Consumer Health Resources: COVID for the Public
This page will serve as a resource for members and care givers of the Western New York community interested in consumer health information.
Last Updated: Oct 25, 2024 12:18 PM
Advisory
Health Sciences Librarians do not provide medical advice or recommend healthcare practitioners. Patients should discuss their health situation with their healthcare providers.
Resources
- Animal Health during COVID-19The Animal Health section of the Consumer Health Resources Guide which includes a section for COVID-19.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Coronavirus (COVID-19)Federal level information on symptoms, preparation, at risk older adults with medical conditions, as well as community resources. Includes a map of nationawide case distribution, as well as the option to sign up for email updates.
- COVID-19 Guidance for Your CommunityU.S. goverment's "one-stop shop" page for COVID-19 resources. Users may locate masks, treatment options, vaccine locations, order free tests, and access information on symptoms and care, at-home testing and travel rules and restrictions for planning ahead. The latest statistics on levels and protective measures listed by county. Hotline number provided for questions.
- COVID-19 Support GroupResources for Patients includes articles, videos, webinars and interactive resources with advice on symptoms, self care, employment, disability, and links to experts, diagnosis, pain management, and an online support group. Events pages offer links to live and recorded sessions on various COVID-19 topics.
Created by Body Politic, an inclusive wellness collective, to break down barriers to patient-driven whole-person care particularly for marginalized communities. - Erie County, NY COVID-19 pageLinks to information for healthcare, travelers, schools, community leaders, and FAQs about the virus. Also includes links to the Erie County and Governor Cuomo's press releases.
- Evusheld Information from HHS.govEvusheld is a pre-exposure set of two injections which helps protect immunocompromised and other patients with medical conditions from COVID for about 6 months. It has not been well promoted.
The Health and Human Services Administration for Strategic preparedness & Response page has the updates on this treatment. Check with your doctor if you are interested. - How the Virus SpreadsA blog post utilizing various data to map how the SARS-CoV-2 virus spreads from a single person in different environments. Successful Infection = Exposure to Virus x Time. Useful for determining social distancing, mask use, and locale choices. From an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
- iHealthFactsOffers a platform where the public can quickly confirm the reliability (or not) of a health claim circulated by social media. While not limited to COVID-19, the pandemic makes this a timely addition. Users may browse questions and answers, as well as ask their own question. Answers are prioritized by popularity (i.e. importance to the public) and risk of adverse harm, and seeks to help the public make informed decisions using evidence based information.
Produced out of Ireland by the Health Research Board-Trials Methodology Research Network (HRB-TMRN), Evidence Synthesis Ireland and Cochrane Ireland based in NUI Galway. - New York State COVID-19 pageOverview of the latest developments relevant to New York residents - "What You Need to Know". Includes links to symptoms, testing, insurance, travel, schools, voting, and price gouging. Users may sign up for email updates about the Coronavirus pandemic.
- Survivor CorpsGrassroots movement connecting and educating COVID-19 survivors and advancing medical research to find treatments and a cure. English and Spanish. Their motto is "Empathize * Organize * Mobilize". Includes sections for COVID patients and Long Haulers, with links to research publications, physician resources including "COVID-friendly" doctors as reported by patients, and a map of the new Post COVID Care Centers (PCCC) for Long Haulers being established across the country. As of July 2, 2021, PCCCs were available in New York State in Albany and multiple locations in the NYC area. At least one COVID-friendly physician was listed in Buffalo.
Partners with blood collection centers and research institutions on studies, as well as unprecedented alliances and coalitions of plasma industry companies, research institutes and community organizations spearheading educational campaigns regarding plasma-related treatments and encouraging plasma donations.
Survivors are encouraged to participate in clinical trials. Links to sign up for their newsletter, as well as donations and sale of merchandise.
The website was selected for inclusion in the nation's historic Coronavirus Web Archive (https://www.loc.gov/web-archives/), to be available after Fall 2021.
Resources for Kids
- COVID-19! How Can I Protect Myself and Others?Download this guide for ages 8-17, to help younger ages understand the science behind COVID-19 as well as advise the best way to keep everyone safe.
- Long COVID in Kids (Survivor Corps)Special section on the Survivor Corps website about Long Hauler symptoms in kids. Includes FAQs and links to information specific to this age group.