Infection Control
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Inadequate Staffing Caused Nurse Burnout Before Pandemic
Nurses already experienced high levels of burnout before the pandemic, primarily because of chronic understaffing. A regression to the mean in the coronavirus aftermath would greatly hurt the profession and the patients they protect. -
Fauci: Vaccine Booster Should Spark Strong Immune Response
Healthcare workers are expected to be a priority for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots this fall, providing more protection against the highly transmissible delta variant and likely reducing breakthrough infections. -
FDA Approval of Pfizer Shot Opens Floodgates for Mandates
Many hospitals and healthcare facilities are expected to mandate COVID-19 vaccination for employees now that the FDA has removed the emergency use authorization label and fully licensed the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. It is expected the full licensure will now encourage vaccine mandates and requirements beyond healthcare settings. -
Jury Still Out on Convalescent Plasma
One year after the FDA issued an emergency use authorization, investigators are struggling to draw firm conclusions about the efficacy of this solution against COVID-19.
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Survey: More Education Could Boost COVID-19 Vaccination Rates Among Youth
Adolescents and their parents are interested in taking the COVID-19 vaccine; more education and other developments could sway even more, according to the results of a survey. Respondents indicated more information on safety and efficacy for adolescents was one of the top factors that would increase the likelihood of taking the vaccine. They also said primary care providers and health officials were their most trusted sources for vaccine information. -
Complicated Ethics of Adolescent Children Self-Consenting for Vaccines
Parental rights issues often are asserted, but at the same time, society has a stake in protecting children from harm, including medical neglect. -
OSHA Extends Comment Period, but Does Not Delay Emergency Temporary Standard
After receiving numerous comments requesting the action, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration extended the comment period for its COVID-19 healthcare emergency temporary standard to Aug. 20. -
COVID-19 No Worse Than Flu? Tell It to the 600,000 Dead
Many might recall that early in the outbreak, pandemic denialists — who continue to this day — frequently said COVID-19 was no worse than seasonal influenza. More than 600,000 Americans would beg to differ, if they could speak. As part of an argument for healthcare workers to take the vaccine, a physician noted in a recently published paper the mortality rate for influenza is estimated to be 1 in 1,000, whereas for SARS-CoV-2 is closer to 1 in 100 to 250. -
Delta Variant a Game-Changer for COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates
With the delta variant now causing 80% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, vaccine mandates for healthcare workers have become a foregone conclusion. At a recent press conference, the CDC recommended the vaccinated return to wearing masks indoors because of the variant. -
Clinicians at Johns Hopkins Create Artful Collaboration
Among many other things, music is a way to process pain. In a similar vein, poetry has been seen as healing and therapeutic for ages. Music and poetry together can speak to the human spirit, even when it is beaten down by a relentless pandemic. At Johns Hopkins Hospital, two colleagues created a collaboration that forged the two arts into a message of resilience and hope.