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Social media sites, especially Facebook, were the top conduits for vaccine misinformation, according to a U.S. survey of health care workers who treated unvaccinated patients. The findings point to an 'urgent' misinformation problem. Photo Illustration by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Vaccine misinformation on social media is an ‘urgent’ problem

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals say that COVID-19 vaccine misinformation on social media channels is an “urgent” problem that may be negatively influencing people’s decisions to get inoculated, according to a survey by researchers from Northeastern and partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug January 20, 2022

Omicron has set records. How much do case counts matter now?

COVID-19 cases are high, but it’s not 2020 anymore: Being nearly two years into the pandemic may make all the difference. “If we were seeing these numbers back in September of 2020, it would be a different story,” says Northeastern public health expert Neil Maniar.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki January 11, 2022

People wait in line to test for COVID-19 in Long Beach, Calif. AP Photo/Ashley Landis

When will the omicron surge be over? Very soon.

The omicron variant is driving a record-setting surge of COVID-19 cases across the nation. But coronavirus numbers are expected to plummet just as quickly as they soared, says Alessandro Vespignani, director of the Network Science Institute at Northeastern. And that may happen fast.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki January 6, 2022

More U.S. residents would rather see the legacy of racism taught in public schools than critical race theory, according to a survey conducted by researchers at Northeastern and several partner institutions. Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images

Seven out of 10 people don’t know what critical race theory is, US poll finds

When asked if they supported the teaching of racism in public schools or CRT, most U.S. residents picked the former, according to a survey from researchers at Northeastern and several partner institutions. The likely reason is that most people are not familiar with the academic details of CRT, researchers explained.

by Peter Ramjug December 23, 2021

A survey of U.S. booster shot recipients finds that 30% of vaccinated people have received an extra shot. That is expected to ramp up quickly as the highly transmissible omicron variant spreads during the winter. Photo Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Who is getting COVID-19 booster shots (and who’s resistant)?

More men than women, and more Democrats than Republicans, said they received a booster injection. This and more from a new study by researchers at Northeastern and several partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug December 22, 2021

Anti-vaccine mandate protesters gather during a public school board meeting in Portland, Oregon, to discuss a proposed vaccine mandate for students. COVID-19 and school safety issues outpaced CRT and gender identity as top issues for school boards, according to a poll by researchers at Northeastern and partner institutions. Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images

Critical race theory made headlines, but wasn’t the top issue for school boards

While transgender athletes and critical race theory garnered huge media coverage, school board voters were more concerned with school safety, COVID-19 vaccine requirements, student mental health, and face masks, according to a new study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug December 17, 2021

Omicron moves fast. Here’s what that means for the next few weeks.

A virus that moves as quickly around the globe as the omicron variant could spell disaster just as people are traveling and gathering for holiday and New Year celebrations. But the devil’s in the details when it comes to COVID-19. And, says Alessandro Vespignani, an infectious disease modeler at Northeastern, scientists have shared a “mixed bag of news” in recent weeks.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki December 16, 2021

There has been a noticeable uptick in parental resistance to COVID-19 vaccines since June that is contributing to a slowing of the teen vaccination rate, a study by researchers from Northeastern and partner institutions found. AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Parental enthusiasm for teens’ COVID-19 vaccines is waning: U.S. survey

There was a 7 percentage point drop since June among parents who say their kids have already been vaccinated or likely will be, according to a new study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions. The dip in support for COVID-19 vaccines could also foretell a larger movement against other mandatory vaccinations, the researchers say.

by Peter Ramjug December 14, 2021

People queue to be tested for COVID-19 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday Nov. 26, 2021. As the world grapples with the emergence of the new variant of COVID-19, scientists in South Africa — where omicron was first identified — are scrambling to combat its spread across the country. AP Photo/Jerome Delay

Omicron variant questions mount–answers are on the way

Researchers around the globe are working to make sense of the potential threat from the coronavirus variant the World Health Organization has named “omicron.” After more than 20 months of studying this virus, says Alessandro Vespignani, Sternberg Family distinguished university professor of physics, computer science, and health sciences at Northeastern, we have a good sense of when we will have answers.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki November 28, 2021

COVID-19 isn't a ghost just yet. But it may be getting there.

The decline of COVID-19 might continue, according to Northeastern infectious disease modelers. “It will be this long tail with bumps,” says Alessandro Vespignani, director of the Network Science Institute and Sternberg Family Distinguished Professor at Northeastern. “But there is no expiration date on a pandemic.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki October 28, 2021

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