On October 7th at 7pm, join Stuart Le Grice, Ph.D., Scientist Emeritus with expertise in antiviral drug discovery and mRNA vaccine development for an informal, virtual, discussion about our common responsibility for bringing this pandemic under control.
Although the U.S. population is increasing the vaccination rate against COVID-19, it may be increasingly difficult to achieve the necessary level of total population vaccination predicted to provide “herd immunity” prior to the Delta variant. While respecting the rights of any individual to forego vaccination, it is important for the public to realize that in many cases, rumors that are circulating are not backed by rigorous science, are often inaccurate, and we would benefit from a better understanding of COVID-19, the use of mRNA vaccines, and the need to keep up (or accelerate) the vaccination campaign. What is particularly concerning is that previously predicted new and more easily transmitted COVID-19 variants are rapidly spreading through the unvaccinated and some vaccinated population, which is again putting a huge strain on the health care system not yet recovered from the pandemic.
It is also important to consider that individuals receiving treatment for cancer, or who have had an organ transplant, often receive drugs that compromise their immune system. As a result, they likely will not respond to vaccination and remain vulnerable to infection. The same is true for individuals being treated for rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, chronic active hepatitis and ulcerative colitis. Increasing the rate of COVID-19 vaccination will therefore allow us to better protect this vulnerable population.
Stuart Le Grice, Ph.D., NCI Scientist Emeritus, has expertise in biochemistry; molecular biology; virology; antiviral drug discovery (HIV, Ebola, Dengue virus); mRNA vaccine development. He has been employed at the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD; Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; and Hoffmann-La Roche, Switzerland.