Last week, a virtual panel series, “A Conversation on COVID-19 with the CU Anschutz Medical Campus,” continued with a discussion on some of the latest trends and developments in the pandemic.
Chancellor Don Elliman welcomed nearly 400 guests to the livestream, and he acknowledged the many changes that have occurred since the last panel discussion in March 2021, including vaccine distribution and booster availability.
The panel featured Michelle Barron, MD, professor of infectious diseases; Thomas Campbell, MD, professor of infectious diseases and associate director of clinical research; and John J. Reilly Jr., MD, vice chancellor for health affairs and dean of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, who served as moderator. The experts provided updates on the impact of the delta variant and other global variants, the success and reliability of vaccinations, the science around booster shots and clinical trials of vaccines for children.
The panelists noted that about 70% of Coloradans are vaccinated, which offers protection from the delta variant. “People who are unvaccinated are still driving what we’re seeing in terms of hospitalization and cases,” said Barron. “30% doesn’t seem like a lot, but it is, especially when you have a variant that’s this infectious.”
The panelists agreed that based on current trends, COVID-19 is here to stay for many years to come, and society is learning to adapt and make the transition from a pandemic to an endemic. They encouraged viewers to keep up to date on their vaccinations for both COVID-19 and influenza. They also reminded the audience to take advantage of opportunities to participate in clinical research.
Chancellor Elliman thanked the generous community of supporters whose philanthropic support has helped bolster the campus response to shifting circumstances and allowed CU Anschutz to pursue expedited research into the causes, treatment and prevention of COVID-19.
