Public Health On Call
851 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 days ago - ★★★★★ - 559 ratingsEvidence and experts to help you understand today’s public health news—and what it means for tomorrow.
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Episodes
236 - Rethinking the US COVID-19 Response
January 20, 2021 11:00 - 32 minutes - 58.9 MBToday’s episode is audio from a webcast recorded last week with two members of President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board. In a conversation moderated by Global Health NOW’s Brian Simpson, infectious disease and epidemiology expert Dr. Celine Gounder and public health policy expert Loyce Pace talk about the challenges the new administration faces coming into the COVID-19 crisis with millions of cases and hundreds of thousands of deaths, a significant number of Americans who deny the sever...
235 - COVID-19 and Senior Housing
January 19, 2021 11:00 - 17 minutes - 39.2 MBThere are more than two million federally-subsidized apartments, units, and homes designated for senior housing. These communities, which tend to serve lower-income racial and ethnic minorities, have unique opportunities and challenges compared to assisted living and nursing care facilities and have been largely overlooked in the COVID-19 response. Juliana Bilowich, director of Housing Operations and Policy at Leading Age, and Shanna Dell, the lead infection control adviser on the outbreak t...
234 - State Health Departments and Vaccine Distribution Challenges
January 15, 2021 11:00 - 15 minutes - 28.6 MBWhat accounts for the sluggish rollout of COVID-19 vaccines? Dr. Michael Fraser, executive director of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the challenges states are facing with vaccine distribution, what’s working and not working well so far, and why there are reasons for hope in the coming months.
233 - Why There Are Fewer COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Cantabria, Spain Than the Rest of the Country
January 14, 2021 11:00 - 15 minutes - 28.8 MBUrban areas in Spain have been hard hit by COVID, but the rural northern state of Cantabria has fared much better thanks to a strong public health approach. Dr. Paloma Navas, former director general for public health in the region, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the area’s hard-won successes in lower case counts and deaths.
232 - The COVID-19 Variants Explained
January 13, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 27.3 MBWhat caused the variants seen in the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the UK and elsewhere? Why is the UK variant more contagious? Is it more lethal? Will the current vaccines still work against these variants? Is there anything we should be doing differently to protect ourselves? Expert virologist Dr. Andy Pekosz talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how the virus that causes COVID-19 is changing, and what it means for 2021.
231 - COVID-19 and Low-Income, Undocumented Latino Immigrants
January 12, 2021 11:00 - 18 minutes - 33.8 MBThe Latino immigrant community has been hard hit by COVID—in Baltimore, there are sustained positivity rates of up to 30%. Dr. Kathleen Page, medical director of the Johns Hopkins The Access Partnership, talks with Stephanie Desmon about how undocumented and low-income immigrants are caught in a “perfect storm” with conditions for lots of transmission and few ways to seek help. They also talk about how unchecked transmission anywhere means the pandemic will continue to rage, and the culture ...
230 - COVID-19 Vaccines and the Opportunity to Build Trust Between Health Care Institutions and the Black Community
January 11, 2021 11:00 - 16 minutes - 30.4 MBHelping members of the Black community get the information they need in order to trust COVID-19 vaccines is a daunting task. But it’s also an opportunity to invest in the health and wellbeing of Black people. Rev. Dr. Terris King, pastor of Liberty Grace Church of God in Baltimore and former Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services minority health director, and Hopkins immunization policy expert Lois Privor-Dumm, talk with Stephanie Desmon about the opportunities the pandemic has brought fo...
229 COVID-19 Vaccines Q&A: The Two-Dose Strategy, Speeding up Rollouts, and Very Normal Side Effects
January 08, 2021 11:00 - 15 minutes - 35.7 MBWith a shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, is it a good idea to give people just one dose now and a second dose later when there is more available? How can the process of rolling out vaccines be sped up? What do we know about potential side effects? Which vaccine should I get? Immunologist Dr. Gigi Gronvall from the Center for Health Security talks with Stephanie Desmon to answer these questions and more about COVID-19 vaccines.
228 - Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel on Massachusetts’ Unique Approach to COVID-19 Vaccine Rollouts
January 07, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 34 MBStates are rolling out COVID-19 vaccines to “high risk groups” but there’s a lot of nuance in how “high risk” is defined. Dr. Monica Bharel, health commissioner of Massachusetts, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the state’s unique approach, which includes prioritizing communities impacted by institutional racism and those with disproportionately high numbers of COVID infections. Dr. Bharel also talks about what the state is doing to go beyond just making the vaccine available to support ...
227 Psychological Distress Among Latinos During COVID-19
January 06, 2021 12:00 - 20 minutes - 38.2 MBCOVID-19 is having dangerous impacts on mental health in the US with more than 14% of all adults meeting the criteria for serious psychological distress. These numbers are even higher among Latinos with more than 19% of adults experiencing distress. Dr. Margarita Alegria, chief of the Disparities Research Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital, and Hopkins mental health and policy researcher Dr. Beth McGinty talk with guest host Dr. Colleen Barry about mental health and wellbeing nine months...
226 - COVID-19 in Assisted Living Facilities and the Special Challenges with Alzheimer’s Disease
January 05, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 34.5 MBAssisted living facilities are small, congregate settings that make infection control measures harder to implement. These facilities also care for a large proportion of residents with Alzheimer’s disease—a challenge for enforcing guidance like mask wearing, hand washing, and social distancing. Dr. Morgan Katz, a Hopkins geriatrician and infectious disease specialist, and Shanna Dell, lead infection control adviser on the outbreak team of the Baltimore City Health Department talk with Dr. Jos...
225 - The Challenges With Communicating COVID-19 Prevention Measures
January 04, 2021 11:00 - 14 minutes - 27 MBCommunicating evidence-based COVID-19 prevention measures like mask-wearing and hand washing has been a challenge. What’s further complicated buy-in are public health officials and politicians creating policies that are not backed in science like closing parks in Spain or banning the sale of open-toed shoes in South Africa. Science journalist Roxanne Khamsi talks with Stephanie Desmon about the harm of imposing policies that aren’t evidence-based. They also discuss the consequences of trying...
BONUS: Backstage at Public Health On Call
December 18, 2020 12:00 - 29 minutes - 67.9 MBWhat goes into Public Health On Call? Had you ever hosted a podcast before? Who would you most want to interview? Have there been any "oops" moments? Public Health On Call, which has been downloaded more than 3 million times since March, receives a lot of questions from our dedicated listeners. For this special bonus episode—and our last of 2020—producer Lindsay Smith Rogers asks co-hosts Josh Sharfstein and Stephanie Desmon questions from our curious listeners.
224 - COVID-19 Q&A featuring Drs. Josh Sharfstein and Caitlin Rivers
December 18, 2020 11:00 - 17 minutes - 32.6 MBWhy do COVID-19 vaccines require two doses? Will I still have to wear a mask and social distance once I get the vaccine? If my friends and I had COVID, can we get together for the holidays? Are people who wear a face covering with their nose exposed at higher risk of getting COVID? Dr. Josh Sharfstein and Dr. Caitlin Rivers answered frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and vaccines sent to [email protected].
223 Dr. Michael Osterholm on Rising Cases, Vaccine Rollouts, and Getting Through What is Both “The Best and Worst of Times” in the COVID-19 Pandemic
December 17, 2020 11:00 - 18 minutes - 34.2 MBWhile there’s light at the end of the tunnel with the first COVID vaccines being administered to US health care workers, the next few months will be difficult in terms of sickness and loss of life. Dr. Michael Osterholm, an infectious disease expert and part of President-Elect Biden’s COVID-19 Advisory Board, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the critical place we’re in now, the sacrifices necessary for this “COVID Christmas,” and ways to safely get as many people as possible to a time with ...
222 - Overdose and the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Harm Reduction Movement
December 16, 2020 11:00 - 39 minutes - 91 MBAs part of a periodic series on overdose and the pandemic, guest host Susan Sherman speaks with Monique Tula, executive director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition, and Louise Vincent, executive director of the North Carolina Survivor’s Union about the role of harm reduction in both the COVID and overdose crises. In an extended conversation, Tula and Vincent talk about harm reduction as a strategy for reducing suffering among people who use drugs, centering health and dignity in servic...
221 - Why COVID-19 Cases in Africa Are Much Lower Than Expected
December 15, 2020 11:00 - 12 minutes - 23.5 MBThanks to an early warning system that was put in place for Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks, countries across Africa acted swiftly to respond to COVID-19—actions that have resulted in many fewer cases and deaths than in other parts of the world. Tolbert Nyenswah, former Deputy Minister of Health for Liberia, talks with Stephanie Desmon about Africa’s experience during the pandemic.
221 - Why COVID-19 Cases in Africa Are Much Lower Than Expected221 - Why COVID-19 Cases in Africa Are Much Lower Than Expected
December 15, 2020 11:00 - 12 minutes - 23.5 MBThanks to an early warning system that was put in place for Ebola and other infectious disease outbreaks, countries across Africa acted swiftly to respond to COVID-19—actions that have resulted in many fewer cases and deaths than in other parts of the world. Tolbert Nyenswah, former Deputy Minister of Health for Liberia, talks with Stephanie Desmon about Africa’s experience during the pandemic.
220 - Overdose and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Breaking Through Bureaucracy With High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
December 11, 2020 21:22 - 22 minutes - 40.7 MBAs part of a periodic series on overdose and the pandemic, guest host Susan Sherman speaks with Chauncey Parker, director of the New York/New Jersey High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. HIDTA is a federally funded program that invests in public safety and public health partnerships designed to “bring everyone to the table” in unique collaborations that help facilitate better policy and data collection. Parker also talks about how COVID-19 has—and hasn’t—impacted the drug market in New York.
BONUS: Public Health On Call—Season 3 Trailer
December 11, 2020 13:30 - 1 minute - 3.12 MBThe Public Health On Call podcast is wrapping up Season Two with our final episode on December 18. We’ll return for Season Three on January 4 with more evidence and experts to help unpack the days COVID-19 and public health news. Listen here for more on what’s to come.
219 - What Went Wrong? The CDC and COVID-19
December 11, 2020 11:00 - 12 minutes - 28.5 MBThe CDC has been hailed as the world’s leading public health agency, but throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—a time when the agency should have been leading the charge—its responses have fallen short of expectations. Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska and a former top CDC official, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what went wrong despite decades of preparation. Dr. Khan also shares what needs to happen for the agency to regain credibility and me...
219 What Went Wrong? The CDC and COVID-19
December 11, 2020 11:00 - 12 minutes - 28.5 MBThe CDC has been hailed as the world’s leading public health agency, but throughout the COVID-19 pandemic—a time when the agency should have been leading the charge—its responses have fallen short of expectations. Dr. Ali Khan, dean of the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska and a former top CDC official, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what went wrong despite decades of preparation. Dr. Khan also shares what needs to happen for the agency to regain credibility and me...
218 - The Health Impacts of Climate Change
December 10, 2020 11:00 - 14 minutes - 33 MBThe health impacts of climate change can be severe: asthma attacks triggered by mold from flooding, infectious diseases spread by mosquitoes which thrive in warmer and wetter climates, and violent conflict over dwindling clean water sources. Dr. Megan Latshaw talks with Stephanie Desmon about a new report card grading states on how well they are prepared to protect people from health effects linked with climate change, showing which states are most vulnerable and how a coordinated national r...
217 - How Youth Serving Organizations Can Prevent Child Sexual Abuse
December 09, 2020 11:00 - 16 minutes - 30.9 MBElizabeth Letourneau, director of the Moore Center for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, talks with Stephanie Desmon about a groundbreaking new report to help youth serving organizations prevent child sexual abuse. For more information, visit https://americanhealth.jhu.edu/youth-serving-organizations
216 - Economist Dr. Emily Oster on COVID-19 and Schools
December 08, 2020 11:00 - 17 minutes - 32.8 MBAlthough there’s enough data to show that K-12 schools are not driving COVID-19 transmission, many are still closed even though bars, restaurants, and gyms are open. Brown economist Dr. Emily Oster returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about the latest data on schools and COVID-19, why many places haven’t prioritized reopening schools, and what might get us out of this situation.
BONUS: Overdose and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Dr. Chinazo Cunningham and the Challenges of Providing Patient-Centered Treatment During the Pandemic
December 07, 2020 13:00 - 14 minutes - 26.8 MBTreatment for opioid use disorder can be highly effective in preventing overdoses, but only if it’s easily accessible. Last spring, Dr. Chinazo Cunningham’s health clinic in the South Bronx found itself in the “epicenter of the epicenter” of the COVID-19 outbreak that devastated New York. Dr. Cunningham talks with guest host Brendan Saloner about how the clinic adapted to continue providing patient-centered care during shutdowns, the uptick in overdoses in 2020 that predated the pandemic, an...
215 - Considering Holiday Travel During COVID-19
December 07, 2020 11:30 - 13 minutes - 25.3 MBWith COVID-19 cases on the rise, the CDC and other health authorities are urging people to avoid nonessential travel in the coming weeks. But there are also concerns about the physical and emotional health of those who may be isolated during the pandemic, and some may be determined to travel to see a loved one face to face no matter what. Epidemiologist Keri Althoff and mental health expert Elizabeth Stuart talk with Stephanie Desmon about the logistics of pandemic travel, quarantine and tes...
215 Considering Holiday Travel During COVID-19
December 07, 2020 11:30 - 13 minutes - 25.3 MBWith COVID-19 cases on the rise, the CDC and other health authorities are urging people to avoid nonessential travel in the coming weeks. But there are also concerns about the physical and emotional health of those who may be isolated during the pandemic, and some may be determined to travel to see a loved one face to face no matter what. Epidemiologist Keri Althoff and mental health expert Elizabeth Stuart talk with Stephanie Desmon about the logistics of pandemic travel, quarantine and tes...
214 - The Ongoing Process of Determining COVID-19 Vaccines Safety
December 04, 2020 11:00 - 14 minutes - 34.4 MBWhile clinical trials are a “gold standard” to indicate if a vaccine’s benefits outweigh its risks, safety monitoring doesn’t stop there. Dr. Daniel Salmon, director of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Vaccine Safety, helped lead federal efforts to monitor the H1N1 vaccine’s safety once it became widely used in 2009. Dr. Salmon talks with Stephanie Desmon about what goes into monitoring a vaccine for safety, identifying coincidental vs. uncommon effects, and what the public needs to know to e...
213 - The New Technology Behind COVID-19 RNA Vaccines and What This Means for Future Outbreaks
December 03, 2020 11:00 - 15 minutes - 28.7 MBAfter a decade of work, COVID-19 vaccines are the first RNA vaccines to be put through the paces of clinical trials. But what sets RNA vaccine technology apart from more traditional methods and how might this new platform be used going forward? Hopkins immunologist Dr. Diane Griffin talks with Stephanie Desmon about RNA vaccines, what they are and why they’re different, complications that still need to be worked out, and how this groundbreaking new platform could help vaccinate us against fu...
212 - Racism As a Public Health Crisis: Black Men’s Health
December 02, 2020 11:00 - 22 minutes - 40.6 MBAs part of the continuation of the series on racism as a public health crisis, Dr. Keshia Pollack Porter talks with Hopkins professor Dr. Roland J. Thorpe, Jr., and Dr. Marino A. Bruce, faculty at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, about the impacts of racism on black men’s health. They discuss what stands in the way of basic care for many black men to have a good quality of life and their focus is not only on making sure black men survive, but also thrive.
211 - Philadelphia Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley on Targeted COVID-19 Restrictions
December 01, 2020 11:00 - 12 minutes - 22.5 MBPrior to Thanksgiving, the city of Philadelphia announced new COVID-19 restrictions to last for six weeks until January 1—some of the strictest recommendations the country has seen since the spring. Health commissioner Dr. Thomas Farley talks with Stephanie Desmon about these targeted restrictions the city hopes will prevent the current surge from overwhelming hospitals or killing large numbers of people, what contact tracing data are saying about how and where most people are getting infect...
210 - Overdose and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Obama’s Drug Czar Michael Botticelli on America’s Opioid Epidemic
November 30, 2020 11:00 - 22 minutes - 41.2 MBThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of opioid overdose have increased dramatically but this is only due in part to disruption of services and increased isolation. Michael Botticelli, former head of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the Obama administration and 32 years into his own recovery, talks with guest host Brendan Saloner about how America’s opioid epidemic was already on a terrible trajectory prior to the pandemic, policy solutions to address overdose, the importance ...
209 - COVID-19 Transportation Safety: Holiday and Everyday Travel, Autonomous Vehicles, and Preparing for Future Pandemics
November 25, 2020 11:00 - 15 minutes - 29.3 MBHow can people think about safety for holiday travel during the COVID-19 pandemic? Are some means of transport safer than others? What about safety during day-to-day transportation on school buses and trains? Dr. Mark Rosekind, a former administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and a Distinguished Policy Scholar at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health talks with guest host Dr. Colleen Barry about these and other questions of road safety during this a...
BONUS - ICU Nurse Lacie Gooch on Nebraska’s Horrific Outbreak and a Desperate Plea to “Take COVID Seriously” Ahead of the Holidays
November 24, 2020 12:00 - 10 minutes - 24.1 MBLast week, Nebraska ICU nurse Lacie Gooch recorded a video of herself after a long shift talking about the overwhelming number of people dying in hospitals from COVID-19. In a bonus episode of the podcast, Gooch talks with Stephanie Desmon about the viral video, and why frontline health care workers are taking to social media to describe the desperate situation and to beg people to wear masks and social distance, especially ahead of the holidays. Gooch also talks about how the overwhelming r...
208 - The Opioid Epidemic: What’s Next With Purdue Pharma’s $8.3 Billion Settlement and How COVID-19 is Intensifying The Public Health Crisis
November 24, 2020 11:00 - 15 minutes - 27.8 MBLast week, a judge approved the $8.3 billion settlement between the Department of Justice and OxyContin manufacturer Purdue Pharma. Hopkins opioids researcher Dr. Caleb Alexander talks with Stephanie Desmon about expected fallout from the settlement as well as how the COVID-19 pandemic is exacerbating the crisis by disrupting drug markets, shuttering treatment centers, and reducing the chances of Naloxone administration in overdose emergencies.
207 - The Center for Communication Programs and COVID-19 Messaging From Around the World
November 23, 2020 11:00 - 14 minutes - 32.9 MBThe Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs has worked for more than 30 years on health communication in at least 60 countries for issues like breastfeeding, HIV, and family planning. This experience meant they were well positioned to work with partners around the globe on messaging for COVID-19 prevention. Deputy director and COVID team leader Alice Payne Merritt talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about crafting COVID messages for different countries and breaks down the details with som...
206 - Friday Q&A With Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo From the Center for Health Security
November 20, 2020 11:00 - 9 minutes - 17.9 MBIf I test positive for COVID-19, could my name and phone number be reported to the health department? How does closing bars at 10pm help? How will we know if COVID-19 vaccines work for children? My roommate and I have both tested positive—can we be in the same house together? Do I still have to wear a mask if I’ve recovered from COVID? Does mouthwash help prevent COVID? Dr. Jennifer Nuzzo from the Center for Health Security and Dr. Josh Sharfstein discuss troubling trends and solutions for...
205 - Racism As a Public Health Crisis: Environmental Injustice
November 19, 2020 11:00 - 17 minutes - 32.9 MBPollution and racism go hand in hand: low-income, predominantly non-white communities with less capital and political power become dumping zones for hazardous waste and other toxic environmental exposures. As part of an ongoing series on structural racism and public health, Keshia Pollack Porter dives into the topic of environmental injustice with Hopkins environmental epidemiologist Dr. Aisha Dickerson and EPA Environmental Health Fellow Dr. Dana Williamson.
BONUS - National Injury Prevention Day
November 18, 2020 12:00 - 15 minutes - 28.8 MBNovember 18 is the first National Injury Prevention Day. Injuries like burns, falls, and poisonings are the leading cause of death in the US for children over the age of 1 and most are preventable. Prevention experts Dr. Barbara Barlow, founder of a national coalition to prevent childhood injuries, Injury Free Coalition of Kids, and Eileen McDonald, director of Baltimore’s local coalition, talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about awareness of pediatric injury issues, the history of initiatives, ...
204 - Denmark’s Mink Situation and an Update on Pets and COVID-19
November 18, 2020 11:00 - 15 minutes - 28.2 MBDenmark, one of world’s leading pelt producers, is culling all of its farmed mink after evidence that a different variant of SARS-CoV-2 might be circulating among the animals. Veterinary expert Dr. Meghan Davis returns to the podcast to talk with Stephanie Desmon about whether or not mink pose a danger to humans, what the news means for disease surveillance, and an update on household pets and COVID-19.
203 - Can COVID-19 Vaccines Be Mandatory in the US and Who Decides?
November 17, 2020 11:00 - 16 minutes - 30.6 MBOnce COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, could they be made mandatory and, if so, what entities could enforce this? Legal and public health expert Joanne Rosen talks with Stephanie Desmon about the legislative precedent for mandatory vaccinations that dates all the way back to a 1905 Supreme Court case after a smallpox outbreak in Massachusetts. They also discuss other strategies states could consider to achieve widespread vaccination for COVID-19.
202 - Kaiser’s Chief Health Officer Dr. Bechara Choucair On COVID-19 Response
November 16, 2020 11:00 - 17 minutes - 39.5 MBKaiser Permanente, the largest not-for-profit health system in the US, has mobilized in response to COVID-19. Senior vice president and chief health officer Dr. Bechara Choucair talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about coaching for patients who test positive, contact tracing partnerships with local health departments, and a focus on addressing patients’ social needs like rent and food so they can isolate and quarantine safely.
BONUS - Dr. Josh Sharfstein on Pfizer’s Vaccine and Next Steps
November 13, 2020 12:00 - 12 minutes - 29.4 MBThis week, Pfizer reported some encouraging early results from Phase III of it’s COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials. Dr. Josh Sharfstein talks with Stephanie Desmon about what might happen next, when we could see the first doses of vaccines available, and how we should continue vigilance with masks, distancing, and handwashing while waiting for widespread vaccination to bring the pandemic to a heel.
201 - Overdispersion of COVID-19: Why A Small Percentage of People May Be Responsible for the Majority of Transmission
November 13, 2020 11:00 - 11 minutes - 16.4 MBHigh profile instances show up in the news as “super spreader” events, but there’s evidence that the phenomenon of “overdispersion” could be much more common. Infectious disease epidemiologist Dr. Justin Lessler and doctoral student Kyra Grantz talk with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the biological and social contributors to overdispersion, and what it could mean for public health strategy.
BONUS - World Pneumonia Day
November 12, 2020 15:10 - 11 minutes - 21.6 MBPneumonia is the leading killer of children under 5 around the world with most deaths in low- and middle-income countries. But it’s not just a problem of developing countries: pneumonia is also the most common reason for hospitalization of children in the US. In recognition of World Pneumonia Day, pediatric infectious disease specialist Dr. Anita Shet and Leith Greenslade, coordinator of the Every Breath Counts Coalition talk with Stephanie Desmon about World Pneumonia Day, how COVID-19 is i...
200 - The Logistics and Ethics of Distributing COVID-19 Vaccines
November 12, 2020 11:00 - 15 minutes - 28.9 MBWe’re closer to safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines, but what will the actual rollout look like? Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel, a bioethicist and health policy expert recently appointed to President-elect Joe Biden’s coronavirus task force, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the challenges in distributing a vaccine in the US. They discuss which groups might get access first, logistical challenges including cold chain and glass supply concerns, and the steps needed between concluding clinical trials and a...
199 - What We Can Learn From The Success of the NBA’s COVID-19 Bubble
November 11, 2020 11:00 - 15 minutes - 21.3 MBAfter the National Basketball Association shut down on March 11, the league was able to resume play and complete both its season and postseason without interruption from COVID-19 from the safety of “the bubble.” Pete Meisel, the NBA’s senior manager for player health and an alumnus of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about what went into the bubble, how they maintained the players’ physical and mental health and safety, and what we can learn...
198 - Why Women Are Dropping Out of the Workforce During COVID-19 and What the Long-term Impacts May Be
November 10, 2020 11:00 - 17 minutes - 31.3 MBA disproportionate number of women in the U.S. appear to be “dropping out” of the workforce during the pandemic, presumably to care for children or because they are more likely to have jobs that cannot be done remotely. Stefania Albanesi, an economist at the University of Pittsburgh who studies women in the workforce, talks with Stephanie Desmon about this phenomenon and what it could mean long-term for both their careers and the economy.
197 - What We’ve Learned About How COVID-19 Spreads
November 09, 2020 11:00 - 14 minutes - 33.7 MBBefore the pandemic, we didn’t know as much about how infectious respiratory diseases spread. New knowledge about COVID-19 can help us make informed decisions about risks but it has also led to mixed messages. Hopkins environmental epidemiologist Dr. Tom Burke and dean of the University of Colorado School of Public Health Dr. Jon Samet talk with Stephanie Desmon about a panel they recently led on airborne transmission of COVID-19. They talk about everything we’ve learned about how COVID spre...