By Joanna Gale

Every day there’s a new COVID-19 science story in the news – sometimes several. It’s hardly surprising. We’re facing the first modern pandemic and we’re desperate to learn more about the microscopic demon we’re battling. There have been quite a few COVID headlines about pets and other animals; whether they can catch the virus, spread it or even become ill from it. The most recent story is a group of scientists forecasting that cats and dogs may need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the future. It’s just a theory at present; currently veterinary and human health experts agree that animals don’t seem to play an important role in the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to humans. That’s welcome news for all those who share their lives with pets.

By Gina Kolata

Denese Rankin, a 55-year-old retired bookkeeper and receptionist in Castleberry, Ala., did not want the Covid-19 vaccine. Her opinion toward the vaccine was like many Black, rural Americans: The vaccine had come about too quickly to be safe.

Hispanic American adults exposed to smoke from burning wood, vehicle exhaust, pesticides or metals at work are more likely to have abnormalities of the heart structure function, according to a study published Wednesday by Journal of the American Heart Association.

The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified inequities that historically underrepresented populations have faced for decades in the U.S. health care setting.

In May, the first national study on Hispanics and their health was released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).The surprising results showed that Hispanics are generally healthier and have a longer life expectancy than non-Hispanic whites, though we do have some areas to grow in.