GRI Resilience Roundup Week of December 14, 2020
This week, after almost 10 months of uncertainty, loss, and lockdowns, the first round of COVID-19 vaccines was administered to key populations across the world. And while this development brought immense relief to many, it also raised concerns surrounding the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. From side effects and dosage to immunity and the anatomy of a vaccine – the questions were aplenty.
Throughout the pandemic, GRI has demonstrated that an informed community is a resilient community. With the support of our diverse partners and experts, GRI has worked tirelessly to provide essential resources in multiple languages that inform, protect, and strengthen resilience, globally.
Therefore, to answer questions that envelope the COVID-19 vaccine, this week’s resilience roundup features the launch of COVID-19 Vaccines 101: an online resource created by GRI and Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University.
This week’s happenings:
Vaccines are foundational to modern public health. They’ve eliminated debilitating illnesses, and significantly improved our quality of life. In the 20th Century, they took many years to develop, however scientific advances in 2020 have accelerated the development and approval of COVID-19 vaccines in a little under a year. Therefore, this module aims to help individuals make informed decisions about the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines.
GRI Faculty Affiliate Gene Tunik, associate dean of research and innovation at Northeastern from the Bouvé College of Health Sciences moderated a conversation with expert panelists who answered pressing vaccine questions in anticipation of this pivotal step in ending the pandemic.
Schools play a vital role in the support and resilience of a community. This intricate system was completely disrupted during the pandemic when K-12 education shifted online. This special investigation report considers the key impacts of COVID-19 on the educational sector as it relates to the economic implications for families, communities, and states in New England. Furthermore, this report emphasizes the uneven and unequal impacts of COVID-19 experienced by vulnerable populations.
In an interview with the New York Times, GRI Faculty Affiliate Beth Molnar says: “I think it will be a few years before gathering with large groups of people in crowded public places and being on airplanes and other public transportation will feel safe to me.”
With two vaccines on their way, and a whirlpool of information mixed with misinformation, having a trustworthy source to turn to, is key to building individual resilience. In Medical Economics, GRI Faculty Affiliate Timothy Hoff writes that without a regular source of primary care that patients can turn to, a critical voice for vaccine legitimacy could be lost.
Bonus: How to be Safe and Resilient
To have the greatest success in flattening the curve and delaying cases of COVID-19, the skills that each of these educational modules seeks to develop must be practiced by as many of us as possible. We all have a role in helping to elevate awareness of these vital practices to make us safe.
To see more resilience news, expert publications, and upcoming events, visit globalresilience.northeastern.edu/resources