Aug

COVID-19 Update: “How Science Supported my Decision to Get Vaccinated:” Dr. Ellen Stofan, Under Secretary for Science and Research

When the COVID-19 pandemic started, scientists from all over the country and all over the world dropped everything to develop a vaccine because they knew how dangerous this virus could be. Decades of research, which took place long before COVID-19 was on the radar, laid the groundwork for their success. In this short video message, Dr. Ellen Stofan, Under Secretary for Science and Research, explains how the COVID-19 vaccines work, how they could be rolled out so quickly, and why she chose to get vaccinated as soon as she could last year.

</p> </p> <p><strong>To learn more about the topics referenced in or related to Dr. Stofan’s vaccination story, visit these resources:</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0B8kj4_QCg"><strong>Viral Questions: How Do Vaccines Work?</strong></a><strong></strong></li> </ul> <p>Vaccines can keep you and others from getting sick, but how? Find out how vaccines train your immune system before you fall ill. (Exploratorium, March 2021)</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://youtu.be/pL-B30EXBEc"><strong>Kizzmekia Corbett Details Vaccine Development and Busts Vaccine Myths</strong></a><strong>, video</strong><br />Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is one of the scientists who in early 2020 helped develop an mRNA-based vaccine for COVID-19. (American Medical Association, March 2021)</li> <li><a href="https://twitter.com/KizzyPhD/status/1239597699575328768"><strong>Kizzmekia Corbett</strong></a><strong> on Twitter<br /></strong>Follow Dr. Corbett’s tweets throughout the development, testing, and successful rollout of the Moderna vaccine.</li> <li><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/years-of-research-laid-groundwork-for-speedy-covid-19-vaccines"><strong>Years of Research Laid Groundwork for Speedy COVID-19 Vaccines</strong></a><strong>, article</strong></li> </ul> <p>How could scientists race out COVID-19 vaccines so fast without cutting corners? A head start helped — over a decade of behind-the-scenes research that had new vaccine technology poised for a challenge just as the coronavirus erupted. (PBS News Hour, December 2020)</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li><a href="https://www.vaccines.gov/search/"><strong>Find a Vaccine Site</strong></a><strong> or Call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 888-720-7489), resource</strong></li> </ul> <p>Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you with just your zip code. Option to search by vaccine type.</p> </p> <p>Stay safe, be well, and get vaccinated,<br />The COVID-19 Response Team</p> <div class='yarpp yarpp-related yarpp-related-website yarpp-template-thumbnails'>  <h3>Related posts:</h3> <div class="yarpp-thumbnails-horizontal"> <a class='yarpp-thumbnail' rel='norewrite' href='https://torch.si.edu/2021/11/office-of-protection-services-has-a-new-director/' title='Office of Protection Services has a new director'> <img width="120" height="120" src="https://torch.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Mark-Wallace-120x120.jpeg" class="attachment-yarpp-thumbnail size-yarpp-thumbnail wp-post-image" alt="Mark Wallace headshot" data-pin-nopin="true" srcset="https://torch.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Mark-Wallace-120x120.jpeg 120w, https://torch.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Mark-Wallace-85x85.jpeg 85w, https://torch.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Mark-Wallace.jpeg 170w" sizes="(max-width: 120px) 100vw, 120px" /><span 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