COVID variant

Crystal Wix, RN, foreground, and care partner Carolyn Forgac work with a patient in the COVID intensive care unit in September 2021.
March 3, 2022

COVID-19: two years of challenges, lessons, victories

Two years ago this week, the cataclysmic coronavirus known as SARS-CoV-2 arrived in Middle Tennessee.

By Bill Snyder
Cody Stubblefield, RN, gives the first of two injections of an antibody combination to Caroline Davis to protect her from COVID-19.
February 9, 2022

Vanderbilt and CDC research shows third vaccine dose key to preventing omicron hospitalization

Vanderbilt research shows that two doses of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine result in lower effectiveness for preventing hospitalization for the omicron variant than previous variants. However, importantly, a third (“booster”) vaccine dose significantly improves protection against omicron hospitalization up to 86%.

By Kristin Smart
January 20, 2022

Omicron evades some but not all monoclonal antibodies: study

A new study found that several, but not all, of the human monoclonal antibodies used clinically to prevent patients from becoming severely ill from COVID-19 may not be protective against the Omicron variant now sweeping across the United States.

By Bill Snyder
Infectious diseases experts at VUMC offer their insights on best practices for navigating holiday gatherings during the ongoing pandemic.
December 8, 2021

Weigh risks, plan ahead prior to gathering for the holidays

Vanderbilt University Medical Center infectious disease experts advise this is the season to think very wisely about planned get-togethers.

By Jill Clendening
October 6, 2021

Pediatricians seeing increase in children with MIS-C after latest COVID surge

By Jessica Pasley
September 22, 2021

Rounds: Hard conversations

By Doug Campbell
September 22, 2021

“Ultra-potent” antibody against COVID-19 variants isolated at VUMC

A technology developed at Vanderbilt has led to the discovery of an “ultra-potent” monoclonal antibody against multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, including the delta variant.
By Bill Snyder
August 11, 2021

Family pediatricians should be first line of defense for COVID concerns

As the more contagious delta variant of COVID-19 spreads, impacting children, pediatricians at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt say there are steps parents can take to help keep their children safe.
By Jessica Pasley
August 10, 2021

Shared antibodies may push COVID-19 variants: VUMC study

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found that people recovering from COVID-19 and those vaccinated against the causative virus, SARS-CoV-2, produce identical clones, or groups, of antibody-producing white blood cells.
By Bill Snyder
July 19, 2021

Update on COVID-19 for VUMC workforce: what you need to know

COVID-19 is still very much part of our daily lives, and infection rates are on the increase in the community. VUMC continues to effectively manage COVID-19, and outpatient and inpatient volumes are back to pre-COVID levels.
By VUMC News and Communications
July 19, 2021

Statement from VUMC: COVID-19 vaccination continues to be the way forward

Last week, Vanderbilt University Medical Center announced that COVID-19 vaccinations for leaders will become mandatory. This was a carefully considered step forward in VUMC’s ongoing efforts to protect its patients and employees from the SARS-CoV-2 virus and its variants.
By VUMC News and Communications
June 22, 2021

Combination antibody therapies should retain effectiveness against emerging COVID-19 variants: study

Five monoclonal antibody “cocktails,” including one developed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC), are protective in animal studies against several variant strains of COVID-19, according to a report this week in the journal Nature.
By Bill Snyder
April 29, 2021

VUMC team screens high school for SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatic infections

Under the SARS CoV-2 Return to School Saliva Opt-in Screening Study, which began last November at University School of Nashville, a research team from Vanderbilt University Medical Center is testing a solution for efficient asymptomatic disease surveillance and control.
By Paul Govern