Who Are The Vaccinated That Still Become Infected?
Vaccine development was one of the few shining lights during a dark past ten months. After a remarkably rapid design and trial period, pharmaceutical companies Moderna and Pfizer announced efficacy percentages in the high 90s. A tremendous achievement, but even an efficacy …
How To Decipher The New Pfizer Study On Vaccines And Variants
One of the biggest and most pressing questions to arise about new SARS-CoV-2 variants like B.1.1.7, the so-called UK variant with 17 distinct mutations, and the so-called South African variant 501.V2 is whether they’ll impact the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines. In an …
Genome Sequencing In The United States, Or Lack Thereof
The United Kingdom and South Africa discovered new SARS-CoV-2 variants in their domestic Covid-19 cases. The variants were found using genome sequencing techniques that analyze the structure of the virus and discern mutations. These genome sequencing techniques were regularly used worldwide at …
How The Covid-19 Virus Changes
Random variation is an essential component of all living things. It drives diversity, and it is why there are so many different species. Viruses are no exception. Most viruses are experts at changing genomes to adapt to their environment. We now have …
The Risks Of Delaying Or Diluting Covid-19 Vaccines
With a limited supply of Covid-19 vaccines, the question on many minds is whether to dilute the vaccines or delay the second dose to speed Covid-19 vaccination. My answer is neither—the greatest threat to population protection is virus resistance. Diluting the vaccine …
New Covid-19 Variants In One Country Pose A Threat To All Countries
New variants of SARS-CoV-2 are an unexpected spanner in the works as countries around the world establish their vaccine distribution regimes. These new variants, which may be more contagious from early observations, pose new challenges in the global fight against Covid-19. SARS-CoV-2 …
Vaccines Need To Be Cheap And Accessible Worldwide
Vaccine development typically takes years of research, design, and trial. For Covid-19 vaccines, pharmaceutical companies took only months to receive emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration. This rapid development should be applauded, but the next steps are equally crucial. …
There Will Be No Quick COVID Fix
Rather than waiting and hoping that scientists will deliver a fully effective vaccine or breakthrough treatment for COVID-19, the hardest-hit countries need to be fostering better leadership, governance, and social solidarity. Technology alone will not save us from the virus; we must …
How The US Military Is Handling Covid-19 And What We Can Learn From Their Experience
As vaccine news and Covid-19 case resurgence dominate the media’s attention, the military and its Covid-19 experience seem to be flying under the radar. While we at home isolate and reduce our societal interaction, military members continue to interact with hundreds if …
It’s Time To Recalibrate: New Covid-19 Strains Will Only Make The Pandemic Worse
The new variant of SARS-CoV-2 emerging in the United Kingdom has made its way to the United States. As Covid-19 grows worse in the United States—around 180,000 cases and 2,000-4,000 deaths per day—this new, potentially more contagious variant of the virus will …
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