The contagious variant of the coronavirus spreading through Brittan has appeared in Colorado and California, but scientists are still unsure how much more easily the mutant spreads. Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) spoke to the virus replication process and spread.

A more contagious version of the coronavirus may alter the course of the pandemic in the United States, researchers said.

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The discovery of a more contagious coronavirus strain in the United States has heightened the urgency to ramp up the national vaccine rollout. Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) said there’s a high chance these variants are already circulating around the United States, and that the data to determine whether this is a problem needs to be generated.

“We need to be in overdrive now,” one pandemic expert said.

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Richard Nesto, MD (CMO, BILH) discussed the rollout of vaccines to BILH staff.

Hospitals vaccine rollout starts out rough, but picks up steam

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Along with Moderna, there are many Massachusetts-based healthcare and life science companies that are working to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. A COVID-19 vaccine is currently in development as part of a partnership between Johnson & Johnson and a team led by Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC), which is expected to report Phase 3 clinical trial data by February.

The Massachusetts Miracle is alive and well. ‘There are a lot of potential Modernas’

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Elective surgeries are now on hold as part of a wave of statewide restrictions aimed at easing the burden on hospitals whose beds are quickly filling with COVID-19 patients. Michael Gibson, MD (Interventional Cardiology, BIDMC) noted that hospitals are very full of COVID patients currently.

Elective surgeries on pause due to surge

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Two OB-GYN residents played Christmas music for staff and patients at BIDMC during the holiday season. Hannah Wiley, RN (OBGYN, BIDMC) said the music brought cheer to both staff and patients at the hospital.  

COVID-19 has taken so much away from us this year, but not Christmas cheer

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Jeffrey Saffitz, MD, PhD (Pathology, BIDMC) shared that before the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnostic tests and the laboratory workers that run them were not used to seeing the limelight. The swift spread of the virus brought new attention to testing this year.

Biogen, messenger RNA and CRISPR creators: These were the top five stories in Boston biotech

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Kathryn Stephenson, MD, MPH (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) shared how the impact of low vaccination levels can be significant for long-term public health for two reasons: first, pockets of ongoing infection in one community can be a source for new outbreaks in all communities in the future; second, it can significantly exacerbate already stark health disparities between communities.

The impact of the anti-vaxx movement: What happens if only half the country gets the Covid vaccine?

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Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) spoke to whether COVID-19 could evolve to render the current vaccine ineffective.

Don’t worry about the mutation — yet

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Sharon Wright, MD, MPH (Infectious Disease, BILH) discussed whether the current COVID-19 vaccines are effective against the new strain.

Boston infectious disease expert shares latest on new strain of coronavirus

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Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC), lead researcher on the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine candidate, said the vaccine in development offers the potential of a single shot vaccine and that not needing subzero freezing will be an advantage for certain parts of the U.S. but will be a vast advantage for the developing world.

Johnson & Johnson Takes Big Step Forward With Its Vaccine Trial, Has Potential to Be Single Shot

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Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) shared how the COVID-19 experience will almost certainly change the future of vaccine science.

The lightning-fast quest for COVID vaccines — and what it means for other diseases

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Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) spoke to whether taking more than one type of COVID-19 vaccine is better for boosting immunity against the virus.

Should people take more than one type of COVID-19 vaccine?

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The New York Times detailed how the Johnson & Johnson and BIDMC COVD-19 vaccine candidate works. The vaccine is being developed in collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and BIDMC, led by Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC).

How the Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Works

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As millions of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be distributed before year’s end, Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) says these two vaccines alone are not enough for rapid distribution in the U.S. and certainly not globally.

More vaccines need authorization to inoculate all Americans

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According to federal officials, at least 40 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines should be available by the end of the year and many more are expected next year. A third vaccine, developed in collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and BIDMC, led by Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) is in a late-stage clinical trial, with results expected early 2021.

What you need to know about Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine, which is likely to get cleared this week

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Researchers led by Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC) studied levels of antibodies and immune cells required to prevent reinfection of the COVID-19 virus in rhesus macaques.

Antibodies and T cells protect against SARS-CoV-2

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Hospitals across the U.S. are expecting to receive the first shipments of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine as soon as Monday. Daniel Talmor, MD, MPH (Anesthesiology, Critical Care, BIDMC) shared how the vaccine is the light at the end of the tunnel.

"Without A Vaccine, We Don't Get Out Of This," BIDMC Doctor Says

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The earliest shipments of COVID-19 vaccine are expected to arrive at some Massachusetts hospitals starting Monday. Sharon Wright, MD, MPH (Infectious Disease, BILH) discussed how focusing the vaccination process on health workers may help broaden support for the vaccine among the public.

With vaccine to arrive, Mass. goes from ‘defense to offense’ against COVID-19

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Moderna appears likely to get a thumbs up for its vaccine from the FDA advisory committee on Dec. 17. Other drug makers hope to get the same authorization for additional vaccines in the coming months, including a collaboration between Johnson & Johnson and BIDMC, led by Dan Barouch, MD, PhD (Center for Virology and Vaccine Research, BIDMC).

FDA authorizes emergency use of first US vaccine for COVID-19

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