Pfizer

Shivam Patel, 13, receives his first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination from nurse Diawna Jenkins as his father, Rajesh Patel, observes from the background at the Cook County Public Health Department on May 13, 2021, in Des Plaines, Ill. AP Photo by Shafkat Anowar

Should kids get a COVID-19 vaccination? Ask them.

While parents generally need to be on board for medical decisions, their children might be just as important—if not more—in deciding to get the COVID-19 vaccine, says Susan Mello, an assistant professor at Northeastern who studies health communication.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki May 21, 2021

Amid a pause in the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and widespread vaccine hesitancy, it’s important to maintain confidence in the overall vaccine rollout process, say Brandon Dionne, assistant clinical professor of pharmacy at Northeastern, and Neil Maniar, director of the Master of Public Health program.

How does the COVID-19 vaccine help us reach herd immunity?

On Monday, all adults over the age of 16 became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Amid a pause in the distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine and widespread vaccine hesitancy, it’s important to maintain confidence in the overall vaccine rollout process, say Brandon Dionne, assistant clinical professor of pharmacy at Northeastern, and Neil Maniar, director of the Master of Public Health program.

by Alison Booth and Brilee Weaver April 20, 2021

What does the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause mean for all COVID-19 shots?

With distribution of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine temporarily on ice, “we’re putting really all our eggs in the basket of Pfizer and Moderna” to inoculate the millions of people in the U.S. who will become eligible for a shot on April 19, says Nada Sanders, distinguished professor of supply chain management. And that’s a risky, if necessary, bet.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 13, 2021

Illustration by Hannah Moore/Northeastern University

Why kids hold the key to herd immunity

With COVID-19 vaccine trials underway for children, and Pfizer’s teen trial a success, young people are becoming a more prominent part of the fight against the coronavirus. And, Northeastern experts say, that could prove essential to reaching herd immunity.

by Eva Botkin-Kowacki April 1, 2021

Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Parents are more skeptical about vaccines than those without kids, new study finds

Young moms in particular are hesitant about inoculating themselves and their children, according to new findings by researchers from Northeastern, Harvard, Northwestern, and Rutgers. The reluctance could come to a head in the fall if schools mandate vaccinations for in-person learning, a Northeastern faculty expert says.

by Peter Ramjug March 26, 2021

Illustration by Alison Booth/Northeastern University

Vaccinated? It might be safe to see friends, but don’t throw out that mask.

On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published safety recommendations for vaccinated individuals. Northeastern’s Brandon Dionne, assistant clinical professor in the School of Pharmacy, and Neil Maniar, professor of the practice and director of the Master of Public Health program, explain the main takeaways from the guidelines.

by Emily Arntsen - contributor March 12, 2021

Johnson & Johnson's 1-shot COVID-19 vaccine could spark fewer side effects

Compared to vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer, the newly approved Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine could trigger fewer allergic reactions, headaches, sore muscles, and other adverse effects, says Brandon Dionne, a pharmacy professor at Northeastern.

by Hillary Chabot March 1, 2021

Photo by Ruby Wallau/Northeastern University

Here’s how the Johnson & Johnson vaccine compares to others

The one-dose vaccine, which is under review by the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization, is somewhat effective against new variants of coronavirus and doesn’t require special freezers for storage or shipment.

by Emily Arntsen - contributor February 11, 2021

As vaccine rollout falls short and desperation for COVID-19 prevention soars, public health agencies around the world are forced to consider other options for maximizing the vaccine doses available. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Changing vaccine dosage is risky without clinical trials, experts say

As vaccine rollout falls short and desperation for COVID-19 prevention soars, the United Kingdom has approved mixing doses from competing companies, and the United States is considering half doses. Northeastern experts are skeptical of the effectiveness of these strategies without seeing the evidence first.

by Emily Arntsen January 7, 2021

Demand for dry ice is has sky rocketed in the past weeks as COVID-19 vaccine distribution finally begins in the U.S. The vaccines must be preserved in extremely cold temperatures. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University

Dry ice can do more than make fog. It’s key to keeping the COVID-19 vaccine cold.

With the start of COVID-19 vaccine distribution rolling out across the United States this week, dry ice has become a hot commodity. Will production be able to keep up with the recent spike in demand? John Engen, distinguished professor of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern, isn’t worried about it.

by Emily Arntsen December 14, 2020