FDA approval of three vaccines for emergency use in 11-14 months after the genetic sequence of SARS-CoV-2 is a tribute to global scientific collaboration. In addition, the intense global collaboration across academia, pharma, regulatory and national agencies significantly increased our knowledge of virology and immunology. There is much that we still do not understand. Let’s advocate for continued collaboration.

The distribution of the vaccines poses huge ethical and logistical challenges. Countering the misinformation about the vaccines requires us to align on key messages that resonate with lay audiences. We can do a lot better with communication of science. We know that acceptance of these vaccines as safe and effective is critical to their success in ending this pandemic.

Remaining vigilant about preventative measures is equally critical until more than 70% of the population is immunized or has had COVID-19. Staying informed by reliable sources is a responsibility for all of us.

Here are links to information from our partner universities:

• San Francisco State University: https://news.sfsu.edu/covid-19
• Stanford University: https://healthalerts.stanford.edu/ 
• UC Berkeley: https://uhs.berkeley.edu/coronavirus-covid-19-information
• UC Davis: https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/covid-19 
• UC Santa Cruz: https://www.ucsc.edu/coronavirus/updates
• UCSF: https://www.ucsf.edu/topic/covid-19

Additional information, recommendations, and updates can be found at these sites:

• SF Department of Health: https://www.sfdph.org/dph/
• Johns Hopkins University: https://coronavirus.jhu.edu