Nov. 8 - Pre-holiday COVID vaccination, Innovator Award winners
Section 1
2021: A UCI Odyssey. Those are not Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick’s monoliths but decorative slats outside the Merage School of Business. Photo by Ian Parker
In this continuing series, UCI experts answer questions about COVID-19, vaccinations, variants or the future of work. Submit questions via email.
Today's question is answered by Dr. E.R. Chulie Ulloa, assistant professor of pediatric infectious diseases:
Since my child will not be able to get both doses of the vaccine before we leave town for Thanksgiving, should we wait until we get back to schedule the first shot?
(From The Washington Post)
One dose is better than no dose. I anticipate children, even after one dose, will have a pretty strong protection, but you will need that second dose to get you closer to 100%. Also taking into consideration different individuals, children who are immunocompromised or who have underlying conditions that may reduce their response to the first dose — in general, starting the series sooner rather than later is best, especially going into the holiday season.
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
Awards presented to faculty for outstanding work in innovation
Three professors received UCI Innovator Awards at the fourth annual Beall Applied Innovation event that honors faculty and researchers who are working to promote commercialization of university innovations and intellectual property. Iryna Zenyuk, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and associate director of the National Fuel Cell Research Center, received the Emerging Innovation/Early Career Innovator of the Year award for her work in electrochemical engineering. Daniele Piomelli, Distinguished Professor of anatomy & neurobiology, Louise Turner Arnold chair in neurosciences and director of the Center for the Study of Cannabis, was given the Entrepreneurial Leader of the Year award for his research of the body’s endocannabinoid system. Sunny Jiang, professor and chair of civil and environmental engineering, was bestowed the Innovator of the Year award for her research in applied and environmental microbiology. Each received a trophy and $5,000 cash.
Flu vaccine reminder
The UC issued an executive order that requires all students and employees to get vaccinated against influenza or submit a declination form. To comply, visit the UCI Occupational Health Campus Portal, select the “Seasonal Flu Vaccination” option and follow the steps. The deadline for receiving a shot or submitting a declination form is Nov. 19.
Freed from incontinence by an implant
For years, Melissa Der Manouel suffered from urinary and fecal incontinence and the limits to her lifestyle that were imposed. Then in October 2018, under the care of UCI Health urogynecologist Dr. Felicia Lane, Der Manouel joined a two-year study and became the first U.S. patient to receive an Axonics implant. The study’s results, published this year by Lane and her team, were overwhelmingly positive, and today Der Manouel is thrilled to have her life back.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
Pfizer-BioNTech to seek authorization for booster for anyone 18 or older
Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech are expected to seek authorization for their coronavirus vaccine booster shot for anyone 18 and older, a move that could increase booster rates at a critical moment in the pandemic. The request, which may be filed as soon as this week, is likely to win the backing of the Food and Drug Administration, according to three officials who requested anonymity.
Regeneron says its antibody drug cut risk of COVID by 82%
Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. said its monoclonal antibody drug REGEN-COV continued to provide strong protection against coronavirus infection for eight months, reducing the risk of contracting the disease by 81.6% compared with a placebo. Data from a long-term study suggests the drug could be an attractive option for people who don’t respond to vaccines because they have impaired immune systems, according to the company.
As rules ease, travelers head to U.S. for emotional reunions
Today’s lifting of U.S. travel restrictions from a long list of countries—including Mexico, Canada and most of Europe—set the stage for emotional reunions nearly two years in the making. At Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, Gaye Camara said of her husband in New York she has not seen since the COVID-19 outbreak, “I’m going to jump into his arms, kiss him, touch him.”
EVENTS
Veterans Day Ceremony
Wednesday, 9 a.m. (sponsored by Veteran Services Center)
Disinformation in American Elections Part III: Social Scientists
Wednesday, 12:15 p.m. (sponsored by Fair Elections and Free Speech Center)
Get Involved in Research
Wednesday, 1 p.m. (sponsored by Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program)
LITUS: Petr Hunt
Wednesday, 5 p.m. (sponsored by International Center)
UCI Small Jazz Groups - Fall 2021
Wednesday, 8 p.m. (sponsored by Department of Music)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
University of California: California Leadership in Climate Justice
COP26 (video), Nov. 8
Moderator: Michael Méndez, assistant professor of urban planning & public policy
America can’t fix policing without fixing the country’s gun problem
Vox, Nov. 6
Cited: Emily Owens, professor of criminology, law and society
Trailblazer
Irvine Standard, Nov. 2
Cited: Carlos Herrera, doctor of pharmacy student, and Jan Hirsch, founding dean of the School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences