3 feet, or 6? Study of Massachusetts schools finds reduced spacing between students can be safe in class
Researchers, including physicians from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, collected information from hundreds of Massachusetts school districts over 16 weeks to examine whether COVID-19 is more likely to be transmitted if students are seated closely together. The team found no substantial difference in the number of cases of COVID-19 among either students or staff in school districts that implemented a distancing policy of three feet versus six feet between students. (WCVB Channel 5, March 10, 2021)
Harvard’s hospitals have the COVID-19 vaccines. Distributing them equitably has been complicated
Peter Shorett of Beth Israel Lahey Health, and Leonor Fernandez, MD of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, discussed the patient and employee vaccination efforts focused on communities heavily impacted by COVID-19. Daniele D. Olvecszky, MD of BIDMC, also shared that physicians were encouraged to share photos of themselves getting the vaccine. (Harvard Crimson, March 10, 2021)
Boston doctors send letter to Biden administration urging action on global COVID-19 vaccine inequities
Doctors and infectious disease experts in Boston, including Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center physicians, are seeking to draw attention to global inequities around access to COVID-19 vaccines in a letter addressed to the Biden administration last week. (Boston.com, March 9, 2021)
Dr. Robin Colgrove on new CDC COVID-19 guidelines
Robin Colgrove, MD of Mount Auburn Hospital, answered questions about the CDC's latest guidelines for COVID-19 vaccines. (WCVB Channel 5, March 8, 2021)
As Massachusetts prepares for final phase of reopening, businesses warn recovery ‘is not going to be flicking a switch’
As Massachusetts prepares for the final phase of reopening, local employers who would benefit greatly from a post-pandemic economic recovery remain wary. Kevin Tabb, MD, President & CEO of Beth Israel Lahey Health, is cautiously optimistic that 2021 will be better than 2020, and is keenly aware of the impact the pandemic has had on the healthcare workforce and the importance of building resilience and addressing burnout. (Boston Globe, March 6, 2021)
Mass. residents find other paths to secure COVID-19 vaccine appointments
As Governor Baker redirects vaccine distribution to hospitals, hospital leaders say their new vaccination push includes hot lines, phone calls, emails, and texts to patients with links to sign up for a shot. Peter Shorett of Beth Israel Lahey Health, noted vaccine ramp-up at BILH begins next week and that the system has the ability to be vaccinating 14,000 patients a week for first dose appointments. (Boston Globe, March 5, 2021)
With masks on, three feet is just as safe as six feet apart in Massachusetts schools, researchers find
BIDMC physician-researchers led a study showing no significant differences in COVID-19 case rates between Massachusetts K-12 districts that implemented 3-feet versus 6-feet of physical distancing. Learn more about this study. (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, March 11, 2021)
Transcript: The path forward: Vaccines with Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky
In the Washington Post’s morning series “The Path Forward”, guest Alex Gorsky, the chief executive of Johnson & Johnson, sheds some light on some of the complicated vaccine questions. Gorsky noted he has never seen the level of partnership and collaboration that he observed over the last 13 months and highlighted the work with BIDMC as an example. (Washington Post, March 4, 2021)
A year into COVID, top health execs keep rivalry on the sidelines
Early in the COVID-19 health emergency, the sharing of resources and supplies among hospitals and health systems was critical in the pandemic fight. Speaking to the importance of collaboration, Kevin Tabb, MD, President & CEO of Beth Israel Lahey Health, noted how BILH shared ventilators with Boston Medical Center during the first surge, and more recently, received vaccines from another system, helping to prevent the cancellation of appointments. (Boston Business Journal, March 4, 2021)
How the pandemic has made staying sober even more difficult
Kevin Hill, MD and Mia Hazel, MD of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), shared data showing those with addictions are eight times more likely than those without to get COVID-19. They have found that increasing the frequency of virtual appointments has been essential for helping patients stay engaged in recovery treatment. (WBUR, March 3, 2021)
Should life change after you get your COVID-19 vaccination? Not really
In this article, three regional experts, including Peter Sebeny, MD of Anna Jaques Hospital, answered questions about the COVID-19 vaccine. (Wicked Local, March 3, 2021)
Plan to Ditch the Mask After Vaccination? Not So Fast.
Dan Barouch, MD, PhD of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), spoke to recently emerged data from the Johnson & Johnson trial where researchers looked for signs of infection in 3,000 participants up to 71 days after getting the single-dose vaccine. Risk of infection in that study seemed to fall by about 74 percent. (New York Times, March 3, 2021)