Selected Press
How Covid changed the California recall
Politico | 2021-09-08
Thursday night marks the opening of the NFL season, and public health officials fear packed stadiums, raucous tailgate parties and crowded bars could be tinder for the Delta variant, which has already ravaged the Southeast and is now responsible for spiking infections and hospitalizations in states like Indiana, Ohio and Pennsylvania, where college football games are already underway. “I’m very worried,” said Peter Gulick, an infectious disease expert at Michigan State University. “You have a couple drinks, the mask comes down and pretty soon you’re yelling and screaming and you’re nose to nose with the person next to you. I can see that happening. You start off strict, and by the end of the game you’re in a whole other category.”
Which Michigan school COVID measures work? We asked scientists
Bridge | 2021-08-30
The CDC updated its recommendations to reflect the change, but even that is layered with variables, said Peter Gulick, an infectious disease expert at Michigan State University. A reduction in social distancing can be problematic in poorly ventilated areas or when vaccination rates are low, for example, he said. In those cases, weekly testing is advised. Early studies found coronavirus could live on surfaces for days, but it became clear over time that the risk of its spread that way “is generally considered to be low,” according to the CDC. That’s because the virus generally adheres to nasal passages, and isn’t adept at sticking to skin or making its way into nicks or scratches like a bacteria does, said Gulick.
Six important questions about booster shots answered
Smithsonian | 2021-08-19
Experts recommend that immunocompromised patients discuss the vaccine with their doctors. First, if you’re taking immunosuppressants, stimulating your immune system with a vaccine may cause undesirable effects. Stimulating your immune system to respond to Covid-19 could spark it to attack a transplanted organ, for example, explains Peter Gulick, an infectious disease specialist at Michigan State University.
You will know, or possibly be, someone who gets COVID-19 after a vaccine. Here's what to expect, according to 2 people with breakthrough cases.
Business Insider | 2021-07-22
Though the current vaccines still protect against Delta, the chances that you'll know someone with a breakthrough case, or develop one yourself, are higher than they've ever been. But most disease experts still expect COVID-19 to be milder in vaccinated people, regardless of the variant. "The variants may cause you to still maybe get an infection, but not serious," Peter Gulick, an associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University, told Insider in June. "It would be almost like getting an infection with the common cold or one of those nagging things that gives you sniffles and a cough and makes you feel a little tired, but nothing serious enough to put you in the hospital or put you on a ventilator."
Why COVID vaccines give way better protection than a COVID infection
Mashable | 2021-05-27
Some prominent national politicians continue to claim they don't need vaccination after getting infected by the coronavirus. Yet COVID vaccines produce better immunity than a naturally-acquired infection for a number of reasons: The FDA-authorized vaccines don't contain the coronavirus, just genetic instructions (like computer code) for our cells to create just a piece of the virus — specifically the spike protein that lets the virus enter and infect our cells. "The virus is clever," explained Peter Gulick, professor of medicine at Michigan State University. By hiding part of the spike, the body can't react as well to the virus, Gulick said. What's more, infections also come with the drudgery and serious risk of, well, infections. The effects of resulting illnesses don't always vanish. "There may be longer-term consequences," said Gulick.
Infectious disease expert praises vaccination rate
WKAR | 2021-03-11
With the number of people vaccinated against coronavirus growing daily, people in Michigan are starting to wonder about life after getting their shots. WKAR's Scott Pohl talks with Peter Gulick, an expert in infectious diseases at Michigan State University. Gulick is impressed with the pace of vaccinations. “There's a lot of resources, I think, to get people vaccinated. Now, it's not as restricted as it was before. As far as around the country, it depends on the state you're in and what requirements they have, and what issues they have, but I think that we still have a long way to go. I think we still have to really promote and push vaccines and try to get them implemented as effectively as possible.”
What does COVID-19 vaccine efficacy mean?
Verywell Health | 2021-02-16
Peter Gulick, associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University, tells Verywell that everyone should get the vaccine in order to decrease overall levels of the virus. “Just get vaccinated because the more people that get vaccinated, the closer we'll get to herd immunity,” Gulick says. Gulick explains that despite getting the vaccine, people may still transmit it to others. “Patients that get the vaccine may still be able to colonize," Gulick says. "They may have the virus up in their nose and it may not cause them disease where they feel symptoms." Because the disease might still be transmitted even after vaccination, Gulick recommends people continue wearing a mask, social distancing, and washing their hands regularly.
Who should get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine over the mRNA vaccines?
Live Science | 2021-02-15
While the Moderna and Pfizer two-shot regimens look, on paper, to be more efficacious, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine has an edge because it doesn't require a follow-up shot and it can be stored at ordinary refrigerator temperatures for months, said Peter Gulick, a professor of medicine and an infectious disease expert at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. That could help with getting more people vaccinated especially those who may not come back for a second shot, as well as in locales where access is a problem, he said. The Johnson & Johnson shot's less stringent storage requirements could be an advantage in rural areas, Gulick said. "They can be put in a refrigerator and stored there, whereas Moderna, and definitely Pfizer, need much colder temperatures to keep their vaccine viable," Gulick told Live Science.
Arm pain after COVID-19 vaccine common
MedShadow | 2021-02-05
“The most common symptom patients are getting from these injections is pain. That's about 70% of the time,” says Peter Gulick, an associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University. He adds that his own arm was sore after he received the first shot of the Pfizer vaccine, but not after the second. Now, as more and more people are getting their shots, we're hearing details and personal stories, and a trend is emerging. Our vaccine side effect tracker has amassed more than 100 comments, many of which describe varying degrees of arm pain after the COVID-19 vaccine, along with redness, itching and swelling at the injection site.
MSU Infectious Disease Specialist Weighs In On Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Announcement
WKAR | 2020-11-11
The drug manufacturer Pfizer announced promising test results on a possible COVID-19 vaccine this week. It’s being reported that the vaccine could be submitted to the FDA for emergency use authorization as soon as the third week of November. WKAR’s Scott Pohl talks with MSU infectious disease specialist Dr. Peter Gulick about the Pfizer announcement.
Preflight Covid-19 testing is on the rise — the question is whether it works
CNBC | 2020-10-14
In calling for preflight testing last month, the IATA said that, “deployable solutions are expected in the coming weeks.” Medical experts say that may be premature. Polymerase chain reaction tests, also called PCR, can more accurately diagnose positive cases, said Dr. Peter Gulick, an infectious disease expert at Michigan State University. But those tests, which rely on a nasal swap, throat swab or saliva, “are run in a lab so it may take days to come back, and a patient may get infected during that time,” he said. That is the rub with PCR tests. Test too early, and a person’s chances of being infected after the test increase. Test too late, and the results may not be ready by departure time.
We Asked Doctors to Weigh In on the Biggest Coronavirus Myths Circulating Right Now
Yahoo! Finance | 2020-10-03
FACT: Even if you don't have symptoms, you can still be contagious. “It's possible that 70% to 80% of people may have mild to no symptoms, but I would still be very cautious because you may still be infectious,” says Peter Gulick, infectious disease expert at Michigan State University. What common symptoms should you expect? That landscape changes by the day, but as of now a high fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, and loss of sense of smell or taste are biggies to look out for. Some people are also thought to exhibit gastrointestinal signs like diarrhea, body aches, and upper respiratory symptoms like congestion. Keep yourself healthy by washing your hands regularly and staying inside.
Michigan has over 100,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus
Detroit Free Press | 2020-08-28
Michigan surpassed 100,000 confirmed coronavirus cases Friday. According to Peter Gulick, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University, the state may need to prepare for 100,000 additional new cases by mid-January. "Nothing has changed as far as the virus goes," Gulick said to the Detroit Free Press earlier this month. "We have nothing beyond what we had in March (to treat it or prevent it). So, we still have to go by the old principles: Wear face masks, social distancing, don't go into crowds."
Michigan marks 100K coronavirus cases in 5 months. Experts warn we'll see at least 100K more
Detroit Free Press | 2020-08-17
By most measures, Michigan has managed to contain the spread better than many other states in a country that leads the world with 5.3 million cases and more than 168,000 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 Global Case Tracker. But it's nowhere near over yet. The state should prepare to see another 100,000 new cases in the next five months, said Peter Gulick, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor of medicine at Michigan State University. "We'll be at more than 100,000" additional new coronavirus cases by mid-January, he predicted. "Nothing has changed as far as the virus goes," Gulick said. "We have nothing beyond what we had in March (to treat it or prevent it). So, we still have to go by the old principles: Wear face masks, social distancing, don't go into crowds."