Robert L. Quigley, MD, DPhil, is the Senior Vice President and Global Medical Director, Corporate Health Solutions atInternational SOS&MedAire. After 25 years working in surgery, critical care, and immunology, he’s using his expertise to advise on crisis management, infectious disease, and health care. Here, he shares his thoughts on travel considerations for families with young children who may not yet be fully vaccinated. With the holidays just around the corner, many families who are planning to travel remain anxious about the potential heightened risk of COVID-19 transmission....

This article is part ofUterine Fibroids and Black Women, a destination in our Health Divide series. Uterine fibroids are growths in the uterus that can occur in people of childbearing age. Not every person who has fibroids has any problems with them, orthe symptomsmight be mild enough that treatment with over-the-counter pain (OTC) relievers like ibuprofen can treat the condition until the start of menopause, at which time fibroids tend to shrink....

This article is part ofHealth Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Julie Bang / Verywell Verywell Health: When should I get tested for HIV? Dr. Elopre: Everyone should betested for HIVat least once in their lifetime. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that anyone between the ages of 13 and 64 should at least get tested at least once, regardless of risk. We want empowering messaging around testing....

This article is part ofHealth Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Julie Bang / Verywell Meet the ExpertGladys Velarde, M.D. is a member of the American College of Cardiology Prevention, Disparities of Care Work Group, and on the CardioSmart.org editorial board. Dr. Velarde’s clinical interests include heart disease in women and other populations along with preventive care. Meet the Expert Gladys Velarde, M.D. is a member of the American College of Cardiology Prevention, Disparities of Care Work Group, and on the CardioSmart....

Jaime Zuckerman, PsyD, is a Philadelphia-based licensed clinical psychologist in private practice who treats mood disorders, anxiety, adjustment to medical illness, and relationship difficulties. Dr. Zuckerman breaks down the concept of moral fatigue and how it’s manifesting during the pandemic. Never did the decision of going to the grocery store hold so much weight until 2020. For over a year most have weighed dozens of moral questions about masking, vaccines, and social distancing before making decisions from going to the market to visiting an elderly loved one....

This article is part ofUterine Fibroids and Black Women, a destination in our Health Divide series. Xiaoyu Liu / Verywell Uterine fibroids are growths in the muscular walls of the uterus that anyone of childbearing age can experience. But not everyone who experiences fibroids will develop symptoms or complications—at least not right away. As a result, diagnosis is sometimes delayed. Fibroids are benign, which means they are not cancerous. However, they can grow, leading to several potential problems over time....

This article is part ofHealth Divide: HIV, a destination in our Health Divide series. Xiaoyu Liu / Verywell Verywell Health: Why is it important to know your HIV status? Dr. Shepherd: The importance of knowing one’s HIV status is not just for the individual and their health, but also for the community, which includes a person’s current and future partners. Verywell Health: How do I get tested? Dr. Shepherd: If a person has been exposed to HIV, the first step is to get tested in order to get a diagnosis....

This article is part ofHealth Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Xiaoyu Liu / Verywell Meet the ExpertJessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG, is a board-certified OB-GYN and the former Chief Medical Officer for Verywell Health. She is the founder and CEO of Sanctum Med + Wellness, a wellness concierge practice, and is affiliated with Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Meet the Expert Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG, is a board-certified OB-GYN and the former Chief Medical Officer for Verywell Health....

Makeda Robinson, MD, Ph.D., is an infectious disease specialist currently studying virus-host interactions in emerging viruses at Stanford University. Each week, Dr. Robinson breaks down complicated COVID-19 topics and addresses pressing public health concerns. As researchers around the world race to create a vaccine forSARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—there are growing concerns over the potential side effects, distribution, and accessibility of a vaccine. A Gallup poll in August found that one in three Americans said that they would not receive a COVID-19 vaccine....

Makeda Robinson, MD, PhD, is an infectious disease specialist currently studying virus-host interactions in emerging viruses at Stanford University. Each week, Dr. Robinson breaks down complicated COVID-19 topics and addresses pressing public health concerns. From family weddings to campaign rallies, gatherings of all kinds during the COVID-19 pandemic have the potential to become “superspreader events.” And as the weather cools and people begin to spend more time inside, we’ll probably be hearing about superspreaders even more....

Makeda Robinson, MD, PhD, is an infectious disease specialist currently studying the differences in early immune responses between adults and children to COVID-19 at Stanford University. Dr. Robinson breaks down complicated COVID-19 topics and addresses pressing public health concerns. COVID-19 Vaccines:Stay up to date on which vaccines are available, who can get them, and how safe they are. In the United States, most vaccine mandates come from the government. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes recommendations for both pediatric and adult vaccines, and state legislatures or city councils determine whether to issue mandates....

Makeda Robinson, MD, PhD, is an infectious disease specialist currently studying the differences in early immune responses between adults and children to COVID-19 at Stanford University. Dr. Robinson breaks down complicated COVID-19 topics and addresses pressing public health concerns. The emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, is raising some alarms about our ability to combat the virus and reach herd immunity. While mutations in the virus’ genetic material are expected, especially given the amount of time it’s circulated in our population, the potential vaccine-evading aspects of these variants has prompted public concern....

These experts participated in ourHealth Divide: Asthma in People of Color, a destination in our Health Divide series.Jurairat J. Molina, MDVerywell / Zoe HansenDr. Molinais a board-certified allergist who has been practicing in the field of allergy and clinical immunology for the past two decades. She owns her own medical practice,Corpus Christi Allergy Associatesin Corpus Christi, Texas. Previously, she was an Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Texas Medical Branch- Galveston....