Dec. 11, 2020
Dear Members of the Baylor College of Medicine Community,
The excitement this week is all about the first vaccines rolling out. In this week’s video, I use animation from CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society, to explain how mRNA vaccines – like those from Pfizer and Moderna - work. While some in the non-scientific community are expressing concern that these first vaccines have been rushed, it is important to know that this technology is not new; it represents decades of work. The technology to produce the mRNA vaccines was ready to implement as soon as the virus was sequenced. There are some differences between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and I explain that as well.
Every indication is that the first vaccines will be available in Houston next week for high priority groups. I’ll continue to report on vaccines through these videos.
Which leads me to a shout-out this week to all those who volunteered for the vaccine trials. It is a selfless thing to do for the good of the entire population. Thank you.
Happy Hanukkah! Special greetings to Rabbi Pamela Silk of Congregation Emanu El. She is a dedicated viewer of these videos and we speak frequently about ways to make sure her congregation is kept safe in this pandemic.
Have a relaxing and safe weekend.
Paul Klotman, M.D.
President & CEO
Executive Dean
