COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information |
So far, COVID-19 case rates continue to trend downward in Miami-Dade County and the state of Florida, which is great news.
As more people get vaccinated, we are able to adapt our policies in response. Earlier today we announced an end to the outdoor mask mandate on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses, though we continue to recommend outdoor mask use in large groups. This would not be possible without people like you who have remained committed to doing what is necessary to keep each other safe. This includes continuing to wear masks when indoors on all campuses, including in classrooms. With that in mind, we remind everyone to avoid eating or drinking in classrooms where you would have to remove your mask.
Faculty, staff, and students on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses who think they are exhibiting symptoms consistent with COVID-19 should contact the University's COVID-19 hotline at 305-243-ONE-U. Members of the Medical Campus should contact 305-243-8378.
Remember, stay safe and stay well. And, as always, I am here for any questions or concerns.
Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19 |
UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITIONSLast week’s booster recommendations from the FDA and CDC included adults aged 18 to 64 who have an underlying medical condition that puts them at risk of severe COVID-19 illness and if it has been more than six months since they had their second Pfizer mRNA shot. Here are some examples of what that includes: diabetes, chronic kidney disease, obesity, pregnancy, cancer, chronic lung disease.
However, an important distinction that the agencies made is that those aged 50 to 64 are at higher risk. So, specifically, they say that those aged 50 to 64 with an underlying medical condition should get a booster and that those 18 to 49 may get a booster. Regardless, the best way to know if you should get a booster is by talking to your physician.
WANING IMMUNITY The primary reason for recommending a booster shot is that some research data suggests that the protection offered by the COVID-19 vaccines lessens over time. This is what is referred to as “waning immunity,” which does not in any way indicate the vaccines don’t work.
Other vaccines also have waning immunity, such as the pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus vaccines. This is why these are recommended every 10 years.
ORIGINS OF COVID-19 Almost two years later, the exact origin of COVID-19 is still a mystery. Much of the research has concluded that the primary source was horseshoe bats. However, most coronaviruses have used an intermediate host before spreading to humans. For instance, researchers suspect that the intermediate host in the 2012 MERS-CoV epidemic was the dromedary camel.
A recent study written about in Nature makes another interesting hypothesis—that the SARS-CoV-2 virus jumped from animal to human twice before taking hold and spreading across the globe.
BAT APPRECIATION MONTHIn talking about the origins of COVID-19, it is important not to transfer our frustrations onto an innocent animal. That is why I was delighted to find out that October is Bat Appreciation Month—no surprise as we mark Halloween. Unfortunately, these creatures have been hunted and killed in several countries due to fear because of the pandemic. So, to help fight this stigma, here are some interesting facts about Chiroptera:
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There are more than 1,400 bat species, but at least 13 are endangered
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Avacados, mangoes, and bananas depend on bats for pollination
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Bats eat their weight in bugs every night, so many farmers use them to control pests
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80 medicines come from plants that depend on bats for survival
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Bats have bellybuttons (but, so do most mammals)
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We will share more health and wellness news in the next edition. |
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COVID-19 RESOURCES
Students, faculty, and staff on the Coral Gables and Marine campuses who are experiencing possible symptoms consistent with, or who have been potentially exposed to, COVID-19 should contact the University's COVID-19 hotline at 305-243-ONE-U, where UHealth physicians and providers are available to answer your questions and provide telemedicine services if needed.
Members of the Medical Campus should contact 305-243-8378.
For additional University of Miami COVID-19 information and resources, visit coronavirus.miami.edu.
If you are a student in distress or need counseling services, the Counseling Center provides mental health services through HIPAA-compliant teleconferencing platforms. Counselors are certified and available to help any time by calling 305-284-5511. Additional resources are also available by visiting counseling.studentaffairs.miami.edu.
If you are a faculty or staff members in need of support visit fsap.miami.edu. |
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