Pfizer’s COVID-19 booster appears to protect against the Omicron variant for at least four months, according to a new study. “The current vaccine is good for prevention of severe disease, hospitalization and death,” said Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, distinguished chair in innovations in molecular biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch and senior author of the study.

The University of Texas Medical Branch uses a population health analytics engine to find and address potential gaps in care, said Craig S. Kovacevich, associate vice president of community and population health at UTMB. This allows his staff to use large amounts of data they've collected, looking at the clinic, provider and patient level. “One of the other components that we have done a lot of work in is really diving into the no-shows, trying to see which patients are not showing up and then doing some deep dives," he said.

Rizwana Sultana, a pediatric sleep medicine specialist and assistant professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, says the design of your bedroom should be tailored specifically to you. “Use a design which appeals to you, feels comfortable and provides a sense of calm,” Sultana said.

New research from the University of Texas Medical Branch shows that a behavioral test to determine anosmia—the loss of the sense of smell—could help determine the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and therapeutics. “This test may contribute to the speedy testing of antivirals and potentially to the development of therapeutics to help aid those suffering from anosmia related to COVID-19,” said Dr. Slobodan Paessler, a virologist at UTMB.

Dr. Victor S. Sierpina shared insights from a speech by Dr. Kendall Campbell, the chair of family medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch. “We just cannot move forward without hope,” Sierpina wrote. “By joining hope with our deepest purposes, we create value for not only ourselves but for those around us.”

Pfizer and BioNTech have begun a clinical trial for their omicron-specific COVID-19 vaccine candidate. For background, CNN also reported that a new preprint lab study suggests that antibodies against the omicron coronavirus variant remain robust four months after a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. “Additional real world effectiveness data and laboratory investigations will further inform the duration of protection, potential need for an additional dose at a later time, and whether an Omicron modified vaccine is required,” said the study from researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Pfizer and BioNTech. Many national and international news outlets shared the CNN story.

A new study shows high levels of coronavirus antibodies that fight the omicron variant four months after a third dose of the Pfizer vaccine, a positive sign for the durability of a booster shot’s effectiveness. Pei-Yong Shi, one of the authors of the study at the University of Texas Medical Branch, told The Washington Post that the study “shows that at least up to four months, post-dose three, there is still substantial neutralizing activity against omicron.” Several U.S. newspapers, television stations and online news outlets shared The Hill’s story.

The recent spike in COVID-19 cases caused by the less severe but more contagious omicron variant shouldn’t delude the amazing achievements that have been made against the virus, UTMB Health’s chief medical and clinical innovation officer told a virtual audience Thursday. “I think it is important to credit everyone around the world who has come together, and I cannot think of any other disease in my core memory when we have made this much progress in such a short amount of time,” Dr. Gulshan Sharman said. “I also want to get one thing straight. There is no shame is being positive and no pride in being negative. There is no stigma.”