Khoury College of Computer Sciences Archives

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

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Massachusetts’ anti-Trump GOP governor is leaving office more popular with Democrats

Republican Charlie Baker’s decision to walk away from the governorship in 2022 comes despite high plaudits from Massachusetts residents, according to a study by Northeastern and several partner institutions. His departure is indicative of former president Donald Trump’s influence on the national GOP.

by Peter Ramjug December 13, 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

Parental concerns about COVID-19 vaccinations for their children unexpectedly rose after federal authorities allowed vaccines for children 12 years of age and older, according to findings from the Covid States Project, a collaborative effort by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers. Photo by Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via AP

Kids’ COVID-19 vaccines are available. So why are parents’ concerns still so high?

Coming as a surprise to researchers, significant numbers of parents remain vaccine hesitant, even after federal emergency authorization was granted for COVID-19 shots, according to a U.S. study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug October 18, 2021

Masked yet unvaccinated people comprise 19 percent of the total U.S. population. They were more likely to be low income, live in the Southern U.S., and be more politically independent than others, according to a new study by Northeastern and several partner institutions. Photo illustration by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

COVID contradiction: they wear masks, but won’t get vaccinated

People who wear face masks yet aren’t vaccinated from COVID-19 make up a substantial portion of the unvaccinated U.S. population, according to a study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions. “They do represent an interesting puzzle,” says university distinguished professor David Lazer, who helped conduct the study.

by Peter Ramjug October 15, 2021

Photo Illustration of Kwak'wala text written by Northeastern clinical instructor Michael Running Wolf. Photo by Alyssa Stone/Northeastern University

The race to save indigenous languages, using automatic speech recognition

“The grandiose plan, the far-off dream, is we can create technology to not only preserve, but reclaim languages,” says Michael Running Wolf, who teaches computer science at Northeastern’s Vancouver campus.

by Tanner Stening October 8, 2021

masked man walking by nyc mobile vaccine clinic bus

Why aren’t the unvaccinated getting their shots?

Vaccine risks and concerns about side effects were the primary reasons why people remain unvaccinated, according to a U.S. study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions. Those who are vaccine willing are almost equal in number to those strongly vaccine resistant, the survey found.

by Peter Ramjug September 16, 2021

Healthcare workers are getting vaccinated, but more still need convincing, US survey finds

A U.S. study finds 27 percent of healthcare workers were unvaccinated as of early summer, posing a risk to sick and elderly patients. The low employee vaccination rate in one Kentucky nursing home “provided the kindling” for an outbreak that killed two patients, researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions said.

by Peter Ramjug August 18, 2021

Child is held by parent while getting vaccinated

Here’s why parents are hesitant about vaccinating their kids

Parents of unvaccinated children cite insufficient testing and long-term health effects as the chief reasons behind their skepticism of COVID-19 vaccinations, according to a new U.S. study by researchers from Northeastern and several partner institutions.

by Peter Ramjug August 12, 2021