Hiv infections

There are other constantly changing factors—those “moving targets”—to consider. One is mutations of the coronavirus, such as the so-called U.K. strain, which could be 40% to 70% more infectious. This wasn’t taken into account in the CDC’s scientific modeling for the herd immunity threshold, and it will need to be for future models. But it could mean that the thresholds, for both herd immunity and the drop in cases, will be pushed higher by more infectious variants. “The more contagious the virus,” Schaffner says, “the higher the proportion of the population you have to vaccinate in order to reduce transmission.” Measles, for instance, is much more contagious, and its herd immunity threshold is around 95%, versus the seasonal flu’s, at around 33% to 44%. … [Read more...] about How many people need to be vaccinated before COVID-19 transmission starts to drop?

“Front door to the health industry” Andrew Dudum, the founder and CEO of Hims, describes his company as the “front door to the health industry.” The people who walk through that door may not have a primary care doctor and are looking for treatments for specific issues: erectile dysfunction, hair growth, acne, and anxiety and depression. The products are heavily branded with the dirty pastels that have come to represent the millennial generation. The ideal Hims customers are too busy to go to the doctor, even if they have insurance, and needs a quick fix for what ails them that they can pay for in cash. … [Read more...] about Hims just went public. What does that mean for the future of healthcare?

When you build a brand, one of the most important measures of success is the actual engagement and connection of your loyal customers, followers, supporters, partners, fans and friends–your community. With the arrival of the digital age and 24/7 connectivity, social platforms are forcing companies to find new and compelling ways to keep up with daily communication and connection with the people who matter the most. Marketers are being forced to change their habits, moving from a reliance on traditional content marketing to editorialized “content curation” that delivers compelling points of view in an organized, entertaining or educational fashion, offering consumers different reasons to connect and engage with brands. So, if you’ve spent the past decade focused on content marketing, how do you make the switch to digital curation? … [Read more...] about How To Connect People Who Are Fired Up For Change

A divisive political landscape was a defining attribute of 2020, and will continue to be one in 2021. However, one universally agreed-upon issue is the endlessly exhausting toll the pandemic has on caregivers. Working parents are facing brutal economic, healthcare, and childcare trade-offs. Nearly a year into the COVID-19 crisis, most people have exhausted their short-term leave options, and large numbers are simply leaving the workforce. In September 2020 at the start of the school year, 865,000 women dropped out of the labor force—or 4x the rate of men. COVID-19 has laid bare the gaps in our caregiving infrastructure. … [Read more...] about In the face of divisive politics, paid family leave should remain a bipartisan priority

We would expect to see anxiety levels rising during COVID-19, but in fact we first made this observation before the pandemic. Passengers reported that they experience anxiety about getting to the airport on time. They’re anxious about spending time in close proximity with strangers, TSA staff, and the airline crew. There’s anxiety about suitcases being over the weight limit, and about properly emptying their pockets before going through the TSA line. Even after clearing Security, there’s anxiety about boarding the flight and whether there will be room for a carry-on. COVID-19 compounds all these worries, as passengers shuffle through a seemingly motionless queue, struggling to keep a proper social distance. … [Read more...] about Three shockingly obvious ways to make flying less miserable