Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Is bird flu a risk yet to people?
The recent transmission pattern of H5N1 avian flu concerns epidemiologists and public health officials.
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Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Should you be concerned about mpox?
The best way to suppress the spread of mpox both in Africa and around the world is via vaccination.
Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Is the (Google) doctor in?
There is nothing wrong with taking ownership of one’s health. However, online searches should not be the endpoint for your self-diagnosis.
Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: What should we fear with AI in medicine?
AI medical systems can process information more quickly than any human clinician. Yet using this technology in health care also has risks.
Sheldon H. Jacobson and Dr. Janet A. Jokela: Measles is making a comeback. Should we be concerned?
The risks to children in contracting measles are greater than the perception many people have.
Sheldon Jacobson and Janet Jokela: Will we have a severe flu season? It doesn’t need to be that way.
Flu season is fast approaching. Flu shots are now available, containing strains recommended by the Food and Drug Administration's vaccine advisory committee in March. Given the long lead time required...
Sheldon Jacobson and Janet Jokela: Will vaccine fatigue affect how many people get the bivalent booster?
Pfizer's and Moderna's bivalent boosters, which are now available to many age groups, offer protection against the original COVID-19 virus plus the BA.4 and BA.5 omicron subvariants. Is the nation...
Sheldon Jacobson and Janet A. Jokela: We need clear and sensible information about when to wear a face mask
The CDC guidelines on community risk (which effectively provides guidance on when to wear a face mask in public venues) focuses on new infection rates, hospitalization admissions, and hospital bed...
Op-ed: Require COVID vaccine for all Illinois public college students
Gov. J.B. Pritzker has toyed with the idea of mandating that all college students at state schools be vaccinated prior to their return to campus in the fall. Although elected...
Commentary: Rural Illinois must embrace CDC guidelines and more testing for COVID-19
This spring, Chicago was one of the nation's COVID-19 epicenters. Illinois' rural communities were largely spared any COVID-19 carnage, anxiously waiting for the impending surge of cases and deaths that...