Archived articles

Andrew pekosz

A drawing of a coronavirus in grey watercolor background to illustrate dangerous cases of a pandemic
COVID-19
What to know about JN.1, the latest COVID variant
Published Jan 12, 2024
Vaccines, tests, and antivirals are still effective tools in the most recent COVID surge, Hopkins virologist says
A booster shot is administered on the Homewood campus Jan. 11, 2022
Q+A
Why and when to get a bivalent booster
Published Oct 6, 2022
The newly available COVID-19 boosters offer the best protection against current strains. But who needs it and when should they get it?
Train passengers both with and without protective masks crowding to get on and off subway station platform
Q+A
Omicron update: The summer of subvariants
Published July 19, 2022
With five versions of omicron circulating, vaccines are working against severe disease, not against infection. Virologist Andy Pekosz tells us what to expect this summer and beyond.
An illustration of a COVID-19 variant
Q+A
What to know about omicron subvariant BA.2
Published March 23, 2022
Even as BA.2 and "deltacron" set off feelings of panic or exhaustion, vaccinations and boosters continue to provide the best protection against severe disease, says Johns Hopkins immunologist Andy Pekosz
Omicron Variant B.1.1.529 concept art
Q+A
The latest on omicron
Published Dec 10, 2021
The COVID-19 variant is infecting the vaccinated and spreading quickly around the world. Here's what we know so far.
COVID-19 omicron variant
Q+A
What we know about the omicron variant
Published Nov 30, 2021
With a worrisome number of mutations and a spike of cases in southern Africa, omicron is the latest COVID-19 variant of concern
A vaccine is administered to an older woman
J&J Vaccine
What you need to know about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine
Published March 3, 2021
The FDA confirmed Emergency Use Authorization after reviewing the safety and efficacy of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine. Here's what you need to know.
Flu virus
Seasonal flu
Fast-spreading mutation helps common flu subtype escape human immune response
Published July 15, 2020
Unlike the novel coronavirus, which has been shown to mutate slowly, strains of influenza virus have acquired a mutation that blocks antibodies from binding to a key viral protein, making vaccine development more complex
Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2
Q+A
COVID-19: Immunity and seasonality
Published March 30, 2020
Immunologist Andrew Pekosz discusses urgent questions about the novel coronavirus, including whether anyone is immune to the virus and whether it will ebb in warmer months
A transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of Zika virus
Q+A
How Zika virus evolves
Published Feb 4, 2016
Andrew Pekosz on sexual transmission of ths virus and the difficulty of developing effective treatments