In March of 2020, Norbert "Nobby" Bostock became the first known case of COVID-19 in Southern Indiana. After four weeks in the hospital, he died from the disease. He was 77.

The Midwest is home to tens of thousands of immigrants — including refugees from countries like Myanmar, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Iraq. And it’s been a challenge to provide information about COVID-19 and vaccines to those who don’t speak English.

States across the Midwest are opening up COVID-19 vaccine appointments to more age groups. This should move the region closer to herd immunity and the return to some normalcy. Still, some say they don’t want to get vaccinated.

Black medical students face challenges from the beginning. With less access to quality public school education, many find themselves ill-prepared and it takes them multiple tries at standardized tests required for medical school entrance. Once accepted, some are faced with racism inside the lecture and hospital halls.

The Biden administration appears to have begun the process of rolling back Medicaid work requirements. But some worry this may mean conservative states will reject Medicaid expansion altogether.

The COVID-19 pandemic lowered the life expectancy of the typical American, a recent CDC report says. And it seems that Black Americans have been affected the most.

COVID-19 can trigger many complications -- including a rare condition that can be deadly for children. It’s known as MIS-C. Doctors are still unsure why some develop it and others don't. But one thing is certain: It's hitting Black and Latinx children especially hard.

For the past year, Dr. Lauren Graham has been the COVID-19 coordinator at the Grinnell Regional Medical Center in Grinnell, Iowa. She spoke to Side Effects Public Media’s Natalie Krebs about what she’s learned one year into the pandemic.

Mayra Ramirez, 28, was hit hard by the coronavirus and became the first COVID patient to have a double-lung transplant. She talks about her recovery in a non-narrated feature produced by Side Effects Public Media’s Christine Herman.

Many Midwest states are now weeks into distributing coronavirus vaccines to residents who are 65 or older. With demand still far outstripping supply, many seniors have struggled to get an appointment and are frustrated. And some worry the most vulnerable residents could be left behind.