Science Journalism and the Pandemic – A forum of the Brandeis Journalism Program examining the role of the news media in the public health fight against COVID-19 and the disinformation around it.

On World Obesity Day, join a panel of experts from The Obesity Society as they discuss the impact of COVID-19 on people with obesity. Three experts from Weill Cornell Medical College, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute of Mt. Sinai Hospital will deliver a ten minute “TED Talk” covering the epidemiology, risk factors, immune response, and the latest COVID-19 vaccine information that impacts people with obesity. A thirty-minute discussion moderated by Cathy Kotz, President of The Obesity Society closes the session.

On the one-year anniversary of the global declaration of the pandemic, this virtual event will convene leading scientific and medical experts to discuss the most pressing questions around the COVID-19 vaccines. Planned topics include the effect of the new circulating variants on the vaccines, what we know so far about transmission dynamics post-vaccination, how individuals can behave post-vaccination, the myths of “good” and “bad” vaccines as more alternatives come on board, and more.

In this webinar panelists will discuss emerging COVID-19 variants, how vaccines can adapt to these new variants, and other interventions that could help curb transmission.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. according to the American Diabetes Association. This observance is held every fourth Tuesday in March; it’s a one-day, “wake-up call” asking the American public to take the diabetes risk test to find out if they are likely to develop  type 2 diabetes. About 26.8% of (14.3 million) Americans age 65 and older with diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes. Left untreated or poorly managed, diabetes and related complications lead to excess hospitalization, millions in additional medical costs and premature death.