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The rate of COVID-19 infections is rising throughout the U.S. as a variant of the virus continues to spread. The delta variant is much more contagious than the original virus that was spreading in 2020. Unvaccinated people are most at risk for sickness and hospitalization. Listen to hear more about the rising infection rates and what medical experts are saying about how to stay safe.
Story Length: 3:25
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July 19, 2021
3:53
COVID-19 vaccination rates in the U.S. are slowing, and many people who remain unvaccinated feel hesitant about getting the shot. Primary care doctors are playing an increasingly critical part in the next wave of efforts to reduce the spread of the virus. Doctors often have the trust and respect of their patients and can answer their questions, address their concerns, and help guide their decision-making around getting vaccinated. Listen to hear patients and medical professionals discuss the important role primary care doctors can play in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.
Update: Since this story first aired, the vaccination rate in Texas has risen to just over half, and the Fair Park vaccination site has closed.
Read MoreMay 24, 2021
3:32
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a COVID-19 vaccine for 12-15-year-olds. Kids who tested the vaccine, developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer, were extremely well protected against the virus and had only mild side effects. Approval of the new vaccine means that 87% of Americans are eligible to be vaccinated, raising hopes that life can return to normal and the pandemic can be defeated. Listen to learn more about the new vaccine and how teens and preteens – and their parents – are responding.
Update: Since this story aired, the Pfizer vaccine has become available for kids aged 12-15.
Read MoreAugust 5, 2020
3:54
People infected with COVID-19 are often “silent spreaders,” able to infect others with the virus while showing no symptoms of illness themselves. The symptoms of COVID-19 often do not appear for several days in a newly infected person, but it is during this pre-symptomatic period that the person is most contagious. Because of this, public health experts are finding coronavirus especially hard to contain. Listen to an epidemiology professor describe the challenges of containing a virus that spreads silently, and which strategies have been proven to work best.
Read MoreJuly 1, 2020
3:35
As states reopen and coronavirus infection rates begin to rise, public health officials are monitoring the spread of disease. The “R,” or reproduction number, indicates how many people a sick person is likely to infect. An R of two, meaning every sick person infects two other people, translates into exponential spread in the community, and the goal of safety measures is to lower the R to less than one. Listen to learn which states currently have surging infection rates and how small changes in the reproduction number can mean big changes in the rate of illness.
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