Infectious Diseases

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, spoke to Health.com about the Pfizer vaccine. Full approval should put to bed concerns that the vaccine isn't safe, Russo said. One more thing that can happen with FDA approval: Pfizer can now advertise the vaccine. “I’m not sure if there is a need for that, but it’s now able to happen,” he said.

John A. Sellick Jr., DO, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, was interviewed for a story on the FDA’s full approval of the Pfizer vaccine. “We are hopeful that the people who were concerned — even though it was the wrong term, they said it was an 'experimental vaccine' — they will see that we have a very high safety and efficacy record and this will prompt some of them to get vaccinated.”

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, was quoted in stories on why taking ivermectin to treat COVID-19 is a bad idea. “There is no data to support that it works,” he says. “It’s best not to take it.”

An article Syracuse.com on the dangers of large gatherings during the lingering stages of COVID-19, specifically the New York State Fair,  quotes Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “If you’re unvaccinated, you’re at increased risk,” said Russo. “The unvaccinated are the main drivers of the pandemic. They’re the ones largely getting infected, largely transmitting the virus to others, and they are the ones landing in hospitals and dying.” The article was widely reprinted in publications including MSN and NYup.com.

An article on Mashable about living with the Delta variant quotes Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “If your shields are down, then your likelihood of getting seriously ill is significantly higher," explained Russo, according to the article. “The preventative solution is obvious, just as it was for the crippling disease polio and the deadly malady smallpox: vaccines. You should have a plan to be vaccinated as soon as possible.” “Today, with a far more transmissible respiratory virus, it will be hard for the unvaccinated to avoid eventually getting, and possibly spreading disease,” according to the article. "I don't think there's any hiding from this virus," said Russo.” The article was also published in Jioforme and other media.

A story on Spectrum Local News about COVID-19 vaccines boosters quotes Timothy Murphy, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biological Sciences. "We know from the studies that have been done, that this will give an enormous leap and jump in protection,” said Murphy. “Even more than the first booster.” “Murphy says the booster will give 30 to 40 times higher levels of antibodies and therefore more protection against the coronavirus,” according to the article. “Doctors say the recommendation is proving to people that the vaccine is a necessary thing.

Health.com reporting on a North Carolina boy who died from a rare “brain-eating amoeba” after swimming in a freshwater quoted Timothy Murphy, senior associate dean for clinical and translational research at the Jacobs School. "There have been so few cases in the last 10 years, and millions of people swim in warm, freshwater each year," Murphy said. “But if you or your loved one is the one person it happens to once in a blue moon, it doesn't matter how rare it is,” according to the article. That's why Dr. Murphy recommends simply being ‘aware that it can happen.’ The article with Murphy’s comments was also reposted in MSN and other national and international news outlets.

Very Well Health quotes John Sellick, professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in an article on whether COVID-19 can disrupt the body’s fight-or-flight response. “You can’t deny any of (the studies),” Sellick says. “The problem is that there’s so much variability from person to person with the sympathetic nervous system.”

Numerous stations under the Spectrum News media group quoted Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in a story on the dangers of COVID-19 at large gatherings. “Dr. Russo says while the risk is lower being outside than inside, concerns still exist when that many people get together, especially with the delta variant,” according to the article. "So much virus is shed by infected individuals,” Russo said. “So if you're outdoors and you're going to be in close proximity with someone for a prolonged period of time, particularly if there's very little wind to dilute or redistribute the virus, using a mask will afford a certain degree of protection.”

The Buffalo News reports on COVID-19 genomic sequencing in Erie County led by UB researchers that found the dominant strain of the virus in Western New York is now the Delta variant. “I was expecting to see a lot of Delta, but I was surprised that it was virtually all Delta at this point,” said Jennifer Surtees, associate professor of biochemistry in the Jacobs School. “It was a quick shift.” The article also quotes John Sellick, professor of medicine in the Jacobs School. “This variant does not escape the vaccine,” he said. “Some people will get a mild reinfection but almost all the deaths and hospitalizations we’ve seen are among the unvaccinated and it’s not a large number.” Also reporting on the research were WIVB-TV, Niagara Gazette, The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal, and Spectrum News affiliates.

Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the Jacobs School was quoted by KCBS Radio (San Francisco) on a new study that shows encouraging evidence about the effectiveness of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine. “The data from South Africa is largely encouraging,’ Russo said. “The J and J vaccine where the delta variant was the dominant strain of the study shows that the degree of protection against bad outcomes and mortality was in the 91 to 95 percent range.”

John A. Sellick Jr., DO, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases, noted that any links tying constipation to COVID-19 are not very strong. “Given how prevalent constipation is in the general population of the U.S. (afflicting an estimated at 42 million people), it’s difficult to say if COVID-19 actually causes the condition or if it’s a coincidence when it does happen in COVID-19 patients.”

Very Well Health quotes John Sellick, professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in a story on U.S. cities requiring proof of vaccination for indoor activities. Sellick points out these vaccination requirements might not make a difference in some cities. "Places like New York City have reasonably high vaccination rates, so some of it might be preaching to the choir," said Sellick.

An article in Yahoo! News on militant anti-mask crowds in Tennessee quotes Thomas Russo, chief of infectious diseases at the Jacobs School, on the need and safety for masks. “Vaccination and careful safety protocols like mask wearing are crucial to protect students,” Russo said. “At the end of the day, many K-12 children are yet to be vaccinated, and a critical piece of any mitigation plan until that can happen is going to be mask usage.”

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, was quoted in a report that looks at who is eligible for a third dose of COVID-19 vaccine. “There's an increasing amount of data that exists that (immunocompromised individuals’) response to the vaccination is sub-optimal. There’s also an increasing amount of data that shows that vaccinated people who land in the hospital and get more severely ill these are the individuals that’s occurring with. Lastly, there’s an increasing body that shows if they receive a third shot, it enhances their antibody response.”