Public Health On Call

Back in April, Dr. Brendan Nyhan, an expert in the politics of misinformation about health, talked with guest host Dr. Colleen Barry, chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management, about social media, scientific uncertainty, and COVID-19's misinformation storm. Today, he returns to the podcast to discuss what we've learned about misinformation since then, why—like the virus itself—it's so hard to eradicate, and a new threat: how COVID-19 misinformation may impact the upcoming election. Nyhan also talks about how misinformation may be threatening the very fabric of democracy, and what social media platforms and leaders should be vigilant about in the days and weeks to come to promote the integrity of the election. KEYWORDS: health communication; political science

Today, we're releasing a special bonus episode with what might be an opportunity for you or for someone you know—a chance for a full scholarship to the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The program is called the Bloomberg Fellows Program and it's part of the Bloomberg American Health Initiative. You may be eligible to apply if you work in the United States now on one of these issues: addiction and overdose, adolescent health, environmental challenges, obesity and the food system, or violence. The deadline to apply for the program is December 1. Learn more at americanhealth.jhu.edu. In this episode, Fellowship staff, current students, and alumni speak about opportunities and experiences with the Fellowship program.

October 12 is Indigenous People's Day, a movement that originated in the late 1980s to address the erasure of history of America's indigenous people. Dr. Melissa Walls, director of the Great Lakes Hub for the Center for American Indian Health at Johns Hopkins and a member of the Bois Forte and Couchiching First Nation Anishinaabe, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the holiday that shares a date with a more well-known holiday. They discuss the need to overcome false narratives of the past, learn from the resilience of native communities and cultures, and appreciate the contributions that research in Native communities have made to scientific knowledge. KEYWORDS: racial disparity; substance use; health equity

Election season has begun and voting options vary by state. In this special bonus episode, the Center for Health Security's Dr. Caitlin Rivers and Dr. Josh Sharfstein break down what you need to know about the risks and safety precautions for on-site voting.

This week we put the former principal deputy commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, Dr. Josh Sharfstein, on the other side of the mic to answer questions about some of this week's remarkable list of COVID news. How damaging are conflicting messages from the White House about COVID-19? What happened between the FDA and the White House over COVID-19 vaccine safety? Is Regeneron, a cocktail of monoclonal antibodies, really a "cure"? And why is the New England Journal of Medicine heating up on social media? Dr. Sharfstein talks with Stephanie Desmon about all this and more. KEYWORDS: vaccine authorization; health communication; COVID-19 therapy

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health professor Keshia Pollack Porter and colleagues recently penned a Health Affairs blog calling for nonpartisan, objective analysis of legislation by a Congressional Health Office. The Office would evaluate and score legislation for intended and unintended impacts on health and equity, help educate policymakers, and advocate for "health in all policies." Dr. Porter talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how such a new office might work, and obstacles to its success. KEYWORDS: policy; social determinants of health

Molecular tests, antigen tests, antibody tests, nasopharyngeal, saliva, blood... When we talk about COVID-19 testing, what are we actually talking about? Dr. Yuka Manabe, a Johns Hopkins expert in infectious diseases and testing, talks with Stephanie Desmon about the various types and methods of COVID-19 testing, their pros and cons when it comes to convenience and accuracy, the type of testing used at the White House, how current testing can be improved, and what innovations we might see in the near future. KEYWORDS: testing methods; antibodies

COVID-19 drew the curtain on live theater across the country, putting 90% of the industry out of work. Producer and publicist Matt Ross is part of a COVID Theatre Think Tank, a research group of actors, directors, musicians, and many other industry professionals. Ross talks with Stephanie Desmon about how the group works closely with public health experts and advisors to "interpret the science for the field" and provides guidance on thinking about ways to safely resume some performances, considering factors like testing protocols, mask requirements, and ventilation. "The field thrives on creativity and innovation," Ross says. "[Our] responsibility is to provide the logistical and the science side." KEYWORDS: performing arts; pandemic response; unemployment

In a bonus episode recorded Sunday, October 4, Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the origins and consequences of the White House COVID-19 outbreak. They discuss what's needed to get the situation under control, the implications for upcoming debates, and the threat of this major outbreak cutting across the corridors of power in Washington, DC.

Six months ago, Dr. Lisa Maragakis was one of the podcast's very first guests and she talked about how Johns Hopkins was preparing for an influx of COVID-19 patients. Things have calmed down a bit since then, but cases have plateaued at a concerning level at the same time we're entering respiratory virus season. Dr. Maragakis talks with Dr. Josh Sharfstein about ongoing challenges in the hospital with having to conserve PPE and testing, pandemic fatigue, and the importance of getting a flu shot. They also discuss the possibility that vigilant social distancing, masks, and widespread vaccination and masks could help curb flu infections this year, reducing the risks of coinfection and diagnostic complications. KEYWORDS: co-infection; testing methods; pandemic response