Infectious Diseases

A Yahoo! Life article on the Novavax vaccine quotes Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “We now have enough COVID-19 vaccine to vaccinate everyone we want,” Russo says. “But Novavax has a chance to be a niche vaccine for those individuals that believe the mRNA vaccines are ‘experimental.’ As a result, we may be able to move the dial with these people.”

An article in Health on the FDA approving Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine quotes Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “The FDA-approved vaccine is the exact same Moderna COVID-19 vaccine that had previously been operating under an EUA, according to Russo. "If you've already gotten your primary Moderna series, it doesn't change anything," he says. “In short: The vaccine you previously received has since been approved by the FDA.”

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School was quoted in Prevention in an article on the Stealth Omicron variant. “Omicron has branched into three lineages, explains Russo, “BA.1, BA.2, and BA.3. Because BA.1 has spread the most rapidly around the world, it’s gotten the most attention, Dr. Russo says—but BA.2 is starting to gain steam, too.” The article was carried by Yahoo! Life.

An article in Yahoo! Life about why omicron causes headaches quotes Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “Omicron in particular seems to focus more on the upper respiratory tract, which includes your sinuses,” says Russo. “A headache commonly occurs with inflammation of the sinuses.” Russo says it’s highly plausible that people infected with Omicron would develop a headache. The article also appeared in Good Housekeeping.

The Herald (Zimbabwe) published an article about why omicron causes headaches quotes Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. “Omicron in particular seems to focus more on the upper respiratory tract, which includes your sinuses,” says Russo. “A headache commonly occurs with inflammation of the sinuses.” Russo says it’s highly plausible that people infected with Omicron would develop a headache. The article previously appeared in Yahoo! Life and Good Housekeeping.

Verywell health quoted Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in a story about how COVID-19 vaccine side effects may come from one’s expectations, not the shot. Russo said the nocebo effect is common, and that’s why it’s so important that when researchers are testing the efficacy of treatments like vaccines, they “run a control or placebo group.” Russo added that the nocebo effect doesn’t just happen with COVID shots. “In any trial, there are side effects in the placebo group,” and “it’s how people react when they perceive that they receive something versus the true cause and effect of that something.”

MSN.com republished a Prevention article that quotes the Jacobs School’s Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases, on what a dry cough actually feels like for COVID-19. Russo recommends keeping an eye on your cough to make sure it’s not getting worse. “If you feel your cough is deep down in your lungs, it’s good to monitor your oxygen levels through a home pulse oximeter,” he says. He suggests calling your doctor about next steps if your oxygen levels dip below 94%, provided they’ve been consistently higher in the past. “The trend is important,” he says. “If your baseline is higher and dropping [call your doctor],” he says. If your baseline is lower and stable, Russo recommends that you continue to monitor your symptoms. The big concern, he says, is the possibility of COVID pneumonia.

A CNBC Indonesia story about whether it’s possible to catch the omicron and delta variants of COVID-19 at the same time quotes Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

WKBW-TV spoke with Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School, for an explanation about the meaning of the “endemic phase,” which is likely the next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The endemic phase will look similar to what we see each year with flu. A minimal number of cases throughout most of the year, virtually no hospitalizations in the warmer months, and as the respiratory virus season approaches we may have a bump in cases,” Russo said.

Prevention quoted Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School, in a story on why public health experts are monitoring bird flu in the U.S.

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School, was quoted in a yahoo!news story explaining the significance of omicron’s short incubation period. “You want to jump on those home tests after about day three of being exposed so you can isolate yourself from others if you’re positive,” he says. If you’re positive, it also means that you may be able to access treatments like monoclonal antibodies or antiviral medications sooner if you’re considered high risk for serious complications from the virus. “Overall, you just have to be ready to be a little more expedient in your actions,” he adds. Yahoo!news also quoted him in a story in which experts say parents with kids who are too young to get vaccinated need a “blanket rule” for spending time with unvaccinated adults.

Shape magazine sought out Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School, and his expertise for a story on how internal vibrations and buzzing sensations have emerged as symptoms of long COVID-19.

Yahoo!life and MSN quoted Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, in a story about how to treat and recover from COVID-19 at home. MSN also quoted Russo in a story about the federal government’s plan to distribute free N95 masks following the emergence of the omicron variant. N95 masks, also known as N95 respirators, are considered the best face masks you can get to help protect against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, Russo explained.

Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School, commented for a story carried by MSN and Yahoo!Lifestyle about the CDC’s updated guidance on face coverings meant to curb the spread of COVID-19, and the difference between KN95 and N95 masks. “KN95 masks are the Chinese version of N95 masks, explained Russo. “These are certified by the Chinese government and also filter out up to 95% of aerosols.”

While there haven’t been any documented reports of coinfections with the delta and omicron variants yet, Thomas A. Russo, MD, SUNY Distinguished Professor of medicine and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases in the Jacobs School, was quoted in Lifestyle Asia saying it could happen. “It’s absolutely possible from a molecular point of view,” said Russo.