Blog by Insa Marie Schmidt, MD, MPH As COVID-19 continues to ravage the globe, several countries have now proposed to issue certifications proving that a person has developed immunity against the disease, either through recovery from infection or through a potential vaccine. These so-called “immunity passports” or “immunity-based licenses” would allow those who have antibodies […]
Tag: Blog
Human Trafficking: The Implications of COVID-19
Blog by Sonal Sian and Shalini Jose COVID-19 has had significant effects on vulnerable populations by exacerbating their exploitation and rendering them more susceptible to poor health outcomes. One particularly vulnerable population that has not received much attention is human trafficking victims. This is especially the case in India, where discussions about trafficking and its […]
In Times of Crisis: Remember Those Lost in the System
Blog by Caroline Lee One chilly fall night, I approached the apartment complex and climbed a steep and dilapidated concrete staircase leading up to the door. After entering, I was met with yet another set of staircases leading up to the residence, this time made out of wooden floorboards that audibly creaked with each step. […]
Social Inequity and Access to Mental Healthcare in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Blog by Dr. Migita D’cruz The novel coronavirus pandemic has been called the great equalizer or leveller of society. The grim reality, however, is that it is anything but that. The global response to the pandemic has accentuated, if not exacerbated existing social inequities and one of the corollaries to this is compromised mental […]
A Kafkaesque Pandemic
Blog by Cormac Francis Mullins and JJ Coughlan During the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, it was difficult not to experience a sense of claustrophobia. Confined to one’s room and sequestered from society and family, the dystopian universe we had been faced with felt oppressive and nightmarish. In many senses, it felt “Kafkaesque.” As […]
Des modèles aux récits et inversement: un appel à des analyses sur le terrain de la propagation et de la réponse du COVID-19 en Afrique
Cette semaine, BMJ Global Health a publié deux modèles mathématiques pour prédire le schéma de propagation et les conséquences potentielles du COVID-19 en Afrique. Ces deux documents sont en avance sur plusieurs autres de ces exercices prédictifs en ce sens qu’ils s’efforcent délibérément de prendre en compte les différentes manières dont les gens vivent leur vie […]
Response to “Make COVID-19 Visuals Gross”
Provocation by Han Yu In a provocation dated April 21, 2020, Bivens and Moeller argue that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s SARS-CoV-2 virus illustration, “while scientifically accurate and visually pleasing,” fails to convey “the exigency of the current pandemic…and the human toll” and doesn’t provoke publics to adopt behaviors (such as handwashing […]
‘Saving Face’ and Public Health Policy During Covid-19
Blog by Arthur Rose and Luna Dolezal Criticisms of the Chinese response to the coronavirus pandemic have frequently used “saving face” to explain China’s politicized public health strategy. “Saving face” has also been used to explain Japan’s delayed decision to cancel the 2020 Olympics and Pakistan’s return to work on the Belt and Road project. […]
The Added Challenges of a Pandemic Without Universal Coverage in America
Blog by Sonia Ruparell A 25 year-old woman walked into the ER carrying a portable oxygen tank, wearing a colorful homemade mask. I noticed her heart rate was high as she laid down on the gurney, complaining of terrible pain in her arms and legs. In her backpack was a notebook with all of […]
The Opportunity of Crisis
Blog by Austin O Carroll The Chinese understand the word crisis to mean danger with opportunity. A crisis can harness many responses, some of which can resolve in a short space of time what have been age-old problems. The issue of homelessness has dominated Irish media headlines for over a decade. It has also been […]