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November 15, 2021 - November 21, 2021
Vol. 48 No. 46• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Lady J
Shaman & seeker Jacqueline Lady J Maddix
ROOT WISDOM: From the Elders’ Circle Sharing Our Stories
By: W.D. Foster-Graham Book Review Editor By Jacqueline “Lady J” Maddix “What we give is what we receive.” This is one of the many lessons shared by author and KFAI Blues radio personality Jacqueline Maddix, aka Lady J, in her book Roots of Wisdom: From the Elders Circle. As we follow her spiritual journey, we are given the strong sense of traveling between the physical and the metaphysical, a journey that has been given
numerous terms by different teachings through the ages, but it has been a part of us from the beginning. Lady J makes clear the distinction between religious behavior (e.g. what we do on Sunday morning) and spirituality (who we are the rest of the week). Although we as humans like to compartmentalize, she also establishes the correlation and common connections of our teachings and beliefs into one of divine consciousness and unity consciousness. In her book, she uses the term magic to describe the universal energy flow that has always existed, though it is known by many names. Her story begins with self-evolution/self-actualization. As the result of an epiphany in
1993, she took the first step in walking between the physical and the metaphysical worlds, drawing on the ancient wisdom and teachings to resonate in a daily relationship with Spirit and its higher consciousness. Roots of Wisdom reminds us that what we refer to by such terms as New Age has always been here. What shows up in our lives is determined by our level of understanding, for the brain is limited; the mind (consciousness) is unlimited. Lady J guides us through the seven States of Consciousness, from the First State (deep sleep) to the Seventh State (unity consciousness), as well as giving the reader tips for conscious navigation through the stages of consciousness for spiritual
health and positive, constructive choices. As a child, I grew up with the church teaching “you reap what you sow.” Lady J
makes this abundantly clear throughout the book, reminding us that whatever we’re paying attention to is what we are giving our energy to, be it positive or negative, which in turn fuels our intentions and creates the results in our lives. If we give love, we receive love. If we give respect, we receive respect. Hence, the importance of what we think before we act. Tied in with this is “letting go and letting God,” that the Divine Will be done. In the section “The Way of the Warrior,” Lady J discusses how to ground this energy and use it responsibly in positive ways. In this context, she defines the term warrior as “a person who lives in between the worlds of physical and metaphysical existence with
the kind of discipline that is necessary to balance both experiences”; to be in the world but not of it, someone who both walks the walk and talks the talk. A native of St. Paul, Jacqueline “Lady J” Maddix has shared this amazing story of her life and her ongoing spiritual journey as a shaman and a seeker. Her study of international cultures and philosophies confirms the common thread of consciousness that runs through all of them. This is a book of life lessons, growth, and wisdom that we can all aspire to and utilize, wherever our level of understanding is.
Matching tweets to ZIP codes can spotlight hot spots of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy By Mayank Kejriwal Research Assistant Professor of Industrial & Systems Engineering, University of Southern California Public health officials are focusing on the 30% of the eligible population that remains unvaccinated against COVID-19 as of the end of October 2021, and that requires figuring out where those people are and why they are unvaccinated. People remain unvaccinated for many reasons, including belief in unfounded conspiracy theories about the disease, the vaccines or both; distrust of the medical establishment; concerns about risks and side effects; fear of needles; and difficulty accessing vaccines. To target their messaging and outreach geographically and according to the type of hesitancy, public health officials need good data to guide their efforts. Traditional survey methods are helpful but tend to be expensive. Another approach is to assess vaccine hesitancy through the lens of social media. As an artificial intelligence researcher, I analyze social media data using machine learning. My latest research,
conducted with graduate student Sara Melotte and accepted for publication in the journal PLOS Digital Health, predicts the degree of vaccine hesitancy at the ZIP code level in U.S. metropolitan areas by analyzing geo-located tweets. We found that by processing geo-located Twitter data using readily available machine learning techniques, we could more accurately predict vaccine hesitancy by ZIP code than by using attributes of ZIP codes like average home price and number of health care and social services facilities. The limits of surveys Surveys, such as a Gallup COVID-19 survey launched in 2020, estimate vaccine hesitancy levels in the general population by polling a representative sample with a Yes/No vaccine hesitancy question: If a Food and Drug Administration-approved vaccine to prevent coronavirus/ COVID-19 was available right now at no cost, would you agree to be vaccinated? The estimated vaccine hesitancy is the percentage of individuals who respond “No.” As demonstrated both in our research and work by others, factors such as location, income and education levels all correlate with vaccine hesitancy. A general disadvantage of
such surveys is that detailed questions are expensive to administer. Sample sizes tend to be small due to cost constraints and non-response rates. The latter has been exacerbated recently by political polarization. Computational social science methods, which use computer algorithms to analyze large amounts of data, are another option, but they can have trouble interpreting noisy social media text to glean insights. Mining Twitter Our work takes on the challenge of using publicly available Twitter data to accurately predict vaccine hesitancy in a given ZIP code. We focused on ZIP codes in major metropolitan areas, which are known for high tweeting activity. Users also enable GPS more often in these areas. As a first step, we downloaded all the tweets from a publicly available dataset called GeoCoV19, which filters tweets to be as relevant to COVID-19 as possible. Next, using peer-reviewed methodology, we filtered the tweets down to GPSenabled tweets from the top metropolitan areas. We then randomly split the tweets into a training set and a test set. The former was used to develop
AP Photo/Teresa Crawford
Public health officials need to know where to focus their vaccination outreach efforts. the model, while the latter was used to evaluate the model. Training a model to predict the vaccine hesitancy of a ZIP code is like drawing a straight line through a set of points so that the line comes as close as possible to the center of the points, known as a line of best fit. The line indicates the trend in the data. The first step is converting the raw text of tweets into data points. Recently developed deep neural networks are able to automatically convert the text into data points so that
tweets with similar meanings are closer together. We essentially used such a network to convert our tweets to data points and then trained our machine learning model on those data points. We validated our model using the Gallup COVID-19 survey results. Our method performed better at predicting high levels of vaccine hesitancy than methods that only use generic features, like average home prices within the ZIP code, rather than social media data. We also showed our model
to be effective in the presence of tweets that aren’t related to vaccines or COVID-19. The GeoCov19 dataset is good but includes many tweets that are not relevant specifically to vaccines and a small – but nontrivial – fraction that are not relevant to COVID-19 at all. Early detection and prevention In research currently undergoing peer review, we developed algorithms that
HESITANCY
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Insight News • November 15, 2021 - November 21, 2021 • Page 3 WINNER: 2020 T YPOGRAPHY & DESIGN, 1ST PLACE, PHOTOGRAPHY (PORTRAIT & PERSONALIT Y), 1ST PLACE, WEBSITE, 3RD PLACE
Insight News November 15, 2021 - November 21, 2021
Vol. 48 No. 46• The Journal For Community News, Business & The Arts • insightnews.com
Importance of helping local community, building generational wealth high priorities for Black consumers
Survey: Black Americans committed to helping families, communities financially U.S. Bank last week released the results of its Building Black Wealth Insights research, which highlighted the financial needs, goals and challenges of Black Americans with at least $25,000 in investable assets. Investable assets include personal financial investments like deposits, investments and annuities, excluding assets like 401(k), 403(b), profit share, IRA-SEP, stock purchase/ESOP, money
purchase, life insurance or home value. Key insights from the survey include: 61 percent of Black respondents feel better about their current financial situation than they did before the pandemic, compared to 49 percent for Hispanic, Asian and Caucasian respondents. 77 percent of Black respondents think the racial wealth gap will either increase or, best-
case scenario, remain the same by 2030. 79 percent of Black respondents feel there are still institutional roadblocks impeding their ability to accumulate wealth; this number was even higher for Black female single head of household respondents (85%). 69 percent of Black consumers, far more than other racial groups surveyed, feel a deep sense of responsibility to help their communities financially;
they also are more committed to leaving a financial legacy for the next generation. “We understand that, as advisors who work every day to help clients achieve better financial outcomes, our industry has an important role to play and much more work to do to reduce the racial wealth gap,” said Gunjan Kedia, vice chair of Wealth
US BANK 5
US Bank
Each Organization Receives $200,000 in Flexible Funding and Leadership Development Training to Advance Economic Mobility
American Indian OIC and Black Men Teach named Bank of America’s 2021 Neighborhood Builders Two Twin Cities nonprofits that help address racial equality, local youth employment, and the advancement of economic mobility and workforce development will be able to expand through a multiyear grant and leadership development training from Bank of America. American Indian OIC and Black Men Teach have been named as the 2021 Bank of America Neighborhood Builders® awardees for their work in the Twin Cities community addressing these issues. As a Neighborhood Builder, each organization receives a $200,000 grant and comprehensive leadership training for the executive director and an emerging leader. Additionally, the new Neighborhood Builders will join a network of peer organizations across the U.S. and have the opportunity to access capital to expand their impact. Bank of America’s Neighborhood Builders program continues to be the nation’s largest investment into nonprofit leadership development. “As we work toward economic mobility and racial equality in our community, our local nonprofits are answering the call through innovative approaches,” said Katie
Simpson, President, Bank of America Twin Cities. “American Indian OIC and Black Men Teach are helping close gaps for individuals and families to help them chart a path toward greater economic opportunity and stability. Neighborhood Builders is intended to support their efforts to grow sustainably and strategically so they can drive maximum positive impact in our community.” Historically, Minnesota ranks highly in several education outcome areas, however, it ranks near the bottom in the nation for serving children of color. As a state, Minnesota is held back by not preparing students to fulfill their highest potential. Maximizing student’s potential requires rethinking the educational needs of an ever more diverse student population. Research shows that all students, regardless of race, benefit from having Black teachers in their classroom. Black students who experience a Black male teacher in elementary school are 29 percent less likely to drop out of high school, and Black students with two Black elementary school teachers are 32 percent more likely to attend college than those who have none. With strategic partnerships and interventions like providing mentorship, scholarship and
Markus Flynn
loan forgiveness support, Black Men Teach will use its Neighborhood Builder award to support continued growth and fulfill its goal to create the conditions where Black men thrive in education and increase the number of Black men leading elementary school classrooms. “Within this decade, Black Men Teach will change education outcomes for students. Our goal is to create the conditions where Black men thrive in education,” said Markus Flynn, Executive Director of Black Men Teach. “We know that when Black students have a Black man leading their class, students have better perceptions of themselves, score higher on tests, are suspended and expelled less, have a better chance at graduating, and are more likely to enroll in college.” American Indian
Dr. Joe Hobot
AIOIC
Opportunities Industrialization Center (AIOIC) was founded in 1979 to address the education and employment disparities faced by American Indians in and around south Minneapolis. In the years since its founding, AIOIC has built a workforce of more than 25,000 people from the Twin Cities and tribal nations across the country, gaining national recognition as a leader in workforce development. Although created to support people of Native descent, American Indian OIC’s resources and programs are open to all. Neighborhood Builder funding will support the American Indian Youth Career and College Exploration project, a year-round, out-of-school-time program that provides 145 youth with job placement services and post-secondary education
Racial discrimination is linked to suicidal thoughts in Black adults and children By Janelle R. Goodwill Assistant Professor of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, University of Chicago Frederick Douglass is regarded as one of the most prominent abolitionists the world has ever seen. Alongside his extraordinary contributions as an influential speaker, writer and human rights advocate, Douglass – who was born into slavery and gained freedom in September 1838 – also wrote openly about his struggles with suicidal thoughts. Douglass’ writings are both revolutionary and transformative, particularly when considering that he lived during a time when several anti-literacy laws prevented enslaved Black persons from learning to read and write. Douglass published his first autobiography – “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass” – in 1845. In it, he boldly shared, “I often found myself regretting my own existence, and wishing myself dead; and but for the hope of being free, I have no doubt that I should have killed myself, or done something for which I should have been killed.” It’s not hard to imagine why formerly enslaved persons like Douglass would consider ending their own lives.
It may, however, be harder for some to understand the links between racism, discrimination and thoughts of suicide among Black Americans today. The United States abolished chattel slavery through the 13th Amendment in 1865. However, Black Americans are still grappling with the effects of both structural and everyday forms of racism that permeate U.S. customs, culture and laws. As a researcher and assistant professor at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy and Practice, I explore how factors like discrimination, stigma and depression contribute to suicide risk in Black Americans. I also assess how positive psychological forces – like having a sense of life purpose or receiving social support from others – may improve an individual’s mental health outcomes. Several studies have reported that exposure to discrimination is related to negative mental and physical health outcomes in Black Americans. These can include increased rates of depression, hypertension and sleep disturbance. Fewer studies have explored how racial discrimination is related to suicidal risk. Therefore, in 2019 I led a study that examined whether racial discrimination was linked to depression and suicidal thoughts in adult Black men.
enrollment support each year. “I am evidence that investing in leadership development efforts has an impact on organizations and the community,” said Dr. Joe Hobot, who has served as president and CEO of American Indian OIC since 2014. “With the flexible funding that comes with the Neighborhood Builders award, we will prepare future leaders to provide transformative services, mentorship, and leadership development to American Indian and BIPOC youth.” Since 2004, Bank of America has invested over $280 million in 50 communities through the Neighborhood Builders program, partnering with more than 1,400 nonprofits and helping more than 2,800 nonprofit leaders strengthen their leadership skills. Here in the Twin Cities, a total of 13 nonprofits have been selected as a Neighborhood Builder, with the bank investing more than $2 million into these local organizations through the program since 2013. Neighborhood Builders is just one example of how Bank of America deploys capital in communities, builds
The Healing Circle
Dr. B’s Mantra: If Black Lives Matter, Save Yours and Get the Vaccine Now! Columnist
By Brenda Lyle-Gray
PeopleImages via Getty Images
Researchers are exploring the impacts that racial discrimination is having on Black Americans’ emotional and psychological health.
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip Toe if you must, but take a step. Naeem Callaway Every Friday, Dr. Oliver Williams, Executive Director of the Institute of
tal health
The events that have unfolded since this study was published underscore the need for this line of research. My work, along with research done by a host of other scholars, affirms that any attempt to systematically address inequitable treatment of Black Americans – such as the recent White House executive order on advancing educational equity and economic opportunity – should also account for the ways in which racial discrimination has impacted mental health outcomes among this particular population. Racial discrimination and men-
I2H
What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains
PAGE 6
My co-authors and I analyzed survey responses from more than 1,200 African American men ages 18 to 93 who resided in different states across the U.S. Data was originally collected from 2001 to 2003 through the National Survey of American Life. This project was led by the late social psychologist James S. Jackson, whose groundbreaking career shifted the way that Black Americans were represented and studied in research. This survey is one of the few nationally representative data sources that
DISCRIMINATION 4
cross-sector partnerships, and promotes socioeconomic progress as part of its approach to responsible growth. American Indian OIC is a nonprofit workforce development agency that helps more than 1,000 people each year enter, reenter and advance in the workforce. The mission of the organization is to empower American Indian people to pursue career opportunities through individualized education, training and employment services in a culturally rich environment. To achieve its goals, the agency operates an alternative high school and postsecondary job training center, and provides adult education and career coaching services. To learn more, visit aioic.org. With strategic partnerships and interventions like providing mentorship, scholarship and loan forgiveness support, Black Men Teach will increase the number of Black men leading elementary school classrooms. To learn more about its mission, visit blackmenteachtc.org/ mission-and-vision/.
Dr. Oliver Williams
idvaac
and a professor in social work at the University of Minnesota, becomes even more baffled by the so-called logic in adults and parents who say, “I’m not taking the vaccine, and neither is my child. I don’t know what’s in it, and I know how doctors and hospitals have treated Black patients in the past for decades.” Noting that a brilliant, Black female scientist played a major role in the release of a vaccine that has saved millions of lives, Williams asks, “Do you honestly think she would recommend something that would kill her own family and friends? I’m trying to make sense of no sense.” I went to my favorite
Dr. Bravada Garrett-Akinsanya
Domestic Violence in the African American Community
DR. B 8
News
American Rescue Plan sends $100 million funding to Minnesota for MinnesotaCare
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Page 4 •November November 15, 2021 - November 21, 2021 • Insight News
Discrimination From 3 uses probability – or random – sampling to explicitly address the mental health experiences of Black adolescents and adults.
We decided to focus our study on Black men because historically, Black males have been four to six times more likely to die by suicide compared to Black females. Participants in this national survey were asked to indicate how frequently they encountered discrimination in
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their everyday lives. The experiences surveyed ranged from being treated with less courtesy or respect to being harassed and followed in stores, along with being perceived as dishonest, not smart or not as good as others. We analyzed men’s responses with a series of statistical tests that measured whether different forms of discrimination were related to negative mental health outcomes. We found that Black men who reported more frequent encounters with racial discrimination were more likely to experience depression symptoms and thoughts of suicide at some point during their lifetime. These findings suggest that experiences of discrimination do not have to be overt or extreme in order to be harmful. Rather, regularly occurring acts of racial discrimination that may initially seem minor can become increasingly stressful over time. When interpreting these results, it is important to note that we analyzed findings from a cross-sectional study. This means that surveys were administered to participants at only one point in time. Therefore, we were able to establish asso-
insightnews.com ciations among the variables, but cannot use this data to confirm that racial discrimination caused subsequent thoughts of suicide. Nonetheless, our findings still offer an important step forward by establishing that links between racial discrimination, depression symptoms and lifetime suicidal thoughts do exist. Mental health of Black children and youth Our study builds on other research that has also identified links between racial discrimination and suicidal thoughts in Black Americans. For example, University of Houston clinical psychologist Rheeda Walker and her colleagues found that among 722 Black children, experiences of racial discrimination were linked to more depression and greater odds of suicidal thoughts two years later. Members of the research team contacted participants two times and asked the same survey questions - once at age 10 and again at age 12. Findings generated from their 2017 study are particularly meaningful because the authors analyzed data over time, which allowed
them to confirm that racial discrimination significantly predicts an increase in suicidal thoughts, and not the other way around. Since then, clinicians, researchers and organizational leaders have partnered with members of the Congressional Black Caucus to call attention to the urgent mental health needs of Black youth. In 2019, this group created an emergency task force and released a powerful report that carefully describes the current state of suicide among Black youth. As detailed in various studies, Black children ages 5 to 12 were two times more likely to die by suicide relative to white children, with young Black boys being particularly vulnerable to suicide risk. Notably, rates of suicide have also significantly increased among Black teenage girls in recent years. In response to these concerns, leaders at the National Institutes of Health have allocated research funds and invited applications for projects promoting suicide prevention among Black youth. Researchers have also begun to explore the links between structural forms of racism and suicide risk. For instance, a study published in 2020 found
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that being unfairly fired from a job and experiencing abuse from the police were linked to suicidal thoughts, plans and attempts among Black adults. Despite these advances in research, it remains unclear whether any existing suicide prevention interventions account for the specific ways that racial discrimination impacts Black Americans’ psychological and emotional well-being. Therefore, it will be essential for researchers, clinicians and community members to work together in promoting the mental health needs of Black children and adults, while simultaneously encouraging Black Americans to hold on to the hope that Frederick Douglass professed more than 175 years ago. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
Hesitancy From 1 automatically mine potential causes of vaccine hesitancy, and their extent, from social media. Our preliminary analysis confirms that while some causes are the result of conspiracy theories and misinformation, others are informed by legitimate concerns such as potential vaccine side effects. We expect that people with these concerns may be much more amenable to getting vaccinated if they are presented with reliable sources of information that assuage their fears. In the future, public health officials could use machine learning for early detection of vaccine hesitancy on social media. Then they could use algorithms to automatically distribute targeted information and go on the offense against the spread of healthrelated misinformation. Such future digital public health systems could lead to healthier outcomes, both in the physical and digital realms. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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Insight News • November 15, 2021 - November 21, 2021 • Page 5
Saint Paul Public Library expands hours Last week, Saint Paul Public Library (SPPL) increased the number of hours it is open to the public. Many locations across Saint Paul have more weekend and Monday hours, with 12 of 13 library locations now open at 10 a.m. on Saturday mornings. The focus on adding weekend hours across the city was based upon feedback from library users. “Our libraries are essential public spaces for learning and connection” said Catherine Penkert, library director. “We are grateful to Mayor Carter and City Council for restoring funding so we can restore open hours
US Bank From 3 Management and Investment Services at U.S. Bank. “This research highlights many steps we can take as an industry to better serve the Black community.” For the research, U.S. Bank surveyed 4,024 people of Black, Hispanic, Asian and Caucasian heritage. Additionally, senior bank leaders held indepth focus groups with Black consumers. This research specifically focused on those with $25,000 and up in investible assets – those more likely to engage with a financial advisor or other investing mechanism to build wealth – to better understand how the financial industry can better meet the needs of Black Americans and what changes could deliver the most value. “This work is intensely personal to me, and I have my own thoughts based on my life experiences, but it was important to us that we broaden the conversation by listening to consumers to learn about their perspectives, and then further test those learnings in our quantitative research,” said Scott Ford, president of the wealth management business that focuses on emerging affluent and affluent consumers. “The bank is continually holding a wide range of additional conversations with consumers across all wealth levels as part of our holistic approach to help address the racial wealth gap.” Additional highlights from the research: Black respondents are far more likely than non-Black respondents to feel a sense of
in neighborhoods across the city, providing greater access and flexibility for community members.” In addition to Saturday morning hours at nearly all SPPL locations, notable changes to hours of operation include Hayden Heights, Riverview, Hamline Midway, and St. Anthony Park libraries open on Mondays. Arlington Hills, Merriam Park, Rice Street, and Rondo libraries will return to being open on Sundays. Highland Park and Sun Ray maintained seven day per week service throughout the pandemic and will continue those hours.
10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. “Libraries of today are shared spaces for learning, belonging, and connection to information, resources, and to each other,” said Penkert. “As we build back better as a city, we added back library hours in line with our mission to welcome all people to connect, learn, discover, and grow.” Masks are currently required for indoor spaces at the library regardless of vaccine status. To learn more, visit www.sppl.org or call 651-2667000.
duty to lift their communities financially Black respondents are deeply committed to advancing the Black community through the “each one, teach one” concept – the idea of passing knowledge or learnings on to someone else. 66% of all Black respondents feel their community is at a disadvantage compared to Hispanics (37%), Asians (17%) and Caucasians (7%) who feel this way about their respective communities in terms of wealth accumulation. Nearly 7 in 10 (69%) feel a sense of responsibility to their community (compared to 58% of Hispanic respondents, 35% of Asian respondents and 28% of Caucasian respondents). 61% of Black respondents said educating their family or their community on financial matters is important to them, compared to 46% of nonBlack respondents. Black Americans want to see themselves reflected in the financial teams helping them Nearly twice as many Black respondents as Hispanic respondents say they have been treated differently by the financial services industry due to their race (23% vs. 13% respectively) – and nearly four times as many compared to white respondents (6%). When asked for changes they’d like to see in the financial services industry, Black consumers were twice as likely as their nonBlack counterparts to want financial planners who look more like them – gender, age, race, sexual orientation (30% vs. 14% respectively). Black Millennial and Gen X respondents find it more important than Boomers for their financial advisor to be the same race/ethnicity: 65% of Millennials
and 61% of Gen Xers said they want their financial advisor to be similar to them. Black women are less likely to work with a financial advisor and feel the Black community is at more of a disadvantage for wealth accumulation than Black males 57% of Black women surveyed work with an advisor vs. 66% of Black men. However, nearly 3 out of 4 (72%) Black female single head of household respondents work with a financial advisor. Black women (24%) feel more anxiety than Black men (16%) when thinking about financial planning. Black women (70%) are more likely than Black men (59%) to feel the Black community is at a disadvantage vs. the general population in terms of wealth accumulation. Black consumers are committed to building wealth for the next generation Twice as many Black respondents describe financial success as leaving a legacy compared to their white counterparts (20% vs. 10%). They are also more likely than white respondents to define success as being able to help the next generation (26% vs. 16%). Black consumers surveyed said they value real estate as part of their wealth portfolio at a high rate; 47% of Black consumers surveyed said they view real estate as a tangible asset to pass along to family, more so than their white counterparts in the survey (39%). 16% of Black Americans surveyed said they had achieved a goal of setting aside money to start a business (compared to just 8% of Asian respondents and 12% of white respondents).
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What’s the difference between a PCR and antigen COVID-19 test? A molecular biologist explains When a person is symptomatic or has a lot of virus in their system, antigen tests are very accurate. However, unlike molecular PCR tests, antigen tests don’t amplify the thing they are looking for. This means there needs to be enough viral antigen in the sample for the antibodies on the test strip to generate a signal. When a person is in the early stages of infection, not a lot of virus is in the nose and throat, from which the samples are taken. So, antigen tests can miss early cases of COVID-19. It’s also during this stage that a person has no symptoms, so they are more likely to be unaware they’re infected.
By Nathaniel Hafer Assistant Professor, Program in Molecular Medicine, UMass Chan Medical School At this point in the pandemic, you or someone you know has probably received at least one COVID-19 test. But do you know which kind of test you got and the strengths and weaknesses of these different tests? I’m a molecular biologist, and since April 2020 I’ve been part of a team working on a National Institutes of Health-funded program called RADx that is helping innovators develop rapid tests to detect when a person is infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Two major types of tests are used to diagnose infection with SARS-CoV-2: molecular tests – better known as PCR tests – and antigen tests. Each detects a different part of the virus, and how it works influences the test’s speed and relative accuracy. So what are the differences between these types of tests? Looking for genetic evidence The first step for either kind of test is to get a sample from the patient. This can be a nasal swab or a bit of saliva. For PCR tests, the next step is amplification of genetic material so that even a small amount of coronavirus genes in the patient’s sample can be detected. This is done using a technique called a polymerase chain reaction. A health care worker takes the sample and treats it with an enzyme that converts RNA into doublestranded DNA. Then, the DNA is mixed with a solution containing an enzyme called a
Karl Mumm via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
PCR tests are extremely accurate but require special lab equipment – like the PCR heating machine seen here – and can take hours or days to perform. polymerase and heated, causing the DNA to separate into two single-stranded DNA pieces. The temperature is lowered, and polymerase, with the help of a small piece of guide DNA called a primer, binds to the single-stranded DNA and copies it. The primers ensure that only coronavirus DNA is amplified. You’ve now created two copies of coronavirus DNA from the original one piece of RNA. Laboratory machines repeat these heating and cooling cycles 30 to 40 times, doubling the DNA until there are a billion copies of the original piece. The amplified sequence contains fluorescent dye that is read by a machine. The amplifying property of PCR allows the test to successfully detect even the smallest amount of
coronavirus genetic material in a sample. This makes it a highly sensitive and accurate test. With accuracy that approaches 100%, it is the gold standard for diagnosing SARS–CoV–2. However, PCR tests have some weaknesses too. They require a skilled laboratory technician and special equipment to run them, and the amplification process can take an hour or more from start to finish. Usually only large, centralized testing facilities – like hospital labs – can conduct many PCR tests at a time. Between sample collection, transportation, amplification, detection and reporting, it can take from 12 hours to five days for a person to get results back. And finally, they aren’t cheap at $100 or more per test.
Antigen tests Rapid, accurate tests are essential to contain a highly contagious virus like SARS-CoV-2. PCR tests are accurate but can take a long time to produce results. Antigen tests, the other major type of coronavirus test, while much faster, are less accurate. Antigens are substances that cause the body to produce an immune response – they trigger the generation of antibodies. These tests use lab-made antibodies to search for antigens from the SARS-CoV-2 virus. To run an antigen test, you first treat a sample with a liquid containing salt and soap that breaks apart cells and other particles. Then you apply this liquid to a test strip that has antibodies specific to SARS-
CoV-2 painted on it in a thin line. Just like antibodies in your body, the ones on the test strip will bind to any antigen in the sample. If the antibodies bind to coronavirus antigens, a colored line appears on the test strip indicating the presence of SARS-CoV-2. Antigen tests have a number of strengths. First, they are so easy to use that people with no special training can perform them and interpret the results – even at home. They also produce results quickly, typically in less than 15 minutes. Another benefit is that these tests can be relatively inexpensive at around $10-$15 per test. Antigen tests do have some drawbacks. Depending on the situation, they can be less accurate than PCR tests.
More tests, better knowledge A few antigen tests are already available over the counter, and on Oct. 4, 2021, the Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to another at-home antigen test. The U.S. government is also pushing to make these tests more available to the public. At RADx, the project I am a part of, we are currently conducting clinical studies to get a better understanding of how antigen tests perform at various stages of infection. The more data scientists have on how accuracy changes over time, the more effectively these tests can be used. Understanding the strengths and limitations of both PCR and antigen tests, and when to use them, can help to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control. So the next time you get a COVID-19 test, choose the one that is right for you. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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Insight News • November 15, 2021 - November 21, 2021 • Page 7
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Xavier Becerra
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Chiquita Brooks-LaSure
American Rescue Plan sends $100 million funding to Minnesota for MinnesotaCare Thanks to an updated formula for calculating federal payments, Minnesota will receive an estimated $100 million in additional funding for MinnesotaCare in 2022, as well as added funds for 2020 and 2021. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing approximately $100 million in additional funding in 2022 to support MinnesotaCare, Minnesota’s Basic Health Program (BHP), as well as added funds for 2020 and 2021. The additional funds, made available through the American Rescue Plan, increase Minnesota’s ability to provide affordable, quality health care coverage to approximately 100,000 individuals. “Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, we are making increased investments to protect health coverage access for vulnerable Minnesotans,” said Health and Human Services
Secretary Xavier Becerra. “MinnesotaCare is another strong example of the BidenHarris Administration working hand-in-hand with states to help more Americans realize the peace of mind that comes with health coverage.” “The Basic Health Program is an important option for states to provide comprehensive health coverage to lowand moderateincome families,” said CMS Administrator Chiquita BrooksLaSure. “I’m glad that we can support Minnesota’s successful program as the state ensures that its residents have access to affordable, comprehensive care.” Section 1331 of the Affordable Care Act gave states the option to establish a BHP, a coverage program for residents whose income is above levels that would otherwise make them eligible for Medicaid and CHIP. Through BHPs, states can provide coverage to low- and
moderate-income individuals and families who do not qualify for Medicaid, CHIP, or other minimum essential coverage. New York and Minnesota are the only states currently implementing a BHP. The Biden-Harris Administration stands poised to lend expertise to others considering the program— especially given success across these two states. Combined, both states provide coverage to 1.1 million people. More information on the revised federal formula that made this additional funding possible, is available at https:// www.medicaid.gov/federalpolicy-guidance/downloads/ cib11102021.pdfreleased from CMS’s Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services. To learn more about MinnesotaCare—including information about eligibility and enrollment—visit MN.gov.
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pizza joint the other night. A veggie pizza and an ice-cold Heineken was the key to my journalistic revival for the week. I didn’t go in the kitchen of the restaurant and ask, “Hey, what kind of flour did you use in the crust, where did the vegetables come from, and what did the farmer feed the cow that produced the cheese on my dinner that just came out of the pizza oven?” Like Dr. Williams, I’m trying to ‘make sense out of nonsense’. We are playing Russian roulette. No protection with the vaccination we know has been proven to work, no anti-bodies. Following an emergency authorization from the CDC, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced that the state was ready to administer the vaccine to the younger population. “Getting our children vaccinated will help our kids be kids again,” the Governor said in a statement to the press. “Now that the vaccine has been approved for kids, ages 5-11, Minnesota is ready to move quickly, efficiently, and equitably. I encourage families to make a plan to get their child vaccinated and help keep them safe,” Walz said. Children’s vaccines are 1/3 the size of the adult version; two shots, three weeks apart. COVID19 has kept children from doing the things they love. The best way to keep our children healthy and safe is to get them vaccinated. Getting your child vaccinated helps keep them in school, sports, and other activities. Children who are fully vaccinated do not have to stay home (quarantine) if they are exposed to someone who has the virus. They also don’t have to get tested as often. The vaccination helps protect children and the people around them. Dr. Bravada Garrett Akinsanya, (Dr. B) founder and CEO of the African American Child Wellness Institute, has had to re-designed her practice to tele-therapy. Dr. B. and her clinical teams both at AACWI and Brakins Consulting and Psychological Services continue to follow evidencebased protocols. In a concerted effort to quell the confusion and misinformation leading to so many contradictions, the esteemed mental health
practitioner has coined yet another mantra: If Black Lives Matter, Save Yours and Get the Vaccine Now! Vaccines have been carefully studied and have gone through any number of clinical trials before they were recommended to be given to children and teens. Getting two doses provides 90.7% good protection. The Pfizer vaccine for 5-11 year-olds had no reports of myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle); pericarditis (inflammation of the lining outside of the heart); or anaphylaxis (an allergic reaction). “Parents today are faced with the conflict created by mandates,” says Dr. B. “Since some refuse to take the vaccine, does that make me a bad parent if I don’t allow my child to be vaccinated? What would motivate these adults to take the shot? Does it matter that decades ago we were protected by vaccines, e.g. German and three-day measles, chicken pox, polio, diphtheria, whooping cough. Had we not been protected by the science not as sophisticated as today’s phenomenal medical feats, most of our generations decades ago would not be alive to tell our stories today. It was a normal occurrence that in the first grade, our parents had to have us ‘school ready’ which included immunizations, or we couldn’t sit in a classroom. When COVID began to surge and Black communities were being fatally impacted, believers were on their knees praying not to die. Now that we have a cure, there is all this purposefully planted false misinformation clouding adult judgment. We are back to trying to make sense out of no sense.” Editor Al McFarlane connected the anti-vaccination disinformation efforts to voter suppression and expansive ongoing resistance to Black empowerment and prosperity. He said pervasive white supremacy culture supporting policies and practices derive profit from destabilizing and marginalizing our community. “The far right is hell-bent on holding on to power through voter suppression and resource denial. If they can keep people at each other, our health and wellbeing will be at peril. What they must fear, the loss of power, is inevitable and imminent. The demographics back a reality that is causing them to act in desperation,” McFarlane said. I loved the example Dr. B. often gives to her youth clients. “It gets bitter cold in
the winter months in Minnesota, doesn’t it,” she asks. “Wouldn’t you find it rather strange and dangerous if someone would walk down the street with no shoes and bikini during those months? Don’t you think they would need protection to keep from freezing to death? It’s the same concept. You need protection from this disease that has killed 760,000 Americans alone. I still believe that in our genes and our blood, Black America has the wisdom to know we need to survive; that preventing getting the disease with the vaccine instead of taking medicine once we are infected, makes more sense. We must create a culture where we claim the right to be well, promoting our survival and our thriving with the purpose of adaptation and growth from generation to generation. It should be a conversation of truth every day. I realize we are all battle weary. But we must fight on because those who have perished from this disease cannot. Our children depend on us to make things right and be there for them. It’s our responsibility. Let’s do this together! We are people worth protecting,” Dr. B says. Dr. B. always opens the Friday Healing Circle by reminding us all of the power of the spirits of our ancestors; the chorus of elders, family, and friends pouring in designated appointments, roadmaps for fulfillment, and dreams that existed even before we were born. With physical and emotional challenges created by COVID19 isolation for fear of the unvaccinated, I am in daily conversation with the Creator and also talk to ‘The Red Bird’, a model boat my father made in 1932. Sitting on the seat of the boat is a pink cancer pin, the disease that took both of my parents’ lives. Often, I can feel my mother’s presence drying my tears. This I know to be true. According to a CMM report, when Perrysburg School Superintendent Thomas Hosler sent a survey to parents in his Toledo-area district to see how many wanted to get their children vaccinated against Covid-19, he got more than 20,000 “no” responses . His district only has 5,700 students in it. “Clearly someone spent a lot of time in their basement working hard to invalidate our survey,” Hosler said. “That gives you an idea of how people are reacting to pandemic decisions. This year, for our teachers especially, it feels a lot more stressful and we’re only in November.”
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