The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released a study that showed women are having more side affects to the COVID-19 vaccine then men.
Over 30 million vaccinations have been administered in America so far. Sixty-one percent of those vaccines were given to women.
The CDC showed that about 80 percent of women had severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer vaccine. Women reported to have had aches, chills, and nausea after the vaccine.
“They need to plan on getting sick. They need to plan on taking a couple of days off. They can take Tylenol to help alleviate the side effects, but it’s well well worth the risk,” said Michael Breen, a Tampa diagnostic radiologist.
Researchers said that part of the reason why women are reporting more side affects are due to how quick the vaccines are being rolled out. Hormones and body weight may play factor into dosages and many women may be getting more than they need.
Home interest rates low, but not for long, prompting homeowners to refinance now
Three million homeowners plan to refinance their homes this month due to the record low rates not seen since the 2008 recession.
The latest mortgage reports show that in January the average rate on a 30-year mortgage hit as low as 2.65 percent, which has increased to 3.5 percent this month. The time to refinance is now before rates begin to rise again, experts said.
Low rates typically mean it’s a good time to buy property but economists urge against this because it’s a sellers market.
“I’d much prefer to see a quarter point increase in interest rates and have demand for resale housing drop substantially than the other way around,” said economist Chris Jones of the University of South Florida.
Last month, The Mortgage Report reported that almost 17 million people were good candidates to refinance their homes. Refinancing now could save up to hundreds a month for homeowners with rates above 4 percent.
Virtual learning has taken a toll on low-income families in need of WI-FI, laptops, and training
Twenty-eight percent of students in Florida do not have adequate access to the internet despite the shift to online learning during the pandemic.
Students of color and those who come from low-income families have been suffering the most during the age of virtual education.
The Digital Equity Initiatives of the Hillsborough Education Foundation is a Tampa-based program that is trying to aid these students and bridge this digital divide.
Mindy Taylor, director of Digital Equity Initiatives, reported that families are struggling to just do the school work.
“These students don’t have internet access at home and may have to go elsewhere to try to do their homework after school. So, we’re also trying to service those students because we know there’s a great need for that,” said Taylor.
Students require assistance that sometimes goes beyond getting internet and a laptop. They need mentors to show them how to use programs they have never learned before.
“We have three e-learning coaches that go out and do a home visit with the family. When they go to do the home visit, they go and do a technology assessment so they kind of understand of what technology do they have in the home,” said Taylor.
The Initiatives have provided resources such as laptops, WIFI hotspots, and even home mentors to teach the apps and technology to students in need.
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Anchors: Payton Kirol, Dylan Zuccarello
Reporter: Ginette Troya, Demi Asensio, Chloe Benjamin
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Graphics editor: James Birmingham, Sean Stover
Video Editors: Chloe Benjamin
Show Editor: Demi Asensio, Payton Kirol
Videographer: David Rose
Associate Producer: Deanna Lampasona
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Executive Producer: Demi Asensio, Payton Kirol, Dylan Zuccarello
Graduate Assistant: Emmanuel Maduneme
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