At this point in the COVID-19 pandemic, you may be feeling a bit confused or hazy when it comes to all pandemic-related terminology. Our collective understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 virus—and the COVID-19 illness that it causes—has grown tremendously over the past eighteen months. Everyone has endured a steep learning curve when it comes to our mastery of virology and pandemic behavior. However, not all of the terms that we have become so accustomed to hearing mean the same thing. This is particularly true when it comes to the terms “isolation” and “quarantine.” Knowing the difference between...

If you’re confused about whether you should get the COVID-19 booster shot, you’re not alone. As soon as the first booster vaccine was granted emergency use authorization (EUA) by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a flurry of varying expert opinions about who should receive the booster followed in quick succession. Here’s what you need to know about the Pfizer-BioNTech booster vaccine, including who should get the booster and what to anticipate with booster shots moving forward.

Pregnancy can bring forth the joy of future motherhood, along with concerns and questions about how to best support growing life. Being pregnant can also cause many different challenges as a woman’s body undergoes physiologic changes. All organ systems are affected during pregnancy, including the immune system. To prevent the body from rejecting the developing baby, the mother’s immune system changes, but further research is needed to know the extent of these changes. This does not necessarily mean that a mother’s immune system is weaker, but the developing baby can be at risk of preterm birth...

Summer has arrived in the U.S. and Americans are shedding more than their spring jackets. This year, many Americans are eager to let go of the masks and other personal protective items they have been wearing diligently for the past 15 months. However, along with masks, public health officials worry that other important COVID-19 measures—such as general conscientiousness and vaccine enthusiasm—are being discarded prematurely, leaving unvaccinated citizens at risk. Keeping COVID-19 Messaging at The Forefront It has always been difficult for even the most important issues of the day to remain...