This JAMA research letter came out on March 19, 2021, but it is trending #1 on JAMA, and seems worth highlighting since it gives such hopeful news. The study compared measures capturing rates of antibodies in three sets of patients: 20 people actively infected with COVID-19, 20 people who had recovered from COVID-19 for 32-94 […]
March 19, 2021 at 3:29 pm
Two serious ones, now one on humor. This Frozen musical take-off on getting a vaccine is well done if you like over-the- top musical singers. You may not enjoy this one if you are not likely to get a vaccine soon. 9/10 https://youtu.be/U74wUO54Sdg 5:49 minutes This medley by the same singer from last […]
March 19, 2021 at 3:12 pm
If you are curious about whether you have already had COVID-19 and would like to find out whether you already have antibodies, it is worth knowing that if you give blood, then the American Red Cross automatically tests donor blood and will tell you if you have COVID-19 antibodies. 20% of American donating blood test […]
March 19, 2021 at 3:10 pm
These two accessible, free JAMA Network articles have excellent answers to some common questions. Below are a few selected quotes with key parts in RED. My notes are in italics, red italics if important. 2 minutes if you just read the red. Figuring Out Whether COVID-19 Vaccines Protect Against Variants “How well do the COVID-19 […]
March 14, 2021 at 10:32 pm
Final entries in the masked dog photo caption contest “Waiting for the dog vaccine rollout.” “Wearing a mask is so easy even my dog can do it!” “Sadie says: Even I wear a mask when not eating!” “I hate it when I can’t lick and my hair gets all frizzy!” “How do you like my […]
March 8, 2021 at 11:07 am
The New York Times had a very interesting article on March 5 which documented differences in rates of vaccination by race across the 50 US states. Whereas some states (Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin and Connecticut (?!?) have vaccination rates for blacks that are less than half of the state average, in Massachusetts the rate for blacks […]
March 8, 2021 at 10:07 am
A wise friend who read my previous BUHealth post comparing different vaccines warned me that it could be interpreted as saying “Wait to get a vaccine until you get the one you like the most.” I do not recommend that. I care too much about my friends. Instead, you should get a vaccine the first […]
March 6, 2021 at 12:32 pm
One JAMA Network article this week and an accompanying editorial about COVID-19 are the first I have seen to carefully present the research about recent SARS-CoV-2 strains/variants, different types of vaccines, effects of one versus two doses, advice for people who were previously infected by SARS-CoV-2, what we know so far about their effectiveness against […]
March 2, 2021 at 11:47 am
Despite the abundant evidence2 showing that health care outcomes in the US are much worse than in every other OECD country, I still hear arguments that this is because uninsured, Medicaid, minorities, or low-income people in the US bring down our health outcomes. This myth is repeated3–5, and believed by a majority of Americans. 6 […]
March 2, 2021 at 11:46 am
I greatly enjoyed reading about how BU is using its extensive research laboratory resources to test for the presence of the UK and South African variants at BU. This report includes the 70 cases of COVID-19 detected in members of the BU faculty, staff and students during the week of Feb 17-23. Below are a […]
February 4, 2021 at 10:11 am
In these days when pay-for-performance and value-based payment reform have become the centerpiece of US Medicare payment reform, this short and accessible article in JAMA Health Forum (5 minutes) argues that we implement and evaluate reforms using “policy equipoise” rather than the usual foundational belief – that too many economists adhere to – that these […]
January 6, 2021 at 10:14 am
Today is a momentous day for the US and for democracy, so I thought I would comment on it. I did not expect to be so happy today. The Associated Press has not yet called the second of the two Georgia senate elections but I trust the NY Times report (see article below) that Georgia […]
November 25, 2020 at 10:53 am
This blog documents various public interviews and news reports and is mostly a place to keep track of them for my BU Annual Report Conversations with Economists. Zoom discussion by Randall P Ellis and Laurence Kotlikoff on COVID-19 and the US economy with follow up questions from attendees. Passcode: $iH^XM50 October 27, 2020 (time 1:29:12) […]
July 20. 2020 Important update on superspreading events. This article from the Washington Post provides a useful update about how superspreading events account for the vast majority of infection and are driving the pandemic. 3-5 minute read. Washington Post Ariana Eunjung Cha July 18, 2020 at 1:58 p.m. EDT ‘Superspreading’ events, triggered by people who […]
March 28, 2020 at 5:08 pm
I took time to make the following game board because I greatly love bird-watching and also love games. I invite you to view it. School teachers or parents might enjoy it as well. Boston Bird Bingo I admit that our bird-watching is much better through having a bird-feeder in the back yard, which accounts for […]
March 2, 2020 at 12:33 pm
I started listening to Audiobooks while commuting, which lets me get in at least 45 minutes of audio listening a day during my round trip commute, which is wonderful. My most recent favorites are Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know About the People We Don’t Know. Malcolm Gladwell. 2019. Just as I have loved […]
December 18, 2019 at 10:42 am
This NY Times column 12/18/2019 summarizes a British Medical Journal article about bias in medical abstracts, but the same could be done for economics journals, I am sure. Worth the five minutes to read. Bottom line: Women should brag more, and editors and reviewers should get men to tone it down. Men Call Their Own […]
November 22, 2019 at 2:50 pm
This blog contains the excellent advice of Nancy Rose to MIT faculty and students, along with my own two addenda on Etiquette and Advice to Presenters. Here is a pdf version if you wish to print and post or forward it. Subject: Some guidance for our upcoming seminars Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2019 […]
November 15, 2019 at 11:22 am
A colleague W. David Bradford wrote the following article about me for the “Great Mentors” series they are running in the ASHEcon Newsletter, which is published by the American Society of Health Economists. Flattering, and very satisfying. Perhaps it will inspire more people to become great mentors. Great Mentors: Randy Ellis The full newsletter is […]
October 24, 2019 at 11:47 am
Although I subscribe to and watch essentially every posting in The Incidental Economist, this one on value-based payment for Medicare is worth reposting and viewing. It is only 4:48 long. Video: The Many Attempts to Improve the Value of Medicare Upshot article by BU colleague Austin Frakt last month in the New York Times contains […]
