Vanessa Ruffes
13WMAZ News
Charlotte, NC, United States
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Recent articles by Vanessa:
VERIFYING heat claims: Dogs eating ice cubes, water poisoning in people
The VERIFY team is tackling some heat-related claims about measures typically taken to stay cool as the Carolinas are set to see another round of major heat. → Read More
Baby formula shortage prompts questions, claims about what's safe for infants
People have been posting claim after claim about how to preserve the precious formula they have, and if there are any alternatives that are safe for babies. → Read More
Yes, renewable energy plants are cheaper to operate than non-renewables
In North Carolina, solar is the top-renewable investment for power companies like Duke Energy. → Read More
VERIFY: Yes, there is a J&J booster, but it's not preferred over other brands
Those getting Johnson & Johnson as both their initial COVID-19 shot and booster may even need to follow up with another booster in a different brand. → Read More
'Charlotte is a great haven for professional sports'
The Queen City is the only U.S. city with NFL, NBA, and MLS teams, but no MLB team. Some hope that changes soon. → Read More
VERIFY: Why the difference in gas prices may be more pronounced right now
Drivers might notice large differences in gas prices from station to station. A gas expert explains why the difference is happening and why it's more noticeable now. → Read More
VERIFY | 4th doses of COVID-19 vaccines are available, but only for this group
The standard vaccine series for Pfizer and Moderna are two doses, three or four weeks apart, followed by a booster shot at least five months from the primary series. → Read More
Where to find those free N95 masks & how the giveaway will work
The U.S. is giving away 400 million N95 masks from the national stockpile, with many going to retailers with the nation's vaccine partner program. → Read More
Moderna's booster still protects against omicron after 6 months, but antibodies wane faster than for original COVID-19
A study shows antibody protection against omicron was six times lower than peak levels after the booster six months after the shot. → Read More
A record for COVID-19 hospitalizations was broken in North Carolina. But day-over-day rises in patient counts could be slowing down
NCDHHS reports more than 5,000 people statewide were in the hospital with the virus on Tuesday, Jan. 25, but there are some promising signs in the trends. → Read More
North Carolina sets another COVID-19 case record with over 20,000 new cases reported Wednesday
North Carolina has once again set another COVID-19 case record with over 20,000 new cases reported Wednesday. → Read More
Facing grief during the holidays? You're not alone
A pastor and a therapist say finding community and nurturing your emotions are the key. → Read More
VERIFY: How do health officials know if someone has the omicron variant or another COVID-19 variant?
The usual PCR test only shows if someone is positive or negative for COVID-19. How is the variant type determined? → Read More
Here's what doctors say a switch from a COVID-19 pandemic to endemic would look like
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues on, there are more and more indications that the virus is here to stay. → Read More
VERIFY: When Mecklenburg's mask mandate expires, who it impacts, who's exempt
Yes, Mecklenburg County's indoor mask mandate is still in effect. This is how it's set to expire. → Read More
VERIFY: Are the current COVID-19 boosters the same formulation as the original shots?
FDA documents show the covid boosters are the same formula as the original doses and aren't specifically targeting delta, but they do boost protection against it. → Read More
How does a breakthrough COVID-19 case happen?
COVID breakthroughs don't mean the vaccine didn't work, but the current booster shots could help lower the risk of them happening as antibodies wane. → Read More
FDA panel to discuss Moderna, J&J and mix-and-match boosters
An FDA advisory panel has scheduled a discussion of the Moderna and Johnson and Johnson covid boosters for next week. It will also talk about mixing brands. → Read More
VERIFY: Can an upgraded air cleaner stop COVID-19?
Health officials have said COVID-19 spreads more easily indoors, leading some to upgrade their air and HVAC systems. → Read More
VERIFY: No, a larger child under the authorized vaccination age can not get a COVID-19 shot
A WCNC Charlotte viewer wanted to know if her daughter, who is nine but larger for her age, might still qualify for a COVID-19 vaccination. → Read More