SPH In the Media

SPH on SNL

During the January 22 episode of Saturday Night Live, Weekend Update co-anchor Michael Che referenced a new study on COVID-19 vaccination and fertility by SPH professors Lauren Wise and Amelia Wesselink.

A new School of Public Health study found that COVID-19 vaccines do not affect fertility outcomes—reassuring news to most of us, but Saturday Night Live’s Michael Che was a little less enthused.

“Dammit, why did I get this?!” he quipped, after referencing the study during the January 22 episode of the late-night comedy show.

ICYMI, Che mentioned the study findings during SNL’s Weekend Update, a fan-favorite news segment that he co-anchors with Colin Jost to report and parody the major headlines of the week.

The study, led by Lauren Wise, professor of epidemiology, and Amelia Wesselink, research assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology, has gained significant media attention since it published last week in the American Journal of Epidemiology—but last week’s SNL episode marked a debut for SPH research on the series, offering critical public health news and comic relief to millions of viewers.

“Any press that amplifies the message is really exciting and important, and SNL is reaching a different audience than most of the other media outlets that have been reporting on the study,” says Wesselink. “I’m also happy that we made it to SNL without getting roasted.”

While COVID-19 vaccination does not appear to cause infertility in men or women, the researchers did find evidence that COVID-19 infection can temporarily reduce fertility in men—an outcome that could be avoidable by vaccination.

Don’t fret, Michael Che. You made the right decision.

Watch the full SNL clip here (reference to SPH study begins at 1:58), and read more about the study here.