Vaccines and the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Primer for the Public Tonight Feb. 24

As the COVID-19 pandemic surpasses 400,000 deaths in the US and more than 2 million worldwide, vaccines are becoming available that were made at record speed.

Dr. Zuri Sullivan and Dr. Bruce Walker of the Ragon Institute will provide information geared to the general public as to where the virus that causes COVID-19 came from, how it causes disease, how the body fights back, how vaccines work, the safety and efficacy of those COVID-19 vaccines currently being rolled out, and the prospects for these vaccines to contain the pandemic now that mutant viruses are arising. Josefine Wendel of the Cambridge Public Health Department (CPHD) will highlight the work of the health department in vaccine roll-out in Cambridge and provide information about current vaccine eligibility and how people can register for a vaccine appointment. The event will also include a question and answer session.

The Ragon Institute, located in Kendall Square, has been involved in COVID-related research since the virus was first identified in China a year ago, and founding member Dr. Dan Barouch has developed a single dose vaccine being produced by Johnson and Johnson that is currently in phase 3 trials.

This program is being presented as part of Cambridge Public Library's Our Path Forward Series

Register is required for this event.