Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has asked the federal government for more COVID-19 vaccine for state residents. Most will receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, but in Yuma County, because of its ease of transport and storage, health officials chose to distribute the Moderna vaccine.
Both the vaccines use an innovative delivery system to “teach” the body to recognize and respond to covid-19.
Dr. Joshua LaBaer is the Executive Director of Arizona State University’s Biodesign Institute. The Institute has led and contributed to COVID-19 testing advances in the state as well as put its brain trust to work on a variety of virus-related issues and solutions, including providing a resource to help people understand the virus, and more recently the vaccines available to fight it.
In part one of a conversation with Arizona Edition host, Lou Gum, Dr. LaBaer reveals how the Biodesign Institute uses a team approach to solve big problems, and how that approach has contributed to the state response to the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses vaccine science and explains the innovation behind the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines.
In part two of Arizona Edition, Dr. LaBaer talks about how COVID-19 variants could affect vaccine effectiveness. He also discusses myths about the COVID-19 vaccine.
Visit Biodesign.asu.edu to learn more about the Moderna vaccine available in Yuma County.
