On the last episode of The COVID Pod, recorded on the morning of April 9, 2021, Dean of the School of Public Health Ashish Jha is back to comment on Brown’s plans toward a more traditional semester in fall of 2021. The COVID Pod team discusses advice for the incoming class of 2025, efforts to promote more equitable vaccination in the state of Rhode Island and how to stay engaged with public health information even when the overall gravity of COVID-19 improves with vaccination efforts. 

On March 26, 2021, the COVID Pod team welcomes Dr. Ashish Jha again to discuss expanded vaccine eligibility coming soon to Rhode Island, how to address ongoing vaccine hesitancy and what the summer and next few years may look like after more people are vaccinated. Dr. Jha also provides his perspective on the confusion surrounding the AstraZeneca vaccine. The team also breaks down the sweet incentive Krispy Kreme has  in place for vaccinated Americans and the pros of promoting vaccination for COVID-19.

One year into the pandemic and on the anniversary of the day Brown announced it would be closing to students and faculty in the wake of COVID-19 in March of 2020, The COVID Pod team welcomes Dean of the School of Public Health Ashish Jha to have a conversation about looking ahead. Dr. Jha gives his insight on health disparities and the mental health toll of COVID-19. The Pod team also discusses the future of medicine post-pandemic and what the fall of 2021 will look like on campus. 

In this episode of The COVID Pod with Dr. Ashish Jha, recorded Tuesday, March 2, Dr. Jha speaks to the importance of equitable vaccine distribution, ventilation over sanitation for public spaces and the promises of the recently authorized Johnson & Johnson vaccine amid the rise of new virus variants. He also provides expert commentary on how to maintain proper testing regimens despite lasting supply chain issues and what to be wary of when cases in a community, like Brown’s, spike. 

On Friday, Feb. 12, the COVID Pod team sits down with Ashish Jha, dean of the School of Public Health, to discuss the variations underlying the COVID-19 pandemic and efforts to stop its spread: virus variants, new vaccines in development — and even a COVID-19-conscious approach to socializing on Valentine’s Day. 

The COVID Pod is back in 2021 with more insight from Dean of the School of Public Health at Brown University Ashish Jha. On this episode, The COVID Pod team takes a look at vaccine administration — what has been done so far and where it is going to go in the next few months. Dr. Jha shares his experience with vaccination, addresses vaccine hesitancy, and postulates what the timeline for rollout will look like for college students and the public in both Rhode Island and the country.

On this bonus episode of The COVID Pod with Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean Jha provides advice for managing COVID-19 over Thanksgiving. The COVID Pod team breaks down what students who must travel away from campus for the upcoming holidays, remote finals period and break should do to protect themselves and their families from the virus. Jha also reflects on updates in the vaccine development process and his Nov. 19 testimony in front of the Senate Homeland Committee. 

On Friday, Nov. 13, Dr. Ashish Jha and The Herald’s COVID Pod team discuss the aftermath of the 2020 Election and President-Elect Joe Biden’s announcement of a new COVID-19 task force. Dr. Jha also analyzes recent news from Pfizer that the company may have a highly effective vaccine in development, based on early results, and what the roll-out of that vaccine could look like.