Understanding the Science of
COVID-19 Vaccines: A Virtual Conversation with Dr. John Moore
Thursday, January 21, 7 pm EST on Zoom
- How did scientists develop vaccines for COVID-19 so quickly?
- Will the vaccines protect us against the new variants?
- Is giving people just one dose of the vaccine a sound strategy?
Science Writers in New York is excited to present Dr. John Moore, professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Moore, an expert on vaccine research, will talk to SWINY co-chair David Levine (@dlloydlevine) about why it was not so difficult to develop the COVID-19 vaccines, how they work and how protective they will be.
As COVID-19 cases continue to spike across the United States and the rest of the world, the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine received emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on December 11, and the FDA authorized Moderna’s vaccine on December 18.
However, there is misinformation about the vaccines and a distrust of the vaccine development process along political and ethnic lines. Although many Americans want the vaccine, others are concerned whether it is safe and effective for widespread use.
Dr. Moore will explain the inner workings of COVID-19 vaccine mechanisms and their development, how effective and how long the antibodies they produce will be and whether they will protect us as new variants emerge.
About Dr. John Moore
John P. Moore is an American virologist and professor, known for his research on HIV/AIDS. He previously worked at the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center. A tenured professor of microbiology and immunology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York, he received his B.A., M.A., M.Phil. and Ph.D. degrees from Cambridge University, UK. He joined Weill Cornell in 2000. The focus of his research has been on the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins. He directs several NIH and other sponsored grants.
Read: The COVID-19 Vaccine, Explained by Cornell Virologists
Read: Our Knowledge of Viruses Is Badly Inadequate
