

The COVID-19 pandemic is perhaps the most devastating global event since World War II, impacting billions of lives across at least 185 countries. More than 235 million cases have been confirmed and more than 4.8 million dead have been counted since January, but there is no question the real tally is significantly higher, and the human and economic cost unfathomnable.

CTVNews.ca, Canada, Health, World, COVID-19, Coronavirus, ScienceS HoSeptember 29, 2022Coronavirus, COVID-19

Can this surgery model help shorten wait times and provide better care?

Imagine having a potentially shorter wait time for surgery or having ready access to a second - or possibly third - opinion on your diagnosis. In many pockets of Canada’s vast and complex health-care system, physicians have worked effectively for years as a team under a “shared-care” model. Some surgeons are hoping this form of patient care can be widely adopted across surgical specialties, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Canada, COVID-19, CTVNews.ca, HealthS HoSeptember 29, 2022Team Care, Shared Care, Surgeons, Surgery, Surgical Backlogs, Health Care, Single EntryComment

NüVoices Podcast: Food journalism & Taiwanese cuisine with Clarissa Wei

I speak with veteran food journalist Clarissa Wei in this episode of the NüVoices podcast. Now based in Taipei as a freelancer, Clarissa’s forthcoming book, Made in Taiwan: Recipes From The Island Nation, is expected for release in 2023. In this episode, Clarissa talks about how she first got into food journalism, finding stories while backpacking in China, and her passion for elevating Taiwanese stories for international audiences.

COVID-19, China, Travel, World, NuVoices, Taiwan, Food, PodcastS HoSeptember 22, 2022Clarissa Wei, Climate Cuisine, Taiwanese Cuisine, Chinese Food, Food JournalismComment

Pandemic anniversary

For the second anniversary of the pandemic, I spoke with several doctors about the lessons learned and compiled a summary of essential COVID-19 facts and myths about the disease, masks, and vaccines for CTVNews.ca.

Canada, Coronavirus, COVID-19, CTVNews.ca, Health, ScienceS HoMarch 11, 2022Health Care, Public Health, Pandemic, Fact Check, Disinformation, Misinformation, Isaac Bogoch, MasksComment

Yes, millions of people are living a relatively normal, coronavirus-free life

Anything resembling "normal" may seem unfathomable as the number of COVID-19 cases worldwide dash past 80 million and Canada grapples with a second wave that far surpasses what it experienced in the spring.

It is a term that feels wildly out of place in 2020, but in some parts of the world where the virus has been all but eradicated, like Taiwan and Australia, life is about as close to "normal" as one can imagine during a global pandemic.

Canada, Coronavirus, COVID-19, CTVNews.ca, Health, Economy, WorldS HoDecember 31, 2020COVID-19, Coronavirus, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Normal Life

How Airport Covid‑19 Testing Will Change Travel: Everything you need to know

In exchange for open borders and peace of mind while travelling, would you be willing to spend a little extra time at the airport to get a Covid‑19 test? In Canada, airport Covid‑19 testing pilot projects are underway to see whether these travel points of entry and exit make ideal gatekeepers for containing the pandemic: Can departure tests prevent infected travellers from boarding a flight and spreading the virus? Can arrival tests shorten mandatory quarantine periods?

Canada, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Health, EnRouteS HoDecember 18, 2020COVID-19, Coronavirus, Airport Testing, Rapid Testing

COVID-19 curves: Plotting the trajectories of every country

With more than a million cases and counting, COVID-19 has hit every continent except Antarctica. From Canada to South Korea, every country has responded differently - in some cases, quite significantly.

I teamed up with Jesse Tahirali, CTVNews.ca’s Digital Content Editor, to produce this interactive package to chart and compare the progression of jurisdictions that have reported more than 100 cases. I also highlighted a few countries and aggregated information on the measures they took and when to give some background and context.

CTVNews.ca, Canada, World, Health, COVID-19, CoronavirusS HoSeptember 1, 2020COVID-19, Coronavirus

Nobody died in these long-term care homes - what did they do right?

Since COVID-19 was first reported in Canada, the disease has spread quickly and silently through nursing homes, leaving in its wake a devastating death toll. Stories from worried family members and reports -- including a damning one by the Canadian Armed Forces — have shocked Canadians. However, amid the alarming numbers, are the lesser-known stories of nursing homes that did not face a crisis. I spoke with several operators to see what actions they took that put them on such different trajectories. I thought a lot about what went wrong, which made me also think about what went right elsewhere. So this is a part of that story.

Can you get COVID-19 through the ventilation in your home?

I wrote more words than I planned looking into whether you can get COVID-19 through the ventilation in your home/building, what happened in a Hong Kong apartment building/complex in 2003 and this year, what experts think, why there's no "short answer", and more.

CTVNews.ca, Health, World, COVID-19, Coronavirus, ScienceS HoMay 20, 2020Pandemic, Ventilation, HVAC, Aerosols, Indoor Air, SARS-CoV-2, SARS

Masks, donations, and online salsa classes: Canadians worry, cope amid coronavirus outbreak

From expats in China to those with family there, I spoke with a cross-section of Canadians and wrote about how the coronavirus outbreak has impacted their lives. Meanwhile, Canadians in China were also frustrated with the government’s lack of communication with its citizens in China.

CTVNews.ca, World, Canada, Health, COVID-19, CoronavirusGuest UserJanuary 31, 2020Coronavirus, Wuhan, China