Aug. 23 - Expired antigen tests, vaccines and social media
Section 1
New buildings in the College of Health Sciences bask in the afternoon glow. Photo by Steve Zylius/UCI
n this continuing series, UCI experts answer questions about COVID-19, vaccinations, variants or the future of work. Submit questions via email.
Today’s question is answered by David Souleles, director of the Campus Public Health Response Team:
My home antigen test expired before I could use it. What should I do with it?
If you have home antigen test kits that have expired, you can dispose of them in the trash; no special disposal is necessary. But first, if you have not already done so, check if the expiration date has been extended by the FDA on their website. Most kits are getting expiration date extensions.
UCI ANNOUNCEMENTS AND NEWS
Study identifies social media strategies on vaccine effectiveness and access
A team of researchers in the Program in Public Health conducted a four-month study to determine effective social media strategies for broadcasting narrative HPV vaccine intervention videos across three platforms: Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. Among the most effective strategies were segmenting videos and emphasizing specific vaccine messaging with captions or questions, using more hashtags, posting frequently during certain times of the day and on certain days of the week, and using tag-and-follow influencer strategies.
DTEI welcomes Wellness Specialist for faculty
Coming out of nearly two years of teaching during a pandemic, the Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation knew that faculty were feeling overworked, stressed and burned out. So it worked to create the new Pedagogical Wellness Specialist position. The role has two main responsibilities: training faculty and instructors to create classroom environments that support student well-being, and supporting faculty and instructor well-being through advocacy, community building and fostering safe spaces that invite open communication.
UC NEWS AND GENERAL NEWS
OC Health Care Agency offers second monkeypox vaccine doses
To limit the spread of monkeypox in Orange County, the OC Health Care Agency will begin offering second dose vaccinations this week to individuals who received the first dose to complete the two-dose vaccination series. JYNNEOS vaccines are still in very short supply and are being offered to those at highest risk. Eligible residents needing their first dose can register at www.othena.com to join the virtual queue.
EVENTS
Managing Staff through Stressful Situations
Thursday, noon (sponsored by HR Wellness)
Integrative Approaches to Cancer Prevention and Pain Management
Thursday, 1 p.m. (sponsored by UCI Anti-Cancer Challenge)
BPOCS Summer Showcase
Thursday, 1 p.m. (sponsored by UCI Humanities Center)
Visit today.uci.edu to see and submit event listings. Events of general interest will be shared in UCI Digest two days before they occur.
UCI IN THE NEWS
Note: Some news sites require subscriptions to read articles. The UCI Libraries offer free subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Orange County Register and The Washington Post for students, faculty and staff.
Opinion: Free food for all California school kids, regardless of need, starting now
The Orange County Register, Aug. 21
Author: Greg J. Duncan, Distinguished Professor of education
California colleges open for fall term with relaxed Covid rules
EdSource, Aug. 23
Cited: David Souleles, public health response team director
Storms Expected To Continue Flooding Southern States For Days
Newsy (video), Aug. 22
Cited: David Feldman, professor of urban planning and public policy
#UCICONNECTED
UCI men’s soccer @UCImsoc tweets: “It’s nearly showtime! We need your support as we take on the #23 team in the country on the road!” The men’s soccer season opener is Thursday at UCLA.
#UCIconnected spotlights student, alumni, faculty and staff photos, essays, shoutouts, hobbies, artwork, unusual office decorations, activities and more. Send submissions via email or post on social media with the #UCIconnected hashtag.