The American Rescue Act: What You Need to Know

Posted March 16th, 2021

On March 12, 2021, President Biden signed the third COVID-19 related relief bill, the American Rescue Plan. Most Americans will benefit in one way or another from this bill. Let’s unpack what it may mean to you. Stimulus Payments Individuals earning less than $75,000 and couples with income less than $150,000 will receive $1400 per […]

I Received the COVID-19 Vaccine – Now What?

Posted February 8th, 2021

Receiving the COVID-19 vaccine is an important step towards ending the pandemic – congratulations! Once you have received both doses of the  COVID-19 vaccine, you may be wondering what’s next. The vaccine is shown to be 95% effective about a week or two after the second dose is received. It is important to remain vigilant […]

COVID-19 Vaccines: Considerations for Special Populations

Posted February 4th, 2021

The COVID-19 vaccine is currently recommended for most adults. However, some individuals should not have the vaccine OR should talk with their healthcare provider about potential vaccine risks before they receive the vaccine. These special populations include: People with Cancer-In Active Treatment Considered to be at a higher risk for severe COVID. Should be vaccinated […]

Preparing for your COVID-19 Vaccine: What to Ask your Provider

Posted February 1st, 2021

Patients with cancer should strongly consider getting the COVID-19 vaccine when it is available. If you are currently undergoing cancer treatment, you should speak to your provider about receiving the vaccine. It may be best to prepare a list of questions prior to speaking with them. Some questions you may want to ask are: Should […]

COVID-19 Vaccine Myth Busters

Posted January 28th, 2021

Myth: The COVID-19 vaccines aren’t safe because they were developed so quickly. Truth: The vaccines were indeed developed much faster than typical vaccines are normally developed. This is largely due to funding, getting the genetic code early, using technology that has been in development and testing for many years and the rapid recruitment rate of […]

COVID-19 Vaccine: Distribution and Administration

Posted January 25th, 2021

The development of two vaccines for COVID-19 that have received Emergency Use Authorization happened at “warp speed.”  Sadly, the plan for vaccine distribution has not been well planned out. The goal was to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of 2020. We are running behind this schedule. (see here.) For the purposes of this […]

Understanding FDA Emergency Use Authorization

Posted January 21st, 2021

In the United States, before any vaccine can be given, it must be approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). This process usually takes many years. However, during a public health emergency, such as the current Covid-19 pandemic, the FDA has the option to allow emergency use of experimental drugs, devices, vaccines and other […]

COVID Vaccine Basics for Cancer Patients

Posted January 18th, 2021

What is the COVID-19 vaccine? The COVID-19 vaccine is used to give your body immunity to the coronavirus (COVID-19). There are two vaccines currently available. These vaccines use a technology called messenger RNA (mRNA). mRNA vaccines are a new type of vaccine for infectious diseases, but researchers have been studying and working with them for […]

Holidays, Traditions and Grief

Posted December 21st, 2020

This year was pretty tough for most of us. If there is one thing I can take away right now is that we are all, collectively, grieving. Some of us have lost family and friends—to cancer, to COVID, to accidents.  Some of us have lost our jobs and financial well-being. Some of us have lost […]

The Future Front Line: Pre-Med During COVID-19

Posted September 8th, 2020

If COVID-19 has shown us anything, it’s that when duty calls, medical professionals answer. From makeshift testing sites to frontline emergency rooms across the country, countless doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers have demonstrated remarkable resilience and courage to save lives during this pandemic. As a pre-med student myself, I have watched this crisis play […]