INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH

Coronavirus Media Mentions and Research by IPR Faculty

Stay up-to-date with the latest IPR faculty media mentions concerning COVID-19 as well as other IPR news related to the coronavirus in 2021. See media mentions and research from 2020 on the following page. The University has been sending out official communications to Northwestern and the entire community. Please continue to refer to official University sources for updates about the situation at Northwestern.

This page was last updated on 12/31/2021 at 11:30 AM CST.

Media Mentions, Op-Eds, and Research

Research and Tools | Media Mentions and Op-Eds

Research and Tools

Survey Results for 50-State Survey on Americans' Attitudes About COVID-19

James Druckman, as part of university research consortium between Northwestern, Harvard, Northeastern and Rutgers, finds in a national survey that people are more vaccine "hesitant" than vaccine "resistant" and doctors are the best at convincing people to get vaccinated. Gun sales spiked in 2020 compared to previous years. Survey results show that those who protested police violence or attended rallies supporting Pres. Trump, got COVID-19, or felt extremely stressed were more likely to buy guns. Additionally, the survey reveals two-thirds of parents voice concern about students learning losses during the pandemic, but the majority are also against returning to physical classrooms.

Survey results in February evaluate COVID-19 vaccine attitudes among healthcare workers, and finds that of those healthcare workers, White men and the wealthier and more educated are more likely to be vaccinated.

Despite the progress in vaccinating more than 64 million Americans to date, a new national survey of more than 21,000 Americans by Druckman and his colleagues underscores the wide disparities that still exist in terms of who has been able to get a vaccine so far. It also pinpoints how a complex system of vaccine distribution cuts off the people best placed to convince more vulnerable Americans to get one.

Survey results from March show parents are more hesitant about getting the coronavirus vaccine for themselves and their children than those without children across different socioeconomic and demographic groups, with young mothers driving the gap. Another survey from March evaluates how much Americans approve or disapprove of their governors and the president's handling of COVID-19, with 53% of Americans supporting President Biden's pandemic response.

A new survey by Druckman and his colleagues in May reveals that 74% of respondents knew about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause, but there was no evidence that the high awareness had a negative effect on vaccination attitudes. Another survey shows a slight increase in Americans who support school vaccination requirements, rising from 54% to 58% since February. A survey about vaccine passports finds that more Americans oppose vaccine passports than support them, and attitudes about them vary across party affiliation, gender, and race/ethnicity.

Despite vaccination rates increasing and states reopening, Americans' mental health has not improved, according to another survey. The results show young people have been hit particularly hard with symptoms of depression. A report in July shows social isolation is down, but poorer and less educated Americans remain more isolated than others, indicating that the pandemic is not over for everyone. Another report reveals that Americans have grown more supportive of vaccinating children now than when compared to surveys taken earlier this year. A survey on social media consumption and vaccination rates suggests that Facebook plays a role in COVID-19 misinformation. It finds those who rely on Facebook for COVID-19 news have lower vaccination rates than the overall U.S. population. 

As Delta variant infections grow, support for vaccine mandates is rising, too. A report shows approval for vaccine mandates increased from 58% in April to 64% in June. A survey in August examines what respondents think about people who are not vaccinated and finds that, on average, people have warmer feelings toward people who are vaccinated. Another report investigates misinformation viewpoints across social groups and their link to vaccine attitudes. Groups more likely to hold vaccine misperceptions include Americans aged 25 to 44, those with high socioeconomic status, and Republicans. A survey on parental concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine reveals the top concern for parents is whether the vaccine has been tested enough (51%).

Druckman and his colleagues revisited vaccine attitudes among healthcare workers in August. As of July, they find that 27% of healthcare workers are unvaccinated, and 15% are vaccine resistant. The survey suggests that without vaccine mandates, unvaccinated healthcare workers may remain unvaccinated.

A new survey by Druckman, IPR graduate research assistants Jennifer Lin and Caroline Pippert, and their colleagues reveals most Americans continue to support vaccine mandates, with 65% of respondents supporting a universal mandate. Another survey published in October finds President Biden’s approval rating on his handling of COVID-19 fell from 57% in June to 49% by September, despite high approval of his vaccine mandates.

More findings show about two-thirds of unvaccinated Americans are concerned enough about COVID-19 to wear a mask regularly. A majority of them also report high levels of concern for protecting relatives as the key reason for wearing masks. The researchers also find parents’ concerns about COVID-19 vaccines for their kids grew from June 2021 to September 2021 across all demographic groups.

A survey in November shows students in colleges with mask and vaccine mandates were more likely to approve of their universities’ handling of COVID-19 than those without such a requirement. But about half were confused about what their university’s policy actually said. More findings from November highlight childhood vaccination rates following the CDC's authorization of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11. The researchers find that 27% of parents with kids ages 5 to 11 have reported that their children received at least one dose. Additionally, vaccine enthusiastic parents dropped from 64% in June 2021 to 57% in November 2021.

Conflicts around COVID-19 restrictions and teaching critical race theory have increased attention on school board elections and meetings. A new survey by Druckman and his colleagues highlights who participates in school board elections and attends meetings and what issues matter to them. The survey reveals top concerns when choosing a school board include school safety, COVID-19 vaccines, and mental health.

Public Attitudes about COVID-19 Vaccination

Erik Nisbet, as part of an ongoing panel survey by Northwestern University and The Ohio State University, shared that Americans are less concerned about dying from the virus than two months ago. The preliminary results also showed people's attitudes about mask and vaccine mandates, vaccine availability, sources of information, and closing bars, restaurants, and places of worship.

App for Vaccination Planning Under Uncertainty

A new app by Charles Manski and Northwestern PhD student Valentyn Litvin provides policymakers and health experts with the computational algorithms to perform their own studies in creating vaccination policies under uncertainty. Users can compare different vaccination rates based on rates of vaccine effectiveness, affected populations, and health risks.

Preliminary Findings from Community-Based Study

An interdisciplinary team of Northwestern University researchers, led by IPR anthropologist Thomas McDade, launched a large community-based study called SCAN: Screening for Coronavirus Antibodies in Neighborhoods in June 2020. The results reveal mild or asymptomatic infections, which comprise the vast majority of cases in the community, do not generate high levels of protective immunity. Additionally, the findings show that a single dose of current two-dose mRNA vaccines does not provide enough protection for most people who had mild or asymptomatic cases of the COVID-19 virus.

Fatal Opioid Overdoses Spiked During First COVID Stay-At-Home Period

The number of fatal opioid overdoses in Cook County spiked 25.6% during Illinois’ first 11-week COVID-19 stay-at-home order last spring, according to a new study in JAMA Insights by Maryann Mason with Ponni Arunkumar and Joe Feinglass.

Collaboration Tackles COVID-19 'Infodemic,' or Misinformation, in Real Time

Damage from the COVID-19 pandemic has been amplified by an "infodemic” of false and misleading online information. A new collaborative effort by Erik Nisbet aims to assess the risk of COVID-19 misinformation in real time. 

The Opioid Crisis: An 'Epidemic With the Pandemic' 

IPR experts Robin Nusslock, Molly Schnell, Hannes Schwandt, Maryann Mason, Joe Feinglass, and Lori Ann Post share their research-based insights around how this devastating crisis began, explain how the pandemic changed the epidemic, and offer their insights on policies to address various aspects of the crisis.

Peterson Grant to Fund Research Looking at COVID-19's Impact on Society

IPR faculty Tabitha Bonilla, James Druckman, Diane Schanzenbach, and Terri Sabol have received funding for policy-focused research projects that will examine COVID-19's impact on society. This research was funded by a $1 million grant from the Peterson Foundation. 

Want to Vaccine More Americans? Get Top Republicans to Endorse Vaccines

A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, by James Druckman and his colleagues at Stanford University and MIT finds that getting top Republicans to endorse vaccines could be more effective than messages from Democrats.

How Did COVID-19 Death Rates Impact 2020 Voting Patterns? 

Counties across the U.S. with a high COVID death rate saw a smaller increase in Democratic voters in the 2020 presidential election compared to 2016, according to a new study published in the journal Public Health by Joe Feinglass. The results reflect the ongoing dealignment of the U.S. political party system, with working-class voters who historically have aligned with Democrats voting Republican, and a larger share of wealthy, educated, middle-class people voting Democratic. 

COVID-19 Antibody Response Falls Two Months After Second Shot

Thomas McDade, Brian Mustanski, and their colleagues find that prior exposure to COVID-19 does not guarantee a high level of antibodies. Among individuals with clinically confirmed cases of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)—the study shows antibody response fell 20% two months after their second dose.

Childcare in the Time of COVID-19

In a report, Terri Sabol and her colleagues examine the distribution throughout Illinois of three key resources meant to support continued childcare program operation during the COVID-19 pandemic. They find that childcare programs located in urban areas were more likely to receive resources from Illinois during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to ones in rural areas, but the state did well overall at distributing resources. 

Time for Long-Term Investments in Children and Childcare?

Even before COVID, childcare was a challenge. The pandemic’s swift economic plunge only made it worse, closing down childcare centers, shedding workers, increasing food insecurity, and turning working parents into full-time nannies and tutors on top of their regular jobs. IPR experts Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, Terri Sabol, Joe Ferrie, Matthias Doepke, Teresa Eckrich Sommer, and Lindsay Chase-Lansdale outline how their research speaks to improving childcare, narrowing childhood disparities, and improving the overall wellbeing of America’s children as much-needed societal investments.

Boosters Increase Protection Over Full Vaccine Dose

A new study by Thomas McDade and his colleagues on the effectiveness of COVID-19 boosters shows they generate a stronger antibody response than after a full two-dose vaccination. The study also suggests protection after booster may last longer than after the second vaccine dose. 

COVID‐19 Vaccine Efficacy and the Evidence on Boosters

A working paper by Bernard Black and David Thaw examines the waning efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, the value of booster shots, and the need to re‐evaluate SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination and dosage timing. After evaluating multiple studies, they find that mRNA vaccines wane after approximately six months, mainly against infection but also against severe infection. Additionally, they show that booster doses greatly increase antibody levels and reduce both symptomatic infection and severe cases.

Media Mentions and Op-Eds

As childcare programs struggle with staff shortages exacerbated by the pandemic, Terri Sabol explained to Evanston RoundTable how public dollars can help families cover the operating costs of childcare programs “in order to be able to provide a livable wage for teachers.” October 27, 2021

Nia Heard-Garris shares tips in the New York Times on how parents and caregivers can help their children prepare for the COVID-19 vaccine, which could be available to young children soon. October 26, 2021

U.S. News highlighted a survey by James Druckman and his colleagues showing that two-thirds of unvaccinated respondents report wearing masks and higher levels of concern for their families getting COVID-19 than for themselves. October 21, 2021

In STAT, Bernard Black explains the consequences of limited access to COVID-19 boosters, including more infections and deaths, and writes, “The FDA, in judging who most needs a booster, is arrogating powers it does not have.” October 18, 2021 

“The pandemic was bad, they agreed—the lack of contact, the feeling of being cooped up—but the violence on the West Side worsened their problems,” Peter Slevin wrote in The New Yorker after talking to students at Michele Clark High, a public high school on Chicago’s West Side. October 18, 2021 

NBC News talked to Diane Schanzenbach about a USDA report that finds families with children experienced an increase in hunger in 2020, and because recovery is not occurring equally, she said, “I think that’s telling us that many families are still deeply hurting economically.” October 9, 2021

David Rapp spoke to NPR’s Morning Edition about a pilot program to use Philadelphia barbershops to combat misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines, saying “You have to meet them where they are at and then think about what are their core issues that are making them resistant.” October 8, 2021

Essence mentioned research by Diane Schanzenbach showing that Black households were hit particularly hard with food insecurity in 2020. October 8, 2021

Brian Uzzi talked to Nature about why COVID-19 vaccines didn’t earn a science Nobel prize. “Nobel prizes are more likely to go to scientists who teach people how to fish, rather than give them a fish,” he said. October 7, 2021

MarketPlace asked Diane Schanzenbach about Sen. Joe Manchin’s proposal to add work requirements to the Child Tax Credit (CTC), and she said it doesn’t make sense to deny kids the benefit based on whether parents work. October 6, 2021

A column in The New Republic quoted Diane Schanzenbach on the suggestion to lower the income threshold to receive the Child Tax Credit (CTC): “You could imagine shaving that down, it’s saving some money. But ... there’s always going to be those trade-offs between those work incentive aspects, and then the costs.” October 1, 2021

In his New York Times column, Paul Krugman cited a letter signed by over 400 economists, led by Diane Schanzenbach and Hilary Hoynes, calling for an extension of the child tax credit. He argues that unlike tax cuts for the rich, aid to poor children would largely pay for itself. September 21, 2021

Over 400 economists, led by Diane Schanzenbach and Hilary Hoynes, sent a letter to the House and Senate leadership urging them to make the expanded child tax credit permanent, reports Business Insider. September 15, 2021

"Our studies show if you were previously infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, you can’t assume you have a high level of natural immunity," Thomas McDade told WGN about why you should still get the vaccine even if you've already had COVID-19. September 15, 2021

Thomas McDade spoke to WTTW about his new study showing why you shouldn't skip the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, even if you’ve had previous exposure to COVID-19. September 6, 2021

Diane Schanzenbach talked to PBS NewsHour about the increase in SNAP benefits and the child tax credit. "When families have more money to spend on food, they tend to buy healthier foods," she said. "They buy a greater variety of food." September 6, 2021

Wesley Skogan told WBEZ that normally the start of the school year would cut summer violence, but that this pandemic year, “we’re looking forward to finding out the extent to which students now reconnect with schools and show up again.” September 1, 2021

HealthDay reported on Thomas McDade and Brian Mustanski’s new study that finds a previous COVID-19 infection does not guarantee antibodies to the disease and that antibody response after vaccination drops 20% two months after the second dose is received. August 31, 2021

Melissa Simon told Salon that she's seeing more pregnant individuals with severe COVID-19. "No one should deny you a chance to get the vaccine if you are pregnant. I think it's really important to get the message out there," she said. August 25, 2021

Hechinger Report discusses strategies that may help educators make up for losses during the pandemic, and cites Jonathan Guryan's research showing individualized, intensive, in-school tutoring helped students who started two years behind catch up.  August 25, 2021

James Druckman and his colleagues find that at the start of the pandemic, Americans felt closer to one another, regardless of party. In a Washington Post op-ed, they explain why that is and what divided people. August 24, 2021

In the Los Angeles Times, Bernard Black writes that “more school outbreaks will occur, leading to repeating cycles of closures, quarantines & reopenings,” and proposes the FDA grant emergency-use authorization of COVID-19 vaccines for kids under 12. August 23, 2021

Recent census data show food insecurity was at its lowest levels since the start of the pandemic for households with children, and Diane Schanzenbach told The Washington Post that she expects food insecurity to continue improving because the economy is getting better. “But poor people are hit worst by recessions, and it takes them longer to recover,” she said. August 23, 2021

The Atlantic cited research by Matthias Doepke showing the pandemic recession has taken a toll on mothers who couldn’t work remotely. “Being able to work from home gives you a lot more flexibility,” he said. August 20, 2021

The Guardian mentioned a study by James Druckman and the Covid States Project that finds the vaccination rate among people who used only Facebook as a source for COVID-19 information is 40% lower than for those who use multiple sources. August 19, 2021

Democrats are moving away from “defund” politics as their cities face deadly crime waves. Wesley Skogan explained to Reuters the pandemic contributed to the surging violence by destabilizing communities, straining local budgets, and limiting police patrols. August 17, 2021

David Rapp told WHYY-FM that he thinks one-on-one, trusted messengers are the best way to convince people to get vaccinated. “To effect change, really encourage people to take up vaccination behaviors, we have to meet them where they’re at,” he said. August 17, 2021

U.S. News spoke to Erik Nisbet about company vaccine requirements and cited research by James Druckman and the Covid States Project showing support for vaccine mandates has risen. August 12, 2021

Diane Schanzenbach told CNN that since the enhanced child tax credit started, just over 10% of households with children reported sometimes or often not having enough to eat over the last seven days between July 21 and August 2. She said it’s the lowest estimate since the start of the pandemic. August 12, 2021

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show the child tax credit payments are reducing hunger rates, but Politico cited research by Diane Schanzenbach that reveals food insecurity may be inching back up for Black households with children. August 12, 2021

Peter Slevin’s latest article in the New Yorker explores the efforts and challenges to vaccinating residents in Springfield, Missouri. “You feel a different kind of defeat, because you’re doing everything in your power to keep somebody alive, and they don’t believe in what you’re doing,” a nurse said to him. August 6, 2021

ROI-NJ covered a survey by James Druckman and his colleagues that finds 64% of respondents support government vaccine mandates. August 3, 2021

Marketplace asked Lauren Rivera about employers mandating vaccines, and she said, “I think delta has really been a game-changer.” August 2, 2021

In a Washington Post op-ed, Robb Willer and David G. Rand discuss their research with James Druckman, Sophia Pink, and James Chu that finds vaccine endorsements from Republican leaders could be more effective than messages from Democrats. August 2, 2021

In an op-ed for The Chronicle of Higher Education, Morty Schapiro discusses how colleges can embrace what they learned from the past year to improve learning environments and administrative operations. July 29, 2021

Marketplace cited research by Diane Schanzenbach and The Guardian that shows that Black families went hungry at two to three times the rate of White families during the pandemic. July 28, 2021

In a Washington Post Monkey Cage analysis, James Druckman and his colleagues share their findings that show people who rely on Facebook for coronavirus news have lower vaccination rates than other Americans. July 27, 2021

Business Insider asked Christine Percheski about the pandemic-fueled baby bust, which she said isn’t bad, but it may require new policies that address population size changes. July 27, 2021

The Daily Northwestern covered a report by James Druckman that reveals a decline in parental opposition to vaccinating children. July 21, 2021

Lauren Rivera told the Chicago Tribune that the transition period coming out of the height of the pandemic has likely caused people to think about what they want or need out of their job, saying, “It makes sense that people are going to rethink their priorities.” July 19, 2021

Diane Schanzenbach, who studies food insecurity and child poverty, spoke to the New York Times about the child tax credit and why parents are likely to spend it on their children. July 16, 2021

The Chicago Tribune cited research by Maryann Mason and Joe Feinglass showing that the average number of opioid overdose deaths in Cook County jumped nearly 26% during the COVID shutdown in spring 2020. July 16, 2021

The Daily Northwestern wrote about findings by the COVID research consortium co-led by James Druckman, which he said make clear “that the effects of the pandemic are far from over and continue to be endured more by those with fewer resources.” July 14, 2021

AFP Fact Check spoke to John Bullock about a graphic claiming Donald Trump lost as many jobs while president as Joe Biden gained in five months. He called the claim "irresponsible" without considering the context of the pandemic. July 9, 2021

New York Times covered research by James Druckman showing that social isolation decreased between Dec. 2020 and April 2021, but increased again this June. The findings suggest it may take time to recover relationships post-pandemic. July 8, 2021

The Deseret News (Utah) asked Ellen Wartella about the stresses caused by the housing unavailability crisis and their impact on children, and she said, “We are right now living through a period that is putting enormous stress on children and the consequences are potentially long-term, the environment toxic for many of them.” July 7, 2021

WBEZ's Reset spoke to Terri Sabol about Gov. Pritzker's decision to make a pandemic childcare policy permanent. She said the policy is attempting to level the playing field for low-income families and reduce the economic burden of paying for childcare. July 6, 2021

The P-EBT program was extended over the summer, allowing families who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch to collect additional SNAP benefits. “It’s a straightforward solution to make sure that kids have enough to eat,” Diane Schanzenbach told Marketplace. July 6, 2021

In discussing one of Roselle’s “best kept secrets,” a community food pantry, the Daily Herald details how Chicagoland experienced some of the worst food insecurity among U.S. metro areas in April 2020, citing a report by Diane Schanzenbach. July 1, 2021

Forbes cited a report by Diane Schanzenbach on the rise in U.S. food insecurity during the pandemic in discussing how Ag. Sec. Tom Vilsack plans to tackle the issue post-COVID. June 30, 2021

“Now that the world is reopened, we may see less patience, more irritability, less stress tolerance because people have been trying to hold it together for so long,” Crystal Clark explained to CNN. She noted that the mental stress over the past year might linger. June 20, 2021

Lori Ann Post told WPTV-TV that COVID-19 vaccines “will eventually receive approval because science shows that these are very efficacious in stopping the transmission of COVID. And when that happens, you can mandate it.” June 17, 2021

Bloomberg Equality cited Matthias Doepke's research on how the pandemic disproportionately impacted women’s employment in several countries because women took on more childcare responsibilities while men continued to work. June 16, 2021

The New York Times reported on the hardships Hispanic Americans have experienced during the pandemic and cited research by Diane Schanzenbach that found 1 in 5 Black and Hispanic adults in households with children said they did not have enough to eat in the previous week. June 14, 2021

SELF referenced an investigation by Diane Schanzenbach that found between 19% and 29% of Black households in the U.S. with children experienced hunger during the pandemic, while 7% to 14% of White families were hungry. June 11, 2021

Maryann Mason told the Chicago Sun-Times that since the pandemic started, targets have been older on average, which means they are more likely to have younger children around them. June 9, 2021

Diane Schanzenbach told The Counter she is optimistic about the momentum around charitable food organizations during the pandemic, but she anticipates an elevated need for food for a while. “Lower-income people always suffer longer during recessions and for them, recovery is slower,” she said. June 8, 2021

CNN cited research by Diane Schanzenbach that found food insecurity tripled among households with children during the early months of the pandemic. June 3, 2021

WTTW asked Melissa Simon about ending mask mandates and the risk of COVID-19 for essential works. She said it's too soon to lift mask mandates, and more Chicagoans, especially Latinos, should be vaccinated. May 29, 2021

The New York Times reported on a study by Matthias Doepke and his colleagues showing the gender gap in employment widened the most in the U.S. and Canada, and they found the biggest indicator of job losses for American women was whether they could work remotely. May 28, 2021

The Daily Northwestern spoke to Mary McGrath about women faculty and the difficulties of balancing caring for family with academic responsibilities during the pandemic. May 27, 2021

Chalkbeat asked Kirabo Jackson about states and school districts giving teachers bonuses for working through the pandemic, and he said, “In the ideal, I would prefer that additional money that is spent on teachers is somehow tied in some way to improving outcomes for kids.” May 27, 2021

The Daily Northwestern reported on a survey by James Druckman showing that Americans' mental health has not improved since the winter, despite vaccination rates increasing and states reopening. May 26, 2021

The Daily Mail (U.K.) covered two surveys of the university consortium co-led by James Druckman that found that nearly two-thirds of respondents support government mandates to receive a vaccine, but half do not approve of vaccine passport requirements. May 24, 2021

Matthias Doepke told The Economist that academics with young children have had less time to do research during the pandemic, which will impact their tenure decisions unless universities change their promotion policies, and that women are “a lot more” affected than men by this. May 22, 2021

Government aid saved many people from going hungry Diane Schanzenbach explained to New York Times Magazine, noting that data from the Census Bureau shows rates of hunger dropping sharply after government aid checks arrived in January and March. May 18, 2021

The New York Times asks if we can trust our fellow citizens when it comes to vaccinations and masks. It’s a gamble, Eli Finkel said, “It’s a willingness to allow yourself to be vulnerable with the hope that life will be better for having done so.” May 18, 2021

Diane Schanzenbach spoke to Illinois Newsroom about her research on food insecurity. She said, “we’re not out of the woods yet” when it comes to elevated levels of hunger, but she is excited to see declines in hardship. May 17, 2021

Nia Heard-Garris told the New York Times that she understands parents’ hesitations about vaccinating their children, but she says the abstract fears of the vaccine’s long-term effects should be weighed against the real-life impacts of the virus. May 12, 2021 

The ability to get vaccinated is crucial for children Nia Heard-Garris explained to WBEZ. “It promotes the potential to gather and socialize and continue on—which is just as important for children as for adults,” she said. May 11, 2021

While some businesses are struggling to find workers, Diane Schanzenbach told CBS Chicago that COVID fears are keeping some workers away and suggests the government try a re-employment bonus to encourage people to go back to work. May 10, 2021

Many Americans have been vaccinated, but the number who've skipped their second dose has also risen. NBC Chicago covered research by Thomas McDade showing that both doses of the vaccine are necessary for those who had mild or asymptomatic COVID cases. May 7, 2021

Hunger rates have plummeted after two rounds of stimulus. “Money helps,” Diane Schanzenbach said to Politico who has been tracking hunger rates closely throughout the pandemic. “We’re continuing to see signs of progress. That’s exciting. That’s good news.” May 7, 2021

Craig Garthwaite told the New York Times that waiving intellectual property protections for coronavirus vaccines would “signal that we, at a certain point, will not respect I.P. if the global health need becomes big enough.” May 5, 2021

In an article about wage losses in a recession, AP cited research by Daniel Galvin showing that companies are more prone to cheating employees of color and immigrant workers. He finds the lowest-paid workers lost roughly $1.67 per hour—or about 21% of their income—to wage theft from 2009 to 2019. May 3, 2021

NPR talked to Nia Heard-Garris about what's safe for unvaccinated children and she said outdoor play dates are probably the safest right now, especially for unvaccinated children. She also recommends kids wear a mask when playing with other children. April 29, 2021

The Biden administration will launch a summer food program to feed more than 30 million low-income children. “I think this is a smart way to spend some money in a targeted way to ensure that kids have enough to eat,” Diane Schanzenbach told NBC News. April 26, 2021

The Daily Northwestern reported on a study in JAMA Insights by Maryann Mason with Joe Feinglass, which finds that the number of fatal opioid overdoses in Cook County spiked 25.6% during Illinois’ first COVID-19 stay-at-home order last spring. April 26, 2021

Lori Ann Post proposes gun reform policies, such as universal background checks and red flag orders in an op-ed for NBC News. She also urges journalists to avoid sensationalizing mass shooters.  April 24, 2021

Axios questioned Craig Garthwaite about drug companies and their motivation for developing a cheaper competing COVID-19 vaccine, but he said, “If you're trying to get another vaccine developed at a lower price, that’s probably not a good incentive.” April 23, 2021

Business Insider repeated Christine Percheski's comments from January about how the pandemic is widening the millennial wealth gap. April 22, 2021

Thomas McDade spoke to NBC Chicago about his research with his Feinberg colleagues including Brian Mustanski, which indicates that vaccination is the path to herd immunity. “These mild cases and asymptomatic cases don’t generate a lot of protection, and that’s going to slow down the progress,” he said. April 19, 2021 and April 20, 2021

Christine Percheski talked to Business Insider about declining fertility rates during the pandemic, noting that when women have children at later ages it's a sign of better access to education and employment opportunities, a rise in women's autonomy, and more secular values. April 18, 2021

“Covid is a bigger and much more tangible risk, so we’ve become more relaxed about other smaller risks,” Matthias Doepke explained to the The Washington Post as parents evaluate which activities are safe for their kids. April 16, 2021

The Atlantic spoke to Hannes Schwandt about students graduating from college during the pandemic, and he said that Great Recession graduates had slightly lower unemployment rates now compared to those who did not graduate during a recession and that their adaptability helped them adjust later on. April 16, 2021

NBC News asked Lori Post if the resurgence of mass shootings is connected to people returning to work, but she proposes, “it’s because the pandemic and politics sucked up all the attention last year.” April 16, 2021

The Associate Press noted James Druckman’s research as part of the COVID States Project that finds declining public support for shutting down businesses despite a resurgence of COVID-19, and quoted him saying, “It’s unrealistic to engage in complete shutdowns or closing of public spaces at this point.” April 14, 2021

An investigation by Diane Schanzenbach and The Guardian shows the rate of hunger during the pandemic has been 41% to 83% higher for households with children than adult-only ones, and at least 1 in 3 Black and Latino families has experienced food insecurity. April 14, 2021

The New York Times questioned Nia Heard-Garris about families socializing when children are not vaccinated, and she said, “We’re seeing so many mental health impacts from Covid-19 on our kids—like anxiety and depression and isolation and loneliness,” that safety and socializing need to be balanced. April 13, 2021

NPR's Morning Edition reported on food insecurity in Texas during the pandemic, and they spoke to Diane Schanzenbach about relief payments, which she expects could reduce child poverty by more than half next year. April 9, 2021

Business Insider repeated Christine Percheski’s observation that the pandemic has widened economic inequality among millennials. April 8, 2021

Fortune Magazine mentioned Matthias Doepke’s study that estimates it could take 10–20 years for the gender wage gap to shrink back to where it was pre-pandemic. April 7, 2021

WTTW asked Daniel Rodriguez about the legal implications of requiring a vaccine certification. He said that it “would certainly be subject to civil liberties issues and potential objections from individuals.” April 5, 2021

NPR’s 1A questioned Dean Karlan and other experts about how people who do not use banks financially navigate living in the U.S. and what a cashless future might mean for them, especially as more businesses shift toward cashless transactions during the pandemic. April 5, 2021

New data show stillbirths and maternal deaths grew by nearly a third during the pandemic, and with concerns about another wave coming, Melissa Simon told Fox 32 Chicago that pregnant women should get vaccinated and pass on the antibodies to their babies. April 2, 2021

The Christian Science Monitor cited research by Diane Schanzenbach showing food insecurity doubled during the early months of the pandemic and impacted up to 23% of all households. March 31, 2021

Business Insider spoke to Christine Percheski about the millennial wealth gap and how the pandemic may deepen the divide, especially for millennials who had lower earnings before the pandemic and those with children. March 31, 2021

Diane Schanzenbach told WBEZ one of the things that has set apart the pandemic is how many people are reporting they do have enough to eat. She said in Illinois an average 11% of people and 15% of families with kids have struggling with hunger during the pandemic. March 30, 2021

An op-ed in U.S. News and World Report highlighted a study, with Lori Post and Joe Feinglass, showing the number of people who died of opioid overdoses in Cook County rose by over 20% each week during orders to stay at home. March 26, 2021

Data@Urban (Urban Institute) featured Diane Schanzenbach's research in a discussion of data comparability and missing data in researching pandemic food insecurity. March 24, 2021

The Hill reported on a survey by James Druckman, which finds a majority of voters approved of most governors' handling of the pandemic in states where they are up for election next year. March 23, 2021

NBC News talked to Lori Post about the mass shootings in Atlanta and Boulder after an apparent pandemic hiatus, and she said that with COVID on the wane and the presidential election decided, she fears more shooters who crave notoriety will soon appear. March 23, 2021

WCOP (Cincinnati) covered Thomas McDade's antibody test that enables people to submit a blood sample collected at home and that measures the strength of their immune response to the COVID-19 virus. March 23, 2021

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune asked Stephanie Edgerly why fewer people are watching award shows during the pandemic, and she explained that the shows have less buildup and that audiences who watch from home do not have a shared experience to talk about or give meaning to the events. March 19, 2021

WGN-TV reported on Matthias Doepke and his co-authors research on the pandemic's effects on women's employment and the likelihood that the current recession will be deep and persistent. March 18, 2021

Jan Eberly talked to Business Insider about federal pandemic policy, and said, “If what people and policymakers learn is that governments can help to intervene effectively to provide relief that would be a success.” March 18, 2021

NPR's Consider This podcast spoke to Hannes Schwandt about the impact of the pandemic on fertility, and he noted that although data are not yet available, he expects that there will be fewer births, as there usually are during economic recessions, except for sub-groups who did not suffer economically. March 17, 2021

WBEZ cited a survey by James Druckman, which shows approval for Gov. J.B. Pritzker's handling of the pandemic dropped below 45% in Feb. compared to an approval rating of 63% in April. March 15, 2021

Chicago Health reported that Craig Garfield's app, NICU2Home, which connects families with their newborns' hospital care, has become even more valuable since the start of the pandemic. March 14, 2021

The Hill mentioned a survey by James Druckman, which shows one contributing factor to vaccine hesitancy was mistrust in institutions. March 12, 2021

U.S. News and World Report highlighted a report by Joe Feinglass showing that the number of people who died of opioid overdoses in Cook County jumped over 20% during the pandemic lockdown. March 11, 2021

NorthJersey.com cited research by the consortium co-led by James Druckman about the relaxation of social distancing measuring in New Jersey in recent weeks as COVID cases decline. March 9, 2021

Matthias Doepke and Christine Percheski talked to U.S. News and World Report about how the pandemic has negatively impacted working women and how expanding the existing child tax credit could help struggling families. March 8, 2021

The new coronavirus stimulus package includes an expansion of the child tax credit. “Most of us believe these programs like the child allowance will be made permanent,” Diane Schanzenbach told the Washington Post. March 7, 2021

Hannes Schwandt spoke to Refinery29 about the link between fertility and the pandemic recession. He noted while data may not be available for a while, this could be “the first time in a recession where some groups have increased fertility.” March 3, 2021

Chicago Tribune reported on James Druckman's survey that shows gun sales spiked during the pandemic and that first-time gun owners were more likely to be Black. March 1, 2021

As researchers investigate the impact of therapeutic anticoagulation on patients with COVID-19, Forbes cited a study by Joe Feinglass showing that patients had worse outcomes when they were newly started on anticoagulants during their hospitalization. February 26, 2021

Christine Percheski told Marketplace that millennials are the most diverse generation, which means ethnic and racial disparities in wealth and employment that have widened during the pandemic are especially large for them. February 23, 2021

The nonprofit news site Truthout highlighted Diane Schanzenbach's research findings that shows food insecurity is rising in the United States, especially in households with children. February 23, 2021

National Geographic spoke to Ellen Wartella about children watching kids' programs about life during lockdown during the pandemic, which she said will help them gain insights and coping skills, and that parents and children can use the shows to connect. February 22, 2021

As Texas politicians deal with the fallout of their handling of a historic freeze, The Hill cited a survey by James Druckman and his colleagues showing that voters had the highest approval for governors who enacted some of the strictest lockdown measures. February 19, 2021

Business Insider quoted Christine Percheski on how the pandemic is “widening economic inequalities within millennials, with some millennials relatively unscathed economically and others just completely financially devastated.” February 2, 2021 and February 19, 2021

In an op-ed in The Hill, Diane Schanzenbach and Melissa Kearney analyze Mitt Romney's proposal for a monthly child benefit and find it could meaningfully reduce poverty but suggest changes to the plan's funding sources to preserve funding for some SNAP recipients and unmarried working mothers. February 17, 2021

Reuters reported on Thomas McDade's finger-stick dried blood spot test for coronavirus antibodies, and he explained that the method allows for large-scale testing, “which may be useful for evaluating the effectiveness of vaccines and the level of protective immunity in the general population.” February 17, 2021

Chicago Parent highlighted James Druckman's consortium survey that showed parents' concern about children's learning losses during the pandemic as well as their worry about them reopening schools. February 12, 2021

James Druckman spoke to The Daily Northwestern about his work with researchers from Harvard, Northeastern, and Rutgers on the COVID States Project, an ongoing national survey tracking people's opinions and behavior during the pandemic. February 11, 2021

Diane Schanzenbach told Bloomberg that increasing the existing child tax credits and distributing them monthly would prevent fewer children from suffering from food scarcity and other things that can hold them back. February 9, 2021

As Congress debates how to help families with children during the pandemic, the New York Times cited research by Joe Ferrie showing that direct payments to parents improve children's health, educational, and career outcomes. Diane Schanzenbach also noted the more complex social services programs are, the more likely the most vulnerable are to drop out. February 9, 2021

As more children experience food insecurity due to the pandemic, Diane Schanzenbach predicts that low-and middle-income countries will have even more severe long-term ramifications to their populations' health and economic productivity in Scientific American. February 5, 2021

Business Insider highlighted Matthias Doepke's research showing that the pandemic recession will lead to a wider gender pay gap and that it will be nearly 20 years until women's wages return to pre-pandemic levels. February 1, 2021

ABC7 quoted James Druckman about the large racial gap in willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and he stated that “among minorities, particularly African Americans, [the] vaccine resistant number edges toward 40%.” January 27, 2021

One of Pres. Biden's latest executive orders seeks to expand USDA food benefit programs like SNAP. “It's targeted to the families that need it the most,” Diane Schanzenbach told CNBC. “This will help address the crisis of hunger that we've seen during Covid.” January 22, 2021

Diane Schanzenbach told NPR when families are having trouble stretching their food budget, adults will go without food before letting children to go hungry. But in April, nearly 20% of mothers said their children did not have enough to eat. January 15, 2021

The Chicago Sun-Times reported on a Chicago restaurant group using Beth Redbird's research—which finds that capping indoor dining at 20% reduces new COVID-19 infections by over 80%—to argue for resuming indoor food service. January 12, 2021

Business Insider questioned Christine Percheski about the wealth divide between groups of millennials. She spoke about how the pandemic is “widening economic inequalities within millennials, with some millennials relatively unscathed economically and others just completely financially devastated.” January 8, 2021

Melissa Simon told the Chicago Tribune that vaccinating essential workers should help the Latinx and Black communities because of their high employment in such jobs. January 6, 2021

Photo credit: CDC/ Alissa Eckert, MS; Dan Higgins, MAMS

Published: December 31, 2021.