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Dr. Stephanie Silvera Comments on Vaccine Changes as the Virus Mutates

Shots prevent deaths, hospital stays and more. Scientists consider changes as virus mutates

Posted in: College News and Events, Master of Public Health News, Public Health

Photo of Dr. Stephanie Silvera

Given the waning immunity, limited mask use and booster uptake, and the dangers of long COVID, Dr. Stephanie Silvera, Public Health Professor, said tweaking the vaccines to better protect against new viral variants could make sense. The federal government’s expert panel is scheduled to meet on June 28 to discuss this option and, if members decide to proceed with a reformulation, they would identify which mutations drugmakers should target in their revisions to NJ Spotlight News.

“I think the evidence is growing that this should, at a minimum, be up for consideration and study,” Dr. Silvera said. While this could create new logistical challenges, she said these reformulations could conceivably be easier to tweak further in response to future mutations, when compared to the existing product.

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