. WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) Army scientists are testing whether their new COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which entered human trials this week, can serve as a universal booster shot for all other available coronavirus vaccines. Nearly 20% of Americans have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 using one of three authorized vaccines. But with public health experts and government officials anticipating the need for booster shots down the line, scientists at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research are examining whether their vaccine candidate can “mix and match” with the others to enhance and prolong protection. The Walter Reed vaccine called SpFN may boost the duration and breadth of immune responses in combination with other vaccines, which are made using different technologies, Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of Walter Reed’s Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch, said in an interview with McClatchy on Thursday.
By Michael Wilner and Tara Copp
McClatchy Washington Bureau/TNS
WASHINGTON - Scientists at the Walter Reed Army Research Institute have promising new data indicating their vaccine will work against significant mutations of COVID-19, as well as entirely different coronaviruses, an achievement that other vaccines so far have not accomplished.
The data has yet to be peer reviewed. But the Army lab is hopeful that a pan-coronavirus vaccine is achievable after testing the drug on SARS, a coronavirus that emerged in 2003 with significant biological differences from the current pandemic disease known as SARS-CoV-2.
Tests of the vaccine against both SARS as well as emerging variants of COVID-19 have shown “very good responses,” said Dr. Kayvon Modjarrad, director of Walter Reed’s Emerging Infectious Diseases Branch.
Army’s COVID-19 vaccine may hold key to beating coronavirus mutations By Michael Wilner and Tara Copp, McClatchy Washington Bureau
Published: January 17, 2021, 2:25pm
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WASHINGTON Scientists at the Walter Reed Army Research Institute have promising new data indicating their vaccine will work against significant mutations of COVID-19, as well as entirely different coronaviruses, an achievement that other vaccines so far have not accomplished.
The data has yet to be peer reviewed. But the Army lab is hopeful that a pan-coronavirus vaccine is achievable after testing the drug on SARS, a coronavirus that emerged in 2003 with significant biological differences from the current pandemic disease known as SARS-CoV-2.
Lauren Kirschman: Coronavirus updates: State passes 281k cases; vaccinations to be expanded
News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash. 1/15/2021 Lauren Kirschman, The News Tribune (Tacoma, Wash.)
Jan. 14 Updated at 9:30 a.m.
The Washington state Department of Health reported 2,892 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and 49 deaths.
Pierce County reported 423 cases Wednesday and nine new deaths. Pierce County has a total of 348 deaths likely caused by COVID-19 as of Wednesday, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Statewide totals from the illness caused by the coronavirus are 281,202 cases and 3,838 deaths. Those numbers are up from 278,310 cases and 3,789 deaths Tuesday. The case total includes 12,001 cases listed as probable. DOH revises previous case and death counts daily.
Scientists at the Walter Reed Army Research Institute have promising new data indicating their vaccine will work against significant mutations of COVID-19,