Articles related to VACCINES/IMMUNIZATION

According to several polls (though some said they might change their minds for various reasons), around 4 in 10 Americans have said they will not get a coronavirus vaccine. When it comes to the safety of these vaccines, however, there are good reasons to be confident already. Here are nine explanations to give to a patient, friend, or family member that may be skeptical of the shots.

The first doses of COVID-19 vaccines will be arriving in a few weeks, both of which use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology to induce an immune response. Biologically, mRNA is transcribed from DNA and travels into a cell’s cytoplasm where it is translated by ribosomes into proteins. For those who want more information on the history and science of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, here’s a primer.

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) stated goal for deploying a COVID-19 vaccine is “to decrease death and serious disease as much as possible.” According to José Romero, MD, Chair of the ACIP, the decision to vaccinate health care workers first is based on the actions that will help control the pandemic fastest.

To help ready physicians with sound, scientific knowledge—untarnished by political views—essential to combating COVID-19, the Annals of Internal Medicine and the American College of Physicians hosted the COVID-19 Vaccine Forum on 10/16/20 to offer current, evidence-based information related to the science, approval processes, and development of clinical recommendations for vaccines.

This roundup of articles highlights the 14 vaccines doctors are targeting in the fight against COVID‑19, in addition to featuring one doctor’s claim that the virus was active in France in December 2019, almost a month earlier than previously believed.