Johnson & Johnson single-shot vaccine 85% effective against severe COVID-19 disease
Johnson & Johnson’s single-shot COVID-19 vaccine, currently in development as part of a partnership between Johnson & Johnson and a team led by Dan Barouch, MD, PhD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, was 66% effective at preventing symptomatic disease and 85% effective against preventing severe illness. The results put a third vaccine on the horizon in the U.S. – one that could simplify distribution and expand access to shots in the U.S. and worldwide. (ABC News, January 29, 2021)
Thousands of new COVID-19 vaccine appointments to open today
State officials plan to make 20,000 new appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine available on Thursday at Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium. BIDMC was contracted to provide medical oversight at the Fenway vaccination site. (WCVB Channel 5, January 28, 2021)
Mass. working to educate prisoners about getting the coronavirus vaccine
1,400 prisoners in Massachusetts have gotten the coronavirus vaccine, and officials are holding vaccine education programs to encourage more to do the same. Kathryn Stephenson, MD, MPH of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center is among those working on getting more information to prisoners to address their concerns. (WBUR, January 27, 2021)
Baker releases new details on vaccination timeline, locations for Mass. residents
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker detailed on Monday plans to have 103 public vaccination sites open by the end of the week. Suzanne Salamon, MD of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has been taking a lot of calls from patients who are curious about how and when they can get the vaccine and said the public vaccination sites will be a tremendous boost for people who live in independent housing and have been confined in their houses or their apartments. (NBC Boston 10, January 25, 2021)
Video: Infectious disease specialist on changes to Massachusetts COVID-19 vaccination plan
Robin Colgrove, MD of Mount Auburn Hospital discussed how prioritizing older residents for the vaccine is the right thing to do, but that the process remains complicated. (WCVB Channel 5, January 25, 2021)
Elon Musk’s foundation gives $5M to Beth Israel Lahey Health, Ragon Institute
Dan Barouch, MD, PhD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Dr. Galit Alter of the Ragon Institute, have been given a $5 million gift from The Musk Foundation to study the fundamental inner-workings to the novel coronavirus as well as two yet-to-be-decided diseases. (Boston Business Journal, January 19, 2021)
More contagious COVID-19 strain found in Mass.
Rob Duncan, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, explains how the new coronavirus strain could impact New England. (WCVB Channel 5, January 18, 2021)
New mRNA technique used on COVID-19 vaccine may lead to flu, HIV vaccinations
Alexa Kimball, MD, MPH, President & CEO of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, said people have recognized the possible utility of mRNA for years, but COVID rapidly advanced this research. (Healthline, January 17, 2021)
A Beth Israel researcher helped create a COVID-19 vaccine that awaits approval. It could be a ‘Game Changer’
In this page-one story, Dan Barouch, MD, PhD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, spoke about his experience of developing a vaccine during a pandemic and how he is cautiously optimistic about Johnson & Johnson’s one-shot vaccine. (Boston Globe, January 16, 2021)
Air travelers to U.S. must test negative for COVID-19 before boarding
Lin Chen, MD, of Mount Auburn Hospital, spoke to the new CDC policy, which requires passengers to test negative for COVID-19 within three days of their flight to the U.S., and how other countries around the world have higher level restrictions for travelers. (NPR, January 13, 2021)
Johnson & Johnson expects vaccine results soon but lags in production
Johnson & Johnson expects to release critical results from its COVID-19 vaccine trial in two weeks but most likely won’t be able to provide as many doses as expected this spring due to unanticipated manufacturing delays. Dan Barouch, MD, PhD, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, referenced how simpler logistics behind the vaccination campaigns result in a more successful program. (New York Times, January 13, 2021)
Spikes in cardiovascular deaths shown to be an indirect cost of COVID-19 pandemic
According to BIDMC’s Smith Center, cardiovascular deaths spiked during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Learn more about the study results. (Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, January 11, 2021)