Health
Harvard College Democrats Call for Expanded Abortion Access Under Student Health Fee
The Harvard College Democrats published an open letter to Harvard University Health Services on Sunday asking for increased abortion access for students. HUHS does cover obstetrics and gynecology services for students who opt into the Student Health Insurance Plan, which costs over $4,000 per year. But many students choose to waive SHIP and only pay the $1,300 Student Health Fee, which does not cover gynecological services.
Harvard to Offer Third Covid-19 Booster Shot as PCR Testing Program Ends
Harvard will begin offering Moderna’s new Omicron Covid-19 booster shot to affiliates later this month, the University announced Tuesday.
Cambridge Switches Water Sources Amid Increasing 'Forever Chemicals' in Tap Water
As increasing levels of “forever chemicals” in Cambridge’s municipal water supply prompt health concerns, the city will receive water from a state authority until 2023.
Harvard to Stop Offering PCR Covid-19 Tests by Sept. 16; Masking to Remain Optional in Fall
Masking and Covid-19 testing will remain optional on Harvard’s campus going into the 2022 fall semester and the school will stop providing free PCR tests to affiliates three weeks into the term, the University announced Wednesday.
Harvard-Affiliated Researchers Discover Link Between Infertility and Risk of Heart Failure in Women
A recent study published by Harvard affiliated-researchers in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found infertility in women to be linked with a 16 percent increase in risk of heart failure.
HMS and Broad Institute Researchers Discover First Strong Genetic Link to Bipolar Disorder
A research team including scientists at Harvard Medical School and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard reported the first strong genetic risk factor for bipolar disorder in a study published in the journal Nature Genetics on April 1.
Divinity School Student Discusses Religion as a Determinant of Health
Ans Irfan, a public health expert and student at the Divinity School, discussed his project on religion as a structural determinant of health during a virtual presentation on Monday.
Driven by Spike Among Grad Students, Harvard On-Campus Covid Cases Rise
Covid-19 cases on Harvard’s campus have risen steadily in the last week-and-a-half, driven in large part by a spike among graduate students and faculty and staff.
Harvard Has Pared Down Most Covid Restrictions. How Long Will Mandatory Testing Last?
When Harvard officials announced that it would drop its indoor mask mandate, University officials said that regular testing protocols would remain in place. But some experts say testing requirements, too, could soon be on the way out.
Legal Experts Discuss Health Care Inequity in Latin America at Harvard Law School Panel
The Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy, Biotechnology, and Bioethics at Harvard Law School hosted a virtual panel Tuesday discussing the impact of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in addressing health challenges in Latin America.
Disability Law Student Association Raises Concerns over Harvard Ending its Mask Mandate
Harvard Law School’s Disability Law Student Association, DLSA, filed an open letter earlier this month asking administrators to refrain from ending the Law School’s mask mandate.
With Harvard’s New Mask-Optional Policy, Many Faculty Adopt a Wait-and-See Approach to Unmasking in Class
Following a spike in Covid-19 cases earlier this month, many Harvard instructors have opted to continue requiring masks in classrooms, even after the University lifted its mask mandate for most indoor spaces last week.
Harvard Will Soon Loosen Mask Requirements, Garber Says. But Covid Cases are on the Rise Among Undergraduates.
Harvard will soon relax its indoor mask mandate, University Provost Alan M. Garber ’76 told faculty members at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.
Last Pre-Pandemic IOP Forum Returns to Discuss State of Covid-19
A day after it hosted its most-attended forum since the start of the pandemic, Harvard’s Institute of Politics welcomed back the panelists of its last pre-pandemic forum to discuss the current state of Covid-19.
Wait Times for Therapy Appointments at Harvard Reach Six Weeks Amid Increased Demand
With demand for mental health care soaring nationwide, Harvard University Health Services is in the process of hiring additional clinicians. But the wait time for new patients to get a therapy appointment with Counseling and Mental Health Services is currently around six weeks long.
Harvard School of Public Health Prof. Receives Award for Vaccine Research Education
Kizzmekia S. Corbett, an assistant professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at the Harvard School of Public Health, was awarded the 2022 Early Career Award for Public Engagement with Science from the American Association for the Advancement of Science earlier this month.
WHO Director Talks Health Equity and Pandemic Response at Harvard Lecture
World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus discussed the global pandemic response and health equity on Friday at the Kennedy School’s annual Robert S. McNamara Lecture on War and Peace.
College Sophomores Create New Peer Therapy Group
Two students at the College launched a peer therapy group last semester that employs empirically validated psychotherapy techniques focusing on interpersonal relationships to combat anxiety and depression.
Cambridge to Lift Indoor Mask Mandate in March
Cambridge will lift its indoor mask mandate on March 14, the city announced Wednesday.
Harvard Health Services Director Says University is Moving in the Right Direction Post-Omicron Surge
Harvard University Health Services Director Giang T. Nguyen said in a Friday interview that school officials are discussing newly-relaxed state mask guidelines, but did not specify when — or if — the University will roll back its on-campus public health regulations.
Harambee Hosts Sixth Annual Black Religion, Spirituality, and Culture Conference at HDS
Harambee, an organization for students of African descent at Harvard Divinity School, hosted the sixth annual Black Religion, Spirituality, and Culture Conference last week.
Boston Children’s Hospital CEO Talks About Health Equity
Boston Children’s Hospital CEO Kevin B. Churchwell discussed equity, diversity, and inclusion in pediatrics at a virtual Q&A hosted by the Harvard School of Public Health Friday.
Harvard Dining Halls Return to Full Capacity as Omicron Wanes
After making it through two weeks of the semester without a major spike in Covid-19 cases, Harvard loosened some of its public health restrictions last Friday. Undergraduates will now be able to eat in full-capacity dining halls and their testing cadence was reduced to twice per week.
Grab-and-Go Dining Sparks Concerns About Waste
Harvard students raised concerns about the waste produced by grab-and-go meals in the past two weeks, citing the accumulating trash produced by plastic to-go containers.
HUHS Director Giang Nguyen Praises Spring Covid-19 Policies
Harvard University Health Services Director Giang T. Nguyen praised the University’s spring semester Covid-19 policies — which now require students to isolate in their dorms and conduct their own contact tracing — at a faculty meeting Tuesday.