Undark: Rural America tackles vaccine distribution
UC epidemiologist Diego Cuadros says COVID-19 could linger in rural areas
The science magazine Undark talked to University of Cincinnati epidemiologist Diego Cuadros about what to expect as COVID-19 vaccinations are administered in the United States.
Cuadros, director of UC's Health Geography and Disease Modeling Lab, has helped track the spread of coronavirus across Ohio and elsewhere as part of UC's Geospatial Health Advising Group. Composed of health, geography and statistical modeling experts from the UC College of Pharmacy and the UC College of Arts and Sciences, the UC group formed in the spring to track the virus and provide guidance for health officials.
Cuadros, an assistant professor of geography in UC's College of Arts and Sciences, tells Undark that vaccinations could be slower to reach everyone in rural areas. Rural residents are less likely to get a flu shot than people who live in urban areas.
"Think about a person who needs to drive one hour for a shot then do the same 20 days later for a second shot," Cuadros said. "If it's a person who maybe doesn't think this is too important, or has some misconception about vaccines, this is going to be extremely challenging."
Cuadros told Undark that the virus might linger in pockets of rural America, re-emerging into the broader population and compromising efforts to get the virus under control.
In November, UC's Geospatial Health Advising Group warned that mortality rates from COVID-19 were surging in rural America, which was a growing concern because rural areas have comparatively fewer health care resources.
Featured image at top: A pumpkin patch. UC assistant professor Diego Cuadros has been tracking COVID-19 across rural America. Photo/Marius Ciocirlan/Unsplash
UC epidemiologist Diego Cuadros has been tracking the spread of coronavirus across Ohio and the United States for UC's Geospatial Health Advising Group. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Creative + Brand
Related Stories
From literature to AI: UC grad shares career path to success
April 23, 2024
Before Katie Trauth Taylor worked with international organizations like NASA, Boeing and Hershey, and before receiving accolades for her work in the generative AI space, she was in a much different industry – English and literature. Taylor earned her master's in English and Comparative Literature in UC’s College of Arts and Sciences. She completed her educational journey at Purdue University with a doctorate degree in rhetoric and composition. After working as a graduate assistant at Purdue and UC, she became a research professor at Miami University. It might seem from there that her career was set—perhaps a tenured professorship or a university administrative position. That might have been her path, but Taylor had her eyes set on different goals. So how did Taylor transition from literature and composition to tech entrepreneurship? She enjoys sharing that part of her story.
Local 12: Head injury survivor, doctor share importance of...
April 23, 2024
Local 12 spoke with patient Shane Shapiro and the University of Cincinnati's Laura Ngwenya about the importance of wearing a helmet following Shapiro's traumatic brain injury and recovery.
WVXU: Why is part of Green Township called Dent?
April 23, 2024
UC College of Arts and Sciences professor tells WVXU that Ohio's glacial past might explain how Dent got its name.