COVID-19 Health and Wellness Information |
Several recent studies have highlighted the importance of being up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccines. A study of omicron infections in Los Angeles published by the CDC found that unvaccinated people were three times more likely to have COVID-19 and 23 times more likely to be hospitalized. Another study using a mathematical model estimated that the vaccines prevented more than 14 million cases and more than a million hospitalizations, and saved more than 240,000 lives from Dec. 12, 2020, to June 30, 2021.
All of that information makes me so proud to report that we have a much higher vaccination rate than the county, state, and country. As of this week, 94% of all employees and 85% of students are vaccinated.
We also have focused on providing safe classroom environments and office settings, offered several testing options and vaccine clinics, and stressed the importance of masking.
Because of all this, I can say with certainty that we are keeping ‘Canes safe on campus.
Thank you to all who have made this possible. As always, I am here to answer any questions you may have.
Roy E. Weiss, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Medicine
Chair, Department of Medicine
Chief Medical Officer for COVID-19 |
ELEVATOR ETIQUETTEOne place where it is challenging to maintain physical distancing is in elevators. This is not a time to become complacent and return to packing them to reach your destination quicker. Instead, there are some things you can do to help protect yourself and others:
-
Wear a mask
-
Face forward
-
Don’t talk
-
Try not to sneeze or cough, but if you must, do so into your elbow and keep your mask on
-
Load in a checkerboard pattern to maximize spacing
-
Wait for the next elevator if it is already too crowded
Better yet—if you can, take the stairs!
VACCINE SAFETY IN CHILDRENEven though omicron is generally thought to be more “mild,” it is causing an increase in hospitalizations in children. According to the CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics, as of Feb. 3, there have been 37,824 hospitalizations in children since the start of the pandemic. However, a third of those have occurred since mid-December of 2021. Also, it’s important to remember that only 24 states report pediatric hospitalizations. All the others, including Florida, do not.
In comparison, according to a report by the CDC from Dec. 31, out of 8.1 million vaccinations in 5-11-year-olds, there were only 100 reports of “serious events.” These included 29 reports of fever, 21 reports of vomiting, and 11 verified reports of myocarditis. It’s important to note that the cases of myocarditis were seen mostly in adolescent boys, the cases were mild and all were resolved. While no parent wants to have their child experience those side effects, consider them in comparison to vastly higher hospitalization rates for a child who is not vaccinated.
TESTING AT HOME If you performed an at-home COVID test and got a negative result, there are certain things to consider. First, if you test too soon, you may get a false negative. Rapid antigen tests are not as sensitive as the PCR-RT tests, so they may fail to detect COVID-19 infection if you are asymptomatic or presymptomatic. This is why it is recommended that you don’t test until 3–5 days after exposure. Also, serial testing is the most accurate way to test at home, which means that if you get a negative test result, you should test again in 24 hours. You can also follow up with a PCR test either on campus or at a local pharmacy.
Another common issue with at-home tests is that even the faintest of lines indicate that you are positive. So, you should look very closely at the test results. The FDA has links to manufacturer instructions for all the approved tests.
Regardless, if you have close contact with someone who tested positive with COVID-19, you should be extra careful around others, even if you have a negative at-home test result. If you have an immunocompromised person in your household, you may consider wearing your mask at home.
GIVE BLOOD In January, the American Red Cross released a statement calling for everyone to donate blood and platelets. Due to a significant decrease in blood donations, there is a critical shortage even here in South Florida. Currently, the greatest needs are for O-positive and O-negative. So if you can give blood, please do so. Some locations like Publix are even giving out $20 gift cards to entice more people to donate. You can find out when and where by visiting the OneBlood website and typing in your zip code.
THE POWER OF LOVE As we prepare to mark Valentine’s Day, we must take a moment to recognize the power of love. Did you know that love and having a solid social network are associated with boosting your immune system? For instance, a two-year study performed at UCLA found that “women who fell in love had increased activity of genes involved in antiviral defenses, compared to when they began the study.” In another study in Pittsburgh, researchers squirted rhinovirus in people’s noses and found that those with more social reinforcement were less likely to catch a common cold.
Medical responses aside, as Mahatma Gandhi wrote, “Where there is love, there is life.” |
|
|
We will share more health and wellness news in the next edition. |
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
