Experience Life highlights recommendations of Walt Dawson, D.Phil., and co-authors on the need to strengthen the nation’s safety net for people in need of long-term services and support.

In a discussion on various aspects of vaccines, Dawn Nolt, M.D., says: “No vaccine is 100% effective at preventing you from getting sick, so we should not change our behavior at this time. Keep doing the masking and physical distancing, even if you are vaccinated.”

Paul Yang, M.D., Ph.D., is a new member of Nanoscope Therapeutics’ clinical advisory board.

Christina Milano, M.D., Kara Connelly, M.D., Jess Guerriero, M.S.W., and others co-authored an op-ed that reads in part: “Children and teens should never be the wedge in politics, and neither should marginalized groups. Gender diverse youth have a right to live healthy and meaningful lives and to make it to adulthood.”

The OHSU/PSU School of Public Health is one of four co-owners of the seven-story, $111-million Vanport Building, which opened in downtown Portland in January 2021.

OHSU asks patients to bring an insurance card to their vaccination appointment if they have insurance coverage because vaccine providers can bill public and private insurance a fee to help reimburse the cost of giving each vaccination.

A forecast by Peter Graven, Ph.D., predicts Oregon’s COVID-19 daily case count will nearly double to 1,210 by May 4, and the number of hospitalized patients will increase 66% to about 330 in mid-May.

Moody’s Investors Services affirms OHSU’s Aa3 revenue bond rating.

An OHSU study will observe the impacts of COVID-19 infection and vaccination on immune systems during pregnancy and lactation; Nicole Marshall, M.D., M.C.R., says: “The immune system is complex and changes regularly over the course of pregnancy. What we hope to uncover is whether or not there may be specific timeframes during pregnancy when a person may be more or less susceptible to the benefits of vaccine. Additionally, how do factors, such as the mother’s underlying health conditions, changing body mass index or diabetes in pregnancy, impact antibody development?”

Johanna Warren, M.D., provides tips to individuals preparing to receive their COVID-19 vaccine: “What we do not recommend is any kind of pre-medication with any Tylenol, Ibuprofen, anything like that because we want to give your immune system its best shot at being able to mount an immune response.”