According to current data, vaccines are highly effective at preventing infection from coronavirus, offering various degrees of protection from most new variants. However, as infections continue to surge around the world and countries like the United States begin to ease mask mandates, it is not entirely clear whether long-term immunity will occur and protect populations from future outbreaks.
In a recent episode of Second Opinion, a film series produced by Los Angeles Times Studios and the Los Angeles Times newsroom, researchers discuss vaccines, emergent variants, and long-term immunity. Marc Hellerstein, a professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences and Toxicology, is featured in the episode, in which he discusses public health guidelines, how vaccinations prevent infections, the prospects for immunity, and reasons for hope moving forward, among other topics. Watch the segment below: