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With the possibility of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. being involved in health policy in the next administration, vaccination – especially mRNA vaccines – will become a hot topic. Is there anything to fear from an mRNA vaccine?

Surgeons are frequently impatient, “never letting the skin get in the way of the problem.” One of my colleagues repeatedly asks God, "Please give me patience right away.” That seems to be the case for us that are not scientists; we often are not patient enough for the data to unfold; the data, in this case, some reliable findings on the incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis associated with the COVID vaccinations.

Norovirus vaccines face significant hurdles, with virtually no success from past efforts from HilleVax and Vaxxart. But Moderna's mRNA-1403, now in Phase 3 trials, is based on the company's mRNA technology, which controlled the COVID pandemic. Will it work here? Keep a bucket handy, just in case.

There has been no shortage of COVID-19 vaccine doubters. One (of the infinite number) of criticisms of the mRNA vaccines is that clinical trial data is somehow unreliable, or that the vaccine won't work in the “real world." But a study at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center has slammed the brakes on that theory. The Pfizer/Moderna vaccines almost entirely prevented infection in first-line medical workers.

The same mRNA technology that gave us effective COVID-19 vaccines could yield a new generation of highly protective seasonal flu shots. When will we see these upgraded influenza vaccines? Perhaps sooner than you think.

The virus has not yet evolved to spread efficiently between people. Excellent vaccine technology exists, but the government has just withdrawn funding for the development of a bird flu vaccine. Every day that passes without investment and planning increases the odds that we will be unprepared for the next pandemic.

Over the past 20 months, some formerly unknown terms have become part of our vernacular, thanks to COVID-19. Do most non-scientists understand them? We’re guessing: Probably not. So, here’s a primer that may help you better understand what you're hearing and reading.

People are still debating whether the mRNA from COVID-19 vaccines remains in the body longer than it should. Some say it lingers and causes harm, others say that idea just doesn’t hold up. A new article in Stat brings the issue back into the spotlight. Chemistry explains what's going on.

Andrew Wakefield, the godfather of the modern anti-vaccine movement, is spreading disinformation about the COVID vaccine, falsely claiming that the mRNA vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna are a form of genetic engineering. Like all good liars, he mixes a tiny bit of truth into a sea of lies.

Myocarditis has become a flashpoint in debates about COVID vaccines; however, new research suggests this rare heart inflammation is a window into how powerful immune technologies sometimes misfire in specific biological contexts. By tracing the immune signals involved, scientists are learning how to reduce risk while preserving protection.

If Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine is successful, it will be the first-ever mRNA vaccine on the market. How is the vaccine made and how does it work?

Public health has its own bracket of champions: breakthroughs that eliminated deadly diseases, revolutionized surgery, and opened entirely new doors in medicine. From vaccines to mRNA technology, these sixteen advances didn’t just win scientific matchups—they helped humanity cut down the nets against some of its toughest biological opponents.

John Batchelor and I discussed the ongoing developments and challenges in addressing COVID-19. We emphasized the importance of staying up-to-date with vaccines, especially for older adults with pre-existing conditions, as I’ve always advised. We talked about the concept of a universal vaccine, which, though difficult to achieve, is actively being researched.

There's a new vaccine in town and all the nut logs and screwballs are blabbering nonsense rumors all over the Internet. Here's one that is especially bad – that the Pfizer/Moderna COVID vaccines can give you COVID. No, they can't. It is physically impossible. Here's why.

The FDA just voted to approve a different Covid vaccine; this one based on one of the Omicron subvariants. But the decision was anything but simple. A look at the science.

The new composition of the committee reflects what can happen when ideology and cronyism replace competence, expertise, and proper vetting. The result: the replacement of evidence-based vaccine policy with ideology-driven decision-making will affect public health negatively for generations to come.

There has been a small incidence of diffuse clotting, especially in atypical body sites, like the central vein draining the brain, among some AstraZeneca and J&J COVID-19 vaccine recipients. A newly released pre-print suggests a possible underlying biologic cause.

I just got my COVID booster! I'm quite happy about this but it was a rather strange experience. Here's why.

A Texas wedding this past April became an unintentional experiment in vaccine efficacy. All 92 guests were vaccinated but COVID disease broke through in six people. Four of them got one of the mRNA vaccines and developed one mild illness. Two got Covaxin, a vaccine developed in India. Both became very ill and one subsequently died. The culprit was the dangerous delta variant.

Two Idaho state legislators have introduced a bill that would criminalize providing or administering a vaccine produced with mRNA technology to any person or other mammal. It represents the apotheosis of elected officials' irresponsibility and stupidity.

The arrival of the next pandemic is a matter of when, not if. In order to be prepared for it, we will need government-funded basic science in universities and the collaboration of drug companies experienced in vaccine research and development. A "universal" vaccine – one that protects against infections by both existing and new variants – would be an important advance.

COVID-19 vaccination significantly lowers the risks of severe neonatal morbidity, neonatal death, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit in infants during the first month after birth. Protection continues for six months after birth. 

Two bills – one in Idaho, the other in the U.S. Senate – defy science, logic, and civic responsibility. The first would criminalize the administration of life-saving mRNA vaccines, while the second would ban mask mandates.

We now have both mRNA (Pfizer, Moderna) and vector (AstraZeneca, J&J) vaccines. As we move to boosters, can we – should we – mix and match? Is choosing one from Column A and one from Column B better, worse, or just the same?

While COVID-19 vaccines might have been oversold as the ultimate infection preventers, they did a solid job reducing severe illness. Now, researchers have discovered that a nasal vaccine might just be the secret weapon against transmission — at least if you're a hamster.