ALBUQUERQUE, NM – A researcher at the University of New Mexico wants to know if the exercise is helping fight COVID and is recruiting people to help it.
Michael Deyhle, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Exercise, and Athletic Sciences at the University of New Mexico, will investigate whether exercise habits or fitness levels give vaccinated people more immunity against the coronavirus.
It is looking for at least 60 participants between the ages of 18 and 65 who received the Pfizer or Moderna mRNA vaccines in the past six months.
Deyhle said some studies have shown that physical activity can produce beneficial antibodies, and that’s the question he wants to answer.
“Does being in good physical shape or physically active improve your immune response, or does it make your immune system work better when you get the vaccine, so that you are more protected in the future if you have to encounter them? ” Deyhle wondered.
Deyhle stressed that study participants will be asked about their physical activity and will undergo aerobic capacity and muscle strength tests. They will also have their body fat percentage measured and provide a blood sample to determine the concentration of antibodies produced from the vaccine.
Deyhle believes that vaccination is one of the most effective interventions in modern medicine to save lives, but he noted that its effectiveness may depend on age, genetic factors and other variables.
“Everyone reacts differently to vaccination,” warned Deyhle. “And some people have a very good response and a very robust response and some people just don’t respond as well, and there are a lot of factors that can account for this variability.”
He added that studies on some vaccines have shown that exercise can improve the body’s immune response, but there is no definitive work on whether this applies to COVID-19 vaccines.
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HAMPTON ROADS, Virginia – With many schools in Virginia starting next week, experts say parents and teachers need to take extra steps to protect children’s mental health, which may have suffered during pandemic isolation.
Eric Sparks, deputy executive director of the American School Counselor Association, said that for a smooth transition into the new school year, counselors and teachers should prioritize meeting mental and behavioral health needs.
His group has a new guide to help support teachers and students, and he has advised school counselors to re-accustom students to learning in person.
“They will go into the classrooms and talk to the whole student body about transitioning to student groups, bonding with other students in those big groups,†Sparks explained. “But then they will also look at the follow-up of students, who might demonstrate some needs that they are having difficulty with.”
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam issued an emergency public health order last week requiring the wearing of a universal mask in all public schools from kindergarten to grade 12 in the state.
Sparks suggested that even this precaution may not reduce stress levels for some children.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported that mental health emergency room visits by children aged 12 to 17 increased by 31% during the pandemic.
To help mitigate the trend, Sparks recommended teachers and administrators create welcoming environments for students, some of whom need to relearn social skills.
“Most of the tips for helping students socialize are to take things at their own pace, not to rush if you don’t feel comfortable,†Sparks said. “There may be physical barriers, but really, looking for ways to help these students connect with other students, even though there may be things in place that are usually not there.”
The American Heart Association also offers tips for fostering students’ emotional well-being when they return to in-person learning. The group pointed out that stress and trauma can lead to unhealthy behavior and even an increased risk of heart disease.
Disclosure: The American Heart Association Mid Atlantic Affiliate contributes to our Health Issues, Hunger / Food / Nutrition Reporting Fund, Poverty Issues, and Smoking Prevention. If you would like to help support the news in the public interest, click here.
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Homebound Ohio residents interested in receiving the COVID-19 vaccine have a new option, which can come right to their doorstep.
Columbus-based healthcare company OFFOR Health has partnered with the Ohio Department of Health on the state’s Regional Rapid Response Assistance Program, which identifies Ohioans in need of healthcare. health and who cannot easily leave their homes.
Jamie Wilson, director of clinical operations for OFFOR Health, said that with statewide collaboration they are able to reach more homebound residents who lack transportation or have comorbidities.
“For us, the advantage is that we can go anywhere for any patient,†Wilson explained. “It doesn’t have to be a patient tied to a zip code or a health system, or a home nursing agency, and so I think that’s the benefit, the flexibility, the customization of our program. “
Now in its third week, OFFOR health workers travel twice a week statewide and reach five to 10 patients per day. They have the capacity to supply Johnson & Johnson, Moderna or Pfizer vaccines.
Wilson pointed out that some of their biggest challenges are reaching people in areas with low vaccination rates. And as the Delta variant continues to rise, reaching people who are hesitant about the COVID vaccine is critical to reducing hospitalizations.
Wilson noted for some in rural areas, a lack of transportation held back some patients. But for those wary of the vaccine, Wilson observed that a personalized approach to the home program can sometimes help convince people to get the vaccine.
“Being able to provide information that the patient feels they haven’t received or is not accurate has really changed a lot of mind, and it’s not something we really planned for when we started the program,†Wilson pointed out. “So we want to make sure that we are that voice that clarifies a lot of these misconceptions and gives them this precise information so that they can make an informed decision.”
OFFOR is also working with partners such as CareSource and Buckeye Health Plan to host weekly pop-up neighborhood immunization clinics statewide.
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HARRISBURG, Pa .– With a few weeks to go before the start of the school year, state departments of Health and Education have announced new initiatives to keep K-12 schools and universities open amid the COVID-19 Delta variant.
Alison Beam, Pennsylvania’s acting secretary of health, on Monday signed an executive order directing state vaccine providers to coordinate immunization clinics at schools and universities at the request of administrators.
The state has also introduced a free, voluntary COVID-19 testing program available weekly in K-12 schools. Beam said investments in public health will help keep COVID out of classrooms.
“It’s clear that everyone wants to keep kids in class and continue with extracurricular activities,†Beam observed. “This is why we are encouraging all schools from Kindergarten to Grade 12 to take advantage of this unique opportunity to introduce COVID-19 testing in schools at no cost to the school. “
Biotech company Ginkgo will operate the Pooled Testing Program, which will combine nasal swab samples from a classroom and run them as a single test to quickly determine any case of COVID-19.
Providers will need to coordinate immunization clinics for staff, volunteers, students, and student families who are part of the school community.
Pennsylvania Education Secretary Noe Ortega said the new programs will be essential to ensure continued in-person learning.
“Initiatives such as the ones we are here to announce today are critical to our success,†said Ortega. “I encourage all of our schools to coordinate COVID-19 vaccination clinics for their communities as soon as possible. And I encourage all K-12 schools to participate in testing programs as well.”
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that parents were twice as likely to get their children immunized if schools provided them with information and research that helped them make a decision.
US Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona also joined the announcement virtually and said Pennsylvania is setting an example for other states to ensure a safe and healthy school year.
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