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Rapid responses to health questions for fact-checkers and journalists.
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Rapid responses to health questions for fact-checkers and journalists.
Gelatin from pork and cow products is often used in vaccines to stabilize the drug's ingredients and ensure they remain effective through the distribution process. The COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca do not use pork gelatin in their formulas, but there is widespread concern over vaccines from other companies, which have not released a list of their ingredients. Three of the companies that religious groups are concerned about most are Sinovac, Sinopharm, and CanSino Biologics, which have not released official statements about whether or not their products use pork-derived gelatin. Gamaleya Research Institute, Johnson & Johnson, Novavax, and Bektop have received limited approval for releasing their vaccines around the world, but have not noted whether or not they use gelatin in their formulas either. No other companies have declared that they are using pork products in their vaccines at this time though nearly all of them are still in the development, research and clinical trials phases.
We're still learning more about the role of genetics in COVID-19 infection, both in terms of susceptibility, but also severity of illness. There have been some studies that have looked at proteins, called "toll-like receptors" or "TLRs" that help an immune system detect a virus and alert the immune system to begin defending the body from infection. Those studies have looked at the role of TLRs in natural immunity to the virus, and how our genes controlling a protein involved in TLR response, plays into susceptibility. Other studies have assessed blood types and that those with Type A appear to have a higher risk of contracting the virus, whereas Type O might be protective. ACE receptors - also known as angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors - might be the way the virus gets into the cell and may play a large role in the virus's ability to infect cells. Because of this, there has been increased research into genetic variants in these receptors. It is likely that some genetics play a role in COVID-19 infection and clinical manifestations, but it will take much more research to understand these relationships.
This question can only truly be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, as there are many different points that have to be considered. Variables include: - Where schools are located (major cities, rural areas, small towns, etc.) - How many children are in each classroom - How many students and teachers are wearing masks all day - How much distance is between desks - How many other people live with teachers in their homes - If the school is located in a place with a virus outbreak - Individual behaviors like taking public transportation, social distancing and mask wearing In addition to the individual risks each teacher faces, schools pose additional risks due to the high number of students who are in close contact with one another in closed, tight rooms. This can make prevention tools like social distancing and frequent hand washing difficult. It is also why it is important for school systems that are reopening, or have already reopened, to create safe, healthy spaces for students and teachers with policies like mandatory mask wearing, allowing for six feet/two meters of distance between desks, routine testing (if possible), using proper ventilation, consistent and frequent cleaning and decontamination of surfaces, installing physical barriers, and avoiding group transportation. Keeping both students and teachers safe in schools and communities depends on the behaviors, environments, underlying risk factors, and choices made by school systems and individuals. This is why it is not possible to accurately estimate where teachers are more likely to get infected with COVID-19, but shows why it is so critical to prevent the spread of the virus in all environments.
Conjunctivitis, also known as pink eye because it can cause the white of the eye to appear red or pink, is an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva (a transparent membrane that lines the eyelid and covers the white part of the eye). Conjunctivitis can have different causes, including bacterial infections and viral infections (including adenoviruses, which cause the common cold, and the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19). The appearance of reddish eyes can also be due to allergies, dryness, fatigue, or other factors and does not necessarily mean a person has conjunctivitis. Some research studies have identified conjunctivitis as a possible symptom of COVID-19, including a study of 38 patients with COVID-19 in China, which found that 12 of the patients had ocular or eye-related symptoms such as conjunctivitis. Patients with more severe COVID-19 were more likely to have ocular symptoms, and 1 patient in the study presented with conjunctivitis as their first symptom. In Canada, a case study was published on a female patient with COVID-19 who had severe conjunctivitis and minimal respiratory symptoms. In the U.K., another case study of a male patient with COVID-19 found that conjunctivitis was a symptom in the middle phase of COVID-19 illness. A review of ocular symptoms in COVID-19 patients that was published in August 2020 found no reports of COVID-19 becoming sight-threatening. The American Academy of Ophthalmology has stated that conjunctivitis can be an infrequent symptom of COVID-19, estimated to occur in 1% to 3% of patients who test positive for COVID-19. A meta-analysis of 1167 patients in 3 studies found that the overall rate of conjunctivitis was 1.1%, with the rate being 3% in patients with severe COVID-19 and 0.7% in patients with non-severe COVID‐19. Conjunctivitis may be more common as a COVID-19 symptom in children. A study of 216 children with COVID-19 in China found that 22.7% showed an ocular symptom, including conjunctivitis. Since conjunctivitis is not among the most common COVID-19 symptoms and can have underlying causes that are unrelated to COVID-19, many public health and medical experts are advising that adults and children with suspected conjunctivitis seek care for their eyes. If someone with conjunctivitis has been at risk of exposure to COVID-19, a healthcare provider can help with determining whether a person with conjunctivitis should also get tested for COVID-19.
There are a few main reasons why someone may test positive for COVID-19 after taking a COVID-19 vaccine. 1. The vaccines that are currently most widely distributed—the Moderna vaccine and the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine—are reported to have about 95% efficacy. This means that about 5% of vaccinated people are still likely to contract COVID-19. As a result, some individuals are testing positive for COVID-19 despite having gotten a vaccine. The chance of hospitalization or death in a vaccinated COVID-19 patient is significantly lower than an unvaccinated COVID-19 patient. 2. After someone gets the shot, it takes time to build up immunity to COVID-19. The full benefits of the vaccines aren't reached until two weeks after the second dose of the Moderna vaccine and 7 days after the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. In the time leading up to maximum immunity, the chances of contracting COVID-19 are not zero. 3. COVID-19 vaccine efficacy rates published by pharmaceutical companies do not yet tell us the exact vaccine effectiveness rates that can be expected in actual populations. As a result, it is possible that the number of individuals (5%) who are estimated to still contract COVID-19 despite being vaccinated could actually be different in the population. No vaccine is perfect, and there are a range of factors that contribute to chances of the vaccine not working, such as weakened immunity and viral load exposure. It is highly unlikely that false positives are contributing to the numbers of vaccinated individuals testing positive, given that neither the Moderna nor the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine cause you to test positive on a viral test. Public health professionals advise wearing a mask and maintaining physical distance even after getting vaccinated, in order to protect those that are not vaccinated as yet and to stop further spread in the community.
COVAX is the largest international partnership for COVID-19 vaccine development and equitable distribution in the world. As many countries may struggle to afford the amount of vaccine dosages necessary to treat their populations, COVAX helps guarantee a share of doses for each eligible participant country (also called 'economy') and will ensure countries are not pushed to the back of the line or unable to receive the most effective vaccines according to their financial abilities. COVAX secures agreements with numerous vaccine producers directly so that the risks of paying for on only one or two vaccine candidates are minimized as the organization is working with roughly 10 companies. This means that if a vaccine is not shown to be effective or cannot get appropriate authorization in individual countries, there are still other vaccines in the COVAX portfolio that might meet these standards. As of December 8, 2020, 189 countries are participating in the COVAX Facility program for fair and equitable distribution of an eventual licensed vaccine, assuring that each participating country would receive a guaranteed share of doses to vaccinate the most vulnerable 20% of its population by the end of 2021.
COVID-19 transmission on airplanes is still being researched. There have been documented cases of COVID-19 transmission on airplanes, with the majority being to people seated within 1-2 rows of an infected person or through contact with airline crew. While traveling on an airplane is not risk-free for COVID-19 transmission, it is generally considered a lower-risk activity due to how air is circulated through a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter and mixed with fresh air from outside, and especially when other public health guidelines are followed such as passengers wearing masks or face coverings, passengers maintaining physical distance as much as possible, and disinfecting surfaces between passengers. On crowded flights, the risk of COVID-19 transmission is higher when it may not be possible to avoid sitting within 6 feet of other people, sometimes for several hours. Other COVID-19 transmission risks related to airplane travel include being in proximity to other people when at airport terminals and security lines, being in contact with frequently touched surfaces in places such as public restrooms, and being in proximity to other people during some forms of transport to and from the airport like ridesharing services and public transportation.
Mini, portable air purifier necklaces (such as the type available for purchase on consumer websites) have not been shown to prevent COVID-19 infection and there have been no studies about their effectiveness to date. Indoor air purifier units can help reduce tiny parts of virus in the air (airborne contaminants) in a home or confined space if they are used correctly, but they are not enough to protect people from COVID-19.
People who are infected with COVID-19 but are asymptomatic (or symptom free) can spread the virus to others. Researchers estimate that 59% of COVID-19 spread is from people who do not have symptoms. 35% of the spread happens before someone develops symptoms (when they are pre-symptomatic). 24% of COVID-19 spread happens via people who never develop symptoms.
Meat processing plants have become major hotspots for coronavirus outbreaks because employees work in close proximity to one another, which makes social distancing very difficult. Across the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that 4,913 COVID-19 cases and 20 deaths have been reported among approximately 130,000 workers at 115 meat processing facilities in 19 states. Many meat processing plants have failed to provide basic protections like face masks, plexiglass barriers between workers, or paid sick leave to frontline employees. The Tyson Fresh Meats Plant in Washington State, the largest meat-packing plant in the state, was temporarily closed in April after more than a 100 employees tested positive for COVID-19. The plant has since resumed operations after testing all employees, but unions and health officials alike have advocated for greater health protections for workers, including adequate social distancing measures, even if it slows operations.
The recent variant of COVID-19 called B.1.1.7, first found in the United Kingdom in 2020, has caused many to question whether or not current vaccines will still be effective in preventing the virus from causing a severe infection. The U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases believe that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will provide protection against the variant first found in the UK. If not, mRNA vaccines can be altered in a laboratory by changing the sequence of the genetic code of the vaccine so it matches that of the new variant. Experts at AstraZeneca also believe that a vaccine they created with Oxford University will be effective against this new variant. It's unknown how the remaining COVID-19 vaccines, which have been approved for use in far fewer countries than the mRNA or AstraZeneca vaccines, will protect against vaccine variants. Many scientists remain optimistic that these vaccines will offer some protection against genetic changes.
Levotop 500 is an antibiotic that is used to treat infections caused by bacteria. COVID-19 is an infection caused by a virus, not a bacteria. Therefore, Levotop 500 is not a medication that is effective in preventing, treating or curing COVID-19. Levotop is used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia, bacterial sinusitis, gastroenteritis and chronic bronchitis. Some antibiotics are being used in patients who are initially hospitalized because of COVID-19 to treat "co-infections" or "superinfections." Co-infections can occur when a COVID-19 patient also has a second infection, or catches one while hospitalized, and needs antibiotics to treat the second infection. Superinfections can happen on top or after an existing infection. It is possible that a hospitalized COVID-19 patient's immune system is weaker than normal, making it more vulnerable for all kinds of infections from germs, including bacteria.
When someone has been infected with COVID-19, their body's immune system produces antibodies (special proteins) that work to destroy the virus. These antibodies can usually be found in someone's blood after they recover from the virus, specifically in a portion of the blood called 'plasma.' Antibodies in plasma help an infected person fight off the virus, so researchers are studying whether transferring plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19 (also called 'convalescent plasma') can help strengthen people's immune systems to fight off the infection. This experimental use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 is not currently an approved treatment by the World Health Organization, and there is a lack of scientific evidence to allow convalescent plasma to be routinely prescribed to patients with COVID-19. However, there are potential benefits to convalescent plasma use that have been demonstrated with other diseases. These benefits are believed to outweigh the potential risks. Given the current lack of scientific evidence, the use of convalescent plasma has not been formally approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). On August 23, 2020, however, the administration did issue an emergency use authorization (EUA) for investigational convalescent plasma use for the treatment of COVID-19 in hospitalized patients. This means that convalescent plasma is now regulated as an investigational treatment for COVID-19, but it not yet fully approved for use. More than 70,000 patients have received convalescent plasma in the US. Recent studies are inconclusive and have not shown significant benefits for patients who receive convalescent plasma, but more research needs to be conducted before scientists reach a consensus about the benefits vs possible negative impacts plasma may have in patients with COVID-19.
There is increasing evidence that COVID-19 can spread through airborne transmission, which is when a person infected with COVID-19 releases tiny droplets of fluid into the air called 'droplet nuclei' by coughing, sneezing, talking, or during some medical appointments and procedures. Droplet nuclei are very light, relatively dry, and microscopic in size so they can remain suspended in the air like a mist, which is why airborne transmission is also called 'aerosol transmission.' This is different from the main theory that the virus spreads through bigger respiratory droplets that are heavier, fall to the ground relatively quickly, and do not remain suspended in the air or spread through the air. While researchers are continuing to study aerosol transmission of COVID-19, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledged evidence of airborne transmission in poorly ventilated spaces. Enclosed spaces have been found—through scientific studies as well as case studies—to contain enough virus to cause infections in people more than six feet apart, or who passed through a space soon after an infectious person left the room. One study conducted at the University of Nebraska Medical Center collected air and surface samples from the rooms of isolated individuals to examine viral shedding, and found evidence of the novel coronavirus in the air from isolated individuals who had COVID-19 (including at a distance from the infected individual and outside of their room in the hallway). As a second piece of evidence, a study from Singapore found that COVID-19 virus aerosol particles were found in two "airborne infection isolation rooms" in hospital wards, despite these rooms being intentionally well ventilated to prevent transmission. In a study that modeled the transmission of COVID-19 during the outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship in early 2020, researchers found that aerosol inhalation of the virus was likely the dominant contributor to COVID-19 transmission among passengers. Another study outlined the case of the Skagit Valley Chorale rehearsal in Mount Vernon, Washington, which took place in early March 2020 and resulted in 45 out of 60 members of the chorus testing positive for or showing COVID-19 symptoms after a 2 ½ hour indoor practice session. No attendees reported physical contact between members, as person-to-person contact and touching of surfaces was intentionally limited. No one was located within 3 meters in front of the index COVID-19 case, where larger respiratory droplets from that individual would have likely landed. The authors concluded that inhalation of infectious respiratory aerosol from shared air was the leading mode of transmission and that dense occupancy, long duration, loud vocalization, and poor ventilation increased risk. Another case study was reported in China in early February when a who passed by the door of a symptomatic patient several times person contracted COVID-19. Finally, one China-based study compared risks of COVID-19 outbreak among 126 passengers taking two buses on a 100-minute round trip. Compared to individuals in the non-exposed bus (Bus #1), those in the exposed bus (Bus #2) were 41.5 times more likely to be infected, suggesting airborne transmission of the virus, particularly given the closed environment with air recirculation and lack of contact between passengers. These studies, and others like them, highlight the importance of combining proper ventilation with cloth masks and social distancing to prevent transmission of the virus. The U.S. CDC's most recent guidelines suggest wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask or an individual KN95/N95 mask as these methods can offer the most protection from the virus, but any mask offers substantially more protection than not wearing one. Studies such as these are particularly important as it would not be ethical to run a randomized control trial (RCT) to test different transmission modes in infecting individuals, and given that it’s difficult to specifically pinpoint in a study how someone was infected without a highly controlled environment, such as that of an RCT. Public health experts have repeatedly warned that airborne transmission is most likely contributing to transmission, especially in indoor spaces, and recommendations should incorporate the need for sufficient ventilation, high-efficiency filtration, and limiting crowded spaces, in addition to universal adoption of masks, social distancing, and frequent handwashing with soap and water.
The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect people of all ages. Although older people are known to be more likely to have severe side effects of the virus, that does not mean young people are not at risk of getting sick, or even dying, from COVID-19. In addition, young people, including children, may spread COVID-19 to relatives and contacts who may be older or have other risk factors. Young people with underlying health conditions are at higher risk of severe COVID-19, but young people with no prior health issues have also been impacted by the disease. Less severe COVID-19 can lead to lingering health impacts that have prevented some young people from going to school, working and resuming other normal activities for months. As of December 3, 2020, over 1.4 million US children have tested positive for COVID-19. In total, children have accounted for 12% of US COVID-19 cases though there was a 23% increase in child COVID-19 cases recorded between November 19 and December 3, 2020. In spite of the recent increase, the incidence of severe illness in children remains uncommon, though it is possible. In a study of 85,000 COVID-19 cases in India, almost 600,000 of their contacts showed that children of all ages can become infected with COVID-19 and spread it to others. More than 5,300 school-aged children in the study had infected 2,508 contacts. More evidence is emerging on how some young people develop severe symptoms and complications related to COVID-19, and are contributing to the widespread transmission of the virus. Young people should take preventive measures, including wearing face masks (recent guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests wearing a cloth mask over a surgical mask or a high quality respirators), practicing social distancing (6 feet/2 meters), avoidance of crowds, and frequent hand-washing, to prevent the spread of COVID-19. These measures are suggested for their own protection as well as for preventing the spread of COVID-19 to others.
Health Desk provides on-demand and on-deadline science information to users seeking to quickly communicate complex topics to audiences.
In-house scientists provide custom explainers for critical science questions from journalists, fact-checkers and others in need of accessible breakdowns on scientific information. Topics range from reproductive health, infectious disease, climate science, vaccinology or other health areas.
Meedan's Health-Desk.org makes every effort to provide health- and science-related information that is accurate and reflects the best evidence available at the time of publication. To submit an error or correction request, please email our editorial team at health@meedan.com. All error or correction requests will be reviewed by the Health Desk Editorial and Science Teams. Where there is evidence of a factual error or typo, we will update the explainer with a correction or clarification and follow up with the reader on the status of the request.
Our scientists, writers, journalists, and experts do not engage in, advocate for, or publicize their personal views on policy issues that might lead a reasonable member of the public to see our team’s work as biased. If you have concerns or comments about potential bias in our work, please contact our editorial team at health@meedan.com.
Health Desk provides on-demand and on-deadline science information to users seeking to quickly communicate complex topics to audiences.
In-house scientists provide custom explainers for critical science questions from journalists, fact-checkers and others in need of accessible breakdowns on scientific information. Topics range from reproductive health, infectious disease, climate science, vaccinology or other health areas.
Meedan's Health-Desk.org makes every effort to provide health- and science-related information that is accurate and reflects the best evidence available at the time of publication. To submit an error or correction request, please email our editorial team at health@meedan.com. All error or correction requests will be reviewed by the Health Desk Editorial and Science Teams. Where there is evidence of a factual error or typo, we will update the explainer with a correction or clarification and follow up with the reader on the status of the request.
Our scientists, writers, journalists, and experts do not engage in, advocate for, or publicize their personal views on policy issues that might lead a reasonable member of the public to see our team’s work as biased. If you have concerns or comments about potential bias in our work, please contact our editorial team at health@meedan.com.
Nat Gyenes, MPH, leads Meedan’s Digital Health Lab, an initiative dedicated to addressing health information equity challenges, with a focus on the role that technology plays in mediating access to health through access to information. She received her masters in public health from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, with a focus on equitable access to health information and human rights. As a research affiliate at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, she studies the ways in which health information sources and outputs can impact health outcomes. She lectures at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on Health, Media and Human Rights. Before joining Meedan, Nat worked at the MIT Media Lab as a health misinformation researcher.
Megan Marrelli is a Peabody award-winning journalist and the News Lead of Health Desk. She focuses on news innovation in today’s complex information environment. Megan has worked on the digital breaking news desk of the Globe and Mail, Canada’s national newspaper, and on the news production team of the Netflix series Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. She was a Canadian Association of Journalists finalist for a team Chronicle Herald investigation into house fires in Halifax, Nova Scotia. On top of her role at Meedan Megan works with the investigative journalism incubator Type Investigations, where she is reporting a data-driven story on fatal patient safety failures in U.S. hospitals. She holds a Master of Science from the Columbia Journalism School and lives in New York.
Anshu holds a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, and a Humanitarian Studies, Ethics, and Human Rights concentrator at the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative. She is a Harvard Voices in Leadership writing fellow and student moderator, Prajna Fellow, and the John C. and Katherine Vogelheim Hansen Fund for Africa Awardee. Anshu’s interests include: systemic issues of emergency management, crisis leadership, intersectoral approaches to climate risk resilience, inclusion and human rights, international development, access and sustainability of global health systems, and socio-economic equity. Anshu has worked at the United Nations, UNDP, UNICEF, Gates Foundation, and the Institute of Healthcare Improvement.
Dr. Christin Gilmer is a Global Health Scientist with a background in infectious diseases, international health systems, and population health and technology. In the last 15 years, Christin has worked for the WHO, University of Oxford, World Health Partners, USAID, UNFPA, the FXB Center for Health & Human Rights and more, including volunteering for Special Olympics International’s health programs and running health- and technology-based nonprofits across the country. She obtained her Doctor of Public Health Degree at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, her MPH at Columbia, and spent time studying at M.I.T., Harvard Kennedy School, and Harvard Business School. Christin has worked in dozens of countries across five continents and loves running programs and research internationally, but she is currently based in Seattle.
Dr. Jessica Huang is currently a COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School’s Bloomberg City Leadership Initiative. Previously, she worked and taught with D-Lab at MIT, leading poverty reduction and humanitarian innovation projects with UNICEF, UNHCR, Oxfam, USAID, foreign government ministries and community-based organizations across dozens of countries. She also co-founded a social enterprise that has provided access to safe drinking water to thousands in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Formerly trained as an environmental engineer, she earned a Doctorate of Public Health from Harvard and a Master’s in Learning, Design and Technology (LDT) from Stanford. Her projects have won multiple awards, including the top prize in A Grand Challenge for Development: Technology to Support Education in Crisis & Conflict Settings, and led to her being recognized for Learning 30 Under 30. She enjoys being an active volunteer, supporting several non-profits in health, education, environmental sustainability and social justice.
Jenna Sherman, MPH, is a Program Manager for Meedan’s Digital Health Lab, an initiative focused on addressing the urgent challenges around health information equity. She has her MPH from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Social and Behavioral Sciences, with a concentration in Maternal and Child Health. Prior to her graduate studies, Jenna served as a Senior Project Coordinator at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School, where she worked on tech ethics with an emphasis on mitigating bias and discrimination in AI and health misinformation online. Previous experiences include helping to develop accessible drug pricing policies, researching access to quality information during epidemics, and studying the impact of maternal incarceration on infant health.
Nour is a Global Health Strategy consultant based in Dakar (Senegal) and specialized in health system strengthening. Most recently, she worked with Dalberg Advisors focusing on Epidemic Preparedness & Response and Vaccination Coverage and Equity across 15 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her previous work experiences include researching the clinical needs in point-of-care technology in cancer care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston; and coordinating the implementation of a colonoscopy quality assurance initiative for a colorectal cancer screening program at McGill University in Montreal. Nour has a Master of Public Health from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, a Master of Arts in Medical Ethics and Law from King’s College London, and a Bachelor of Science from McGill University. She is fluent in French and English.
Shalini Joshi is a Program Lead at Meedan and formerly the Executive Editor and co-founder of Khabar Lahariya - India’s only independent, digital news network available to viewers in remote rural areas and small towns. Shalini transformed Khabar Lahariya from one edition of a printed newspaper to an award-winning digital news agency available to over ten million viewers. She has a sophisticated understanding of local media and gender, and the ways in which they can inhibit women from participating in the public sphere in South Asia. Shalini was a TruthBuzz Partner & Fellow with the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). She is a trainer in journalism, verification and fact-checking. She has designed, implemented and strengthened news reporting & editorial policies and practices in newsrooms and fact-checking organisations. Shalini set up and managed the tipline used to collect WhatsApp-based rumors for Checkpoint, a research project to study misinformation at scale during the 2019 Indian general elections.
Mohit Nair currently serves as Partnerships Director at FairVote Washington, a non-profit organisation based in Seattle, WA. Previously, he worked with the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Vienna Evaluation Unit and with MSF Operational Centre Barcelona in India. He has conducted research studies on diverse topics, including the drivers of antibiotic resistance in West Bengal and perceptions of palliative care in Bihar. Mohit has also worked as a research consultant with Save the Children in Laos to identify gaps in the primary health system and develop a district-wide action plan for children with disabilities. He holds a Master of Public Health from the Harvard University T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University.
Seema Yasmin is an Emmy Award-winning medical journalist, poet, physican and author. Yasmin served as an officer in the Epidemic Intelligence Service at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where she investigated disease outbreaks. She trained in journalism at the University of Toronto and in medicine at the University of Cambridge. Yasmin was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in breaking news in 2017 with a team from The Dallas Morning News and received an Emmy Award for her reporting on neglected diseases. She received two grants from the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and was selected as a John S. Knight Fellow in Journalism at Stanford University iin 2017 where she investigated the spread of health misinformation and disinformation during epidemics.
Dr. Saskia Popescu is an infectious disease epidemiologist and infection preventionist with a focus on hospital biopreparedness and the role of infection prevention in health security efforts. She is an expert in healthcare biopreparedness and is nationally recognized for her work in infection prevention and enhancing hospital response to infectious diseases events. Currently, Dr. Popescu is an Adjunct Professor with the University of Arizona, and an Affiliate Faculty with George Mason University, while serving on the Coronavirus Task Force within the Federation of American Scientists, and on a data collection subcommittee for SARS-CoV-2 response with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine. She holds a PhD in Biodefense from George Mason University, a Masters in Public Health with a focus on infectious diseases, and a Masters of Arts in International Security Studies, from the University of Arizona. Dr. Popescu is an Alumni Fellow of the Emerging Leaders in Biosecurity Initiative (ELBI) at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Center for Health Security. She is also an external expert for the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC), and a recipient of the Presidential Scholarship at George Mason University. In 2010, she was a recipient of the Frontier Interdisciplinary eXperience (FIX) HS-STEM Career Development Grant in Food Defense through the National Center for Food Protection and Defense. During her work as an infection preventionist, she managed Ebola response, a 300+ measles exposure resulting in an MMWR article, and bioterrorism preparedness in the hospital system. More recently, she created and disseminated a gap analysis for a 6-hospital system to establish vulnerabilities for high-consequence diseases, helping to guide the creation of a high-consequence disease initiative to enhance readiness at the healthcare level.
Ben Kertman is a behavior change scientist and public health specialist who became a user research consultant to help organizations design experiences that change behaviors and improve human well-being. Impatient with the tendency of behavior change companies to use a single discipline approach (e.g. behavioral economics) and guard their methods behind paywalls, Ben spent the last 7 years developing an open-source, multi-discipline, behavior change framework for researchers and designers to apply to UX. Ben is an in-house SME at Fidelity Investments and consults for non-profits on the side. Ben holds a masters in Social and Behavior Science and Public Health from Harvard.
Emily LaRose is a Registered Dietitian and Nutrition and Global Health Consultant who, in addition to her work with Meedan, currently works as a Technical Advisor for Nutrition for Operation Smile. She has been a dietitian for more than 18 years and, over the past 10 years, she has worked for the World Bank, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), PATH, Johnson & Wales University, and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. In her work, she has conducted analytical research and written specialty reports on infant and young child malnutrition, health misinformation, global human milk banking practices, and innovative food system programs; developed tools and protocols for clinical nutrition care delivery in humanitarian hospitals; taught university-level nutrition courses; and provided nutritional care for critically ill hospitalized patients. Emily earned her Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree with a Nutrition and Global Health Concentration at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, her Master of Science in Dietetics at Kansas State University, and her Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts Nutrition at Johnson & Wales University.
Bhargav Krishna is a Fellow at the Centre for Policy Research in Delhi, and adjunct faculty at the Public Health Foundation of India and Azim Premji University. He previously managed the Centre for Environmental Health at the Public Health Foundation of India, leading research and teaching on environmental health at the Foundation. He has been a member of Government of India expert committees on air pollution and biomedical waste, and has led work with Union and State governments on air pollution, climate change, and health systems. His work has been funded by the World Health Organization, Rockefeller Foundation, Packard Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, and others. He holds bachelors and masters degrees in Biotechnology and Environmental Science respectively, and graduated recently from the Doctor of Public Health program at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Bhargav also co-founded Care for Air, a non-profit working on raising awareness related to air pollution with school children in Delhi.
Dr. Christine Mutaganzwa is a medical doctor pursuing a Ph.D. program at the Université de Montréal in Biomedical Sciences. She holds a Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery (MMSc-GHD) from Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, and a Master of Sciences (MSc) in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. She graduated from the University of Rwanda with a degree in General Medicine and Surgery. Christine has worked with referral hospitals in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, during her medical training and after graduation. In addition, she has extensive experience working with rural communities in the Eastern province of Rwanda, where she organized clinical and research activities in active collaboration with colleagues within and outside Rwanda. Her research portfolio cuts across maternal and child health to infectious and chronic diseases. Christine is an advocate for children's healthcare services, especially for underserved populations. She is part of a community of scientists translating scientific findings into understandable and accessible information for the general population. Christine is an avid reader and a lover of classical/contemporary music.
Ahmad is an experienced physician, who earned his medical degree from Cairo University, Faculty of Medicine, in Egypt. He practiced medicine between 2012 and 2017 as a general practitioner where he was involved in primary care, health quarantine services, and radiology. He then taught medicine in Cairo for two years prior to starting his MPH program, at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, where he supplemented his experience with knowledge on epidemiology, health systems and global health issues. Additionally, Ahmad has an interest in nutrition, which started as a personal curiosity to how he can improve his own health, then quickly saw the potential for public health nutrition in the prevention and management of multiple, lifelong diseases. His enrollment at Harvard started his transition towards learning about food, and public health nutrition. Ahmad now combines the knowledge and experience of his medical career, with the learnings of his degree to navigate public health topics in his writing and his career. He is a life-long learner and continues to gather knowledge and experience, and works towards maximizing his impact through combatting misinformation through his work with Meedan.
Dr. Uzma Alam is a global health professional working at the intersection of infectious diseases and healthcare delivery in the international development and humanitarian contexts. She focuses on the use of evidence and innovation to inform strategies and policies. Her work has appeared globally across print and media outlets.She has international experience with roles of increasing responsibility across the science value chain having served with academic, non-profit, corporate, and governmental agencies, including advisory commissions and corporate counsel. Uzma is the former secretary of the Association of Women in Science and editor of the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics. Currently she serves on the Board of the Geneva Foundation. She also leads the Biomedical and Health Sciences Portfolio of the Developing Excellence, Leadership and Training in Science in Africa program (DELTAS-Africa). A US$100 million programme supporting development of world-class scientific leaders on the continent. Plus heading the African Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Priorities Programme. A programme that engages Africa’s science and political leaders to identify the top STI priorities for the continent that if addressed, offer the highest return on investment for Africa’s sustainable development.
