COVID-19

August 18, 2020

Flu shots available beginning week of Sept. 7

This year’s effort by Vanderbilt University Medical Center to protect its people from influenza will be the most important in a century. With COVID-19 already prevalent, consuming precious health care resources, endangering lives, and so far, killing more than 170,000 Americans, this is not the year to shun getting a flu vaccine.

By John Howser
August 10, 2020

New analysis finds association between masking requirements and slower growth in COVID-19 hospitalizations

In a new analysis, researchers from the Department of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Vanderbilt University Medical Center have found a relationship between the growth of hospitalizations and masking requirements put in place across the state.

By Jake Lowary
August 5, 2020

Greg Rhinehart’s 3-D printing hobby comes to the rescue to repair respirator masks

He figured out how to make a four-cent part that repairs $1,500 personal protective equipment for COVID caregivers

By Matt Batcheldor
August 5, 2020

COVID unit nurse speaks from the heart about the impact of the disease and the importance of masking

At the mayor’s press conference Cody Hamilton told of the toll COVID takes on those who have the disease, and those who care for them

By Matt Batcheldor
July 29, 2020

Study finds patients defer routine health care during pandemic

During February and March at two large academic medical centers in Nashville and Boston, screening for high cholesterol and high blood sugar dropped 81-90% and initiation of drug therapy for these conditions dropped 52-60%.

By Paul Govern
July 24, 2020

Health, well-being and food security of families deteriorating under COVID-19 stress

The ongoing disruptive changes from efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19 are having a substantial negative impact on the physical and mental well-being of parents and their children across the country, according to a new national survey published today in Pediatrics.

By Holly Fletcher
July 22, 2020

Study to explore how COVID affects cognition over time

The Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction and Survivorship Center at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is following patients who have been hospitalized for COVID-19 over time to see if they develop long-term cognitive impairment, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
By Nancy Humphrey
July 22, 2020

New data offer insights on COVID treatments for people with cancer

Newly released data on treatment outcomes of people with cancer diagnosed with COVID-19 reveal a racial disparity in access to Remdesivir, an antiviral drug that has been shown to shorten hospital stays, and increased mortality associated with dexamethasone, a steroid that has had the opposite effect in the general patient population.
By Tom Wilemon
July 16, 2020

Button Project lets children see the faces behind the masks

Children and their families who come to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt for their care are used to seeing the friendly faces and smiles of staff, nurses and doctors.
By Christina Echegaray
July 16, 2020

Investigational glaucoma drug studied to prevent respiratory distress in COVID-19 patients

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is evaluating razuprotafib, a drug being investigated for the treatment of glaucoma, in a new randomized, investigational trial for the prevention and treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in adult patients with moderate to severe COVID-19.
By VUMC News and Communications
July 15, 2020

Antibody research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center shows promise in fight against COVID-19

Based on positive results in preclinical studies reported today, potently neutralizing antibodies identified by researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center are showing promise as a potential therapy for preventing and treating COVID-19.
By Bill Snyder
July 15, 2020

Vanderbilt University Medical Center to recruit up to 1,000 volunteers for COVID-19 vaccine Trial

In late July, Vanderbilt University Medical Center will begin recruiting up to 1,000 volunteers in a late-stage study of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine developed by Moderna Inc. in collaboration with the Vaccine Research Center of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health.
By Bill Snyder
July 14, 2020

VUMC studies provide key positive results for COVID-19 vaccine in early-stage clinical trial

An experimental coronavirus vaccine stimulated robust immune responses against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and raised no serious safety concerns in an early-stage clinical trial.
By Leigh MacMillan