In the final episode of this series, Professor of Immunology Christine Loscher discusses the vaccine rollout and answers questions on vaccines for teens, booster shots and more.

As we reach 70 percent of the population of Ireland vaccinated against COVID-19, host Dick Ahlstrom chats to immunologist Professor Christine Loscher about how Ireland has performed in terms of its vaccination programme, what we have learned about the virus and about vaccines over the last year and what’s new in terms of vaccine development. She also answers questions on the vaccination of children and teens and on the start of vaccine booster shots. Christine is a Full Professor of Immunology and Associate Dean for Research in the Faculty of Science & Health at DCU.  In 2020 she established the DCU Covid-19 Research & Innovation Hub which currently has 16 funded projects aimed at novel solutions in the fight against Covid-19.  

More information on COVID-19 vaccines

The RIA's Life and Medical Sciences Committee has published a revised expert statement on vaccines. The statement is written in plain English and provides accurate information on vaccines. 
‘Vaccines: a life-saving choice expert statement’ by Kingston Mills MRIA, Bert Rima MRIA and Dick Ahlstrom [link to https://www.ria.ie/sites/default/files/vaccines_expert_statement_july_2021.pdf ]

You can find more information on vaccines and vaccination at:
http://gov.ie/covid19vaccine 
http://hse.ie 
http://immunisation.ie

This series is organised by the Life and Medical Sciences Committee  in partnership with the Health Research Board

Looking to the future with Professor Christine Loscher

The Royal Irish Academy/Acadamh Ríoga na hEireann is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is the principal learned society in Ireland and has over 420 members who are elected in recognition of their academic achievements.

The Royal Irish Academy, the academy for the sciences and humanities for the whole of Ireland will vigorously promote excellence in scholarship, recognise achievements in learning, direct research programmes and undertake its own research projects, particularly in areas relating to Ireland and its heritage.