Beth Israel researcher wins $200,000 award for helping to create COVID vaccine for J&J

Dan Barouch is being honored by the King Faisal Foundation, based in Saudi Arabia. Read Article

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What you need to know about covid boosters and the latest research

For scientists, these data are evidence of immunological imprinting, or antigenic sin — when a person’s first exposure to the virus biases their later responses. Future vaccine strategy will have to contend with this issue, said Dan H. Barouch, a vaccine expert at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center who led the second study and helped develop the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Read Article

Omicron subvariants reflect a ‘viral evolution on steroids’

A new study suggests that the subvariant BA.4.6 can cause reinfections. A slew of other subvariants on the horizon may do the same. Read Article

New coronavirus subvariants escape antibodies from vaccination and prior Omicron infection, studies suggest

Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 appear to escape antibody responses among both people who had previous Covid-19 infection and those who have been fully vaccinated and boosted, according to new data from researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, of Harvard Medical School. Read Article

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There’s still no HIV vaccine. The science behind coronavirus shots may help.

“I’m not afraid to say that I cried,” recalled Stephenson, a researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Read Article

Here’s what we know about the BA.2 Omicron subvariant driving a new COVID-19 wave

“Ongoing transmission of BA.2 is probably related both to the increased transmissibility of the virus together with the reduction of pandemic restrictions,” says Dan Barouch. Read Article

Scientists to FDA: Don’t forget about T cells

In the face of waning antibody immunity to the coronavirus, scientists demand more attention on T cell immunity which may be more durable. Read article

HU CFAR Newsletter- April 2022

Another Covid Surge May Be Coming. Are We Ready for It?

A lab study published last week found that vaccinated people who were infected with Omicron, a COVID-19 variant, had high levels of antibodies that would probably protect against BA.2. If the protection lasts, it could reduce the impact of a future surge, given the country’s high levels of infection this winter. Read Article

As picture of Covid vaccine durability gets clearer, J&J makes a strong showing

This week, Pfizer and Moderna asked the FDA to authorize fourth doses of their vaccines. Meanwhile, a new study shows protection from one J&J shot lasts at least six months. Read Article