community health

Black Americans who were initially hesitant about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine were more likely than whites to warm up to the idea as the pandemic wore on and to view vaccines as necessary for protection, a new study has found.

The research highlights the importance of not making assumptions about race-based viewpoints regarding health care, and illustrates the likelihood that access — not just distrust or skepticism — is a significant obstacle to higher levels of COVID-19 protection among Black Americans, the study authors said.

Monitoring and slowing the spread of COVID-19 within the Ohio State student community has been a complex and, at times, daunting task — one that the College of Public Health began in spring 2020 with university-wide contact tracing and leadership on data-driven health recommendations. 

The 15 minutes it took one Columbus family to get tested for COVID-19 meant the difference between taking their unknowingly infected 7-year-old son to a birthday party, as planned, or going straight back home to set up a telehealth appointment with his pediatrician. 

Milli Osei-Tutu was supposed to study abroad in Spain to complete her public health capstone experience, but COVID-19 changed her plans. Instead, the graduating senior in public health sociology has been a key player in central Ohio’s vaccine rollout as an intern for Franklin County Emergency Management and Homeland Security.

Since the earliest days of the COVID-19 outbreak, myths about the virus have run rampant. Many of those myths have been petrifying and even dangerous, so having the actual facts in front of you is crucial for clarity and peace of mind.

Luckily, we have Dr. Bill Miller of Ohio State’s College of Public Health here to help us debunk, demystify and detangle the current myths around the virus, vaccines, testing and masks.

So without further ado, let’s let Dr. Miller clear up seven of the current COVID-19 myths:

Israel has earned global attention for its accelerated COVID-19 vaccine distribution — with nearly half the nation's population having received the first vaccine dose as of mid-February.

On Feb. 16, the College of Public Health hosted Israeli public health expert Dr. Nadav Davidovitch of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev for a virtual conversation about his country’s vaccine successes and challenges — and what lessons the U.S. can take away.