Episode Topic: Vaccines and the Immunology of COVID-19

The world is basically at a stand-still awaiting a COVID-19 vaccine to allow life to go back to normal and restart global economies. The unprecedented accelerated vaccine development timeline, conflicting headlines about when a vaccine will be available, and political interference in the process certainly makes many wary of receiving a new vaccine. There has been no other time in history when understanding vaccines and immunology was more important than the present so that citizens can make decisions about their health. This session will include a general discussion of COVID-19 vaccines, the types of vaccines, and the clinical trial process. In addition, the immune mechanisms (antibodies, B-cells, T-cells) that make vaccines work and the cytokine storm concept that leads to severe COVID-19 disease will be presented.

Featured Speakers: 

• Heidi Beidinger-Burnett, Director, Eck Institute for Global Health Masters Program; Associate Professor of the Practice, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame; President of the St. Joseph County Board of Health
• Mary Ann McDowell, PhD, Associate Professor of Biological Sciences and Member of the Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame
• Brian Baker, Rev. John A. Zahm Professor and Department Chair, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame
• Jeffery Schorey, George B. Craig Jr. Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame

Read this episode's recap over on the University of Notre Dame's open online learning community platform, ThinkND: go.nd.edu/4bc7ca.

This podcast is a part of the Consider This! ThinkND Series titled “Consider This! Simplifying the COVID-19 Conversation”.

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