Last week I had an opportunity to speak with Dr. Ted Ross the Director of the Center for Vaccines and Immunology at the University of Georgia in Athens. His team is working on a COVID-19 vaccine. I start by asking him to refresh our memories of high school biology and tell us exactly what is a vaccine?
He explains that the "pathogen" in the vaccine is not the whole virus, it's not able to replicate it only boost your immunity allowing your body to fight off the effects of the whole virus.
It has been announced that it will be 12 – 18 months before a vaccine is in place. He speaks about the government removing some of the of the protocols so that research being done on vaccines today will be ready, it usually takes years to produce a viable vaccine.
Dr. Ross speaks to the testing involved and what takes place when you participate in a trial. He also speaks about sharing information with other researchers around the world. They share best practices and what doesn't work. He shares how the COVID-19 is different from SARS and MERS also coronaviruses.
I ask Dr. Ross how he became interested in a career in biology and he mentions learning about microbiology and falling in love with viruses. He shares that their vaccine should begin trials in the next few months. I invited him to continue sharing with us as his research progresses.
For more information on the Dr. Ted Ross, Director of the Center for Vaccines and Immunology
For more information on the Center for Vaccines and Immunology at the University of Georgia