News

Gladstone in the News September 1, 2022

CDC Authorizes New Omicron-Specific Booster Shots against COVID

San Francisco Chronicle—Senior Investigator Warner Greene, MD, PhD, says that it makes more sense to boost immunity with the newly approved bivalent vaccines targeting Omicron than with vaccines that aim at long-extinct variants of the coronavirus.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Center for HIV Cure Research Virology Greene Lab

Gladstone in the News July 26, 2022

Why Federal Government Is Putting Second COVID Boosters ‟On Hold” for People under 50

ABC7 News—The federal government plans to roll out a new vaccine against the BA.5 Omicron variant now predominant in the US early this fall. Senior Investigator Warner Greene, MD, PhD, says that you might want to hold off for your next booster shot until you can get this new vaccine, which will offer better protection against currently circulating variants.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Center for HIV Cure Research Virology Greene Lab

Gladstone in the News June 14, 2022

Why We’re Still Living With ‘Wily’ COVID a Year After California’s Reopening

San Francisco Chronicle—A year has passed since California dropped most public health restrictions related to COVID-19, but the pandemic isn’t over. Senior Investigator Warner Greene notes that the virus is still spreading effectively, and people can be infected repeatedly with different subvariants.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab

Gladstone in the News May 20, 2022

Scientists Explain Why Getting Infected With Omicron Doesn’t Protect You From Other COVID Variants

ABC News—Gladstone virologists investigated the effect of the Omicron variant on the immune response. Melanie Ott describes her team’s discovery that previous infection with Omicron does not result in strong immunity to other known SARS-CoV-2 variants. However, as Nadia Roan explains, individuals who were vaccinated before becoming infected with Omicron did have a broadly protective immune response, emphasizing the importance of the vaccines in saving lives.

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Gladstone in the News May 12, 2022

Bay Area Scientists Explain the Chances of COVID Reinfections as Omicron Subvariants Spread

ABC News—COVID-19 case numbers are rising in the San Francisco Bay Area, driven by sublineages of the Omicron variant. Gladstone virologist Warner Greene explains that the new subvariants are more infectious, and can evade the antibodies produced in response to vaccination and previous infection.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab

Gladstone in the News April 20, 2022

“Let’s Knock on Wood” the Vaccine Will Protect against New COVID-19 Variants, Says Expert

KCBS News—Although Omicron and related new variants can infect vaccinated people, Senior Investigator Warner Greene says vaccines still protect us well against severe disease, and urges people to get at least one booster shot.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Center for HIV Cure Research Greene Lab

Gladstone in the News March 30, 2022

Virologist Says 2nd COVID Booster Shot for Everyone Could Be Advised in the Fall

ABC News—The FDA recently announced that they would authorize a second COVID-19 vaccine booster shot for people 50 and older, and those 12 and older who are immunocompromised. Senior Investigator Warner Greene explains that the second booster can protect people who don’t have vigorous immune systems from infection, and predicts that it may be more broadly recommended for all adults in the months to come.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab

Gladstone in the News March 16, 2022

Highly-Transmissible COVID Subvariant Increasing in CA, but Expert ‘Doubts’ Lockdowns Will Be Needed

ABC News—A sub-variant of Omicron known as BA.2 is causing a spike in COVID-19 cases in Europe, and is predicted to become the globally dominant variant in the coming weeks. However, Senior Investigator Warner Greene says that vaccinated and boosted individuals are still well protected against serious illness, and spread of this new variant is unlikely to lead to new lockdowns.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab

Article February 11, 2022

When Will This Pandemic End?

And other questions you have about Omicron and the pandemic

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab Ott Lab Roan Lab

Video February 4, 2022

Omicron Update

In this COVID-19: Ask the Experts webinar, Gladstone virologists explain the latest science about the Omicron variant and answer questions about masking, testing, and more

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab Ott Lab

Gladstone in the News January 26, 2022

Omicron Could Be the Beginning of the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Time—The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has spread around the world at an alarming rate, but some scientists think the variant might actually be a sign of hope. Nadia Roan explains that widespread infection may lead to widespread immunity, which could help turn the pandemic virus into an endemic virus. Warner Greene posits that the best-case scenario is that the virus will weaken, continuing to spread but without causing severe disease.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab Roan Lab

Article January 18, 2022

What You Should Know About Omicron

Gladstone virologists answer your most pressing questions about the latest variant of COVID-19

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab Ott Lab Roan Lab

Gladstone in the News January 10, 2022

Moderna Announces People May Need 2nd Vaccine Booster, but Many Doctors Disagree

ABC News—COVID-19 vaccine maker Moderna recently announced that individuals might need a fourth shot to stay safe in the ongoing pandemic. Gladstone virologist Warner Greene argues that an additional dose of the available vaccine may not be ideal, and that future boosters should be designed to specifically protect against emerging strains of the virus.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Virology Greene Lab

Gladstone in the News January 5, 2022

Indoor Dining May Once Again Be Too Risky Due to Omicron, Bay Area Health Experts Warn

San Francisco Chronicle—Senior Investigator Warner Greene, MD, PhD, recommends that people limit indoor dining, especially if they are over 65 or otherwise at elevated risk for COVID-19, while the Omicron wave washes over the Bay Area.

Gladstone Experts COVID-19 Center for HIV Cure Research Virology Greene Lab

Gladstone in the News December 14, 2021

How Effective Are Today’s Vaccines against Omicron? Here’s What We Know So Far

San Francisco Chronicle—The omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 is spreading rapidly, but it may not be a reason for panic. Nadia Roan explains that our immune system’s cellular response to the vaccines should hold up well against the omicron variant. In addition, Warner Greene predicts that if the variant spreads rapidly but causes just mild disease, it might actually help establish immunity globally, protecting people in places where vaccine access has been limited.

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