The waste doesn’t lie: Up to a few weeks ago, wastewater data showed rising Covid-19 viral levels in New York City and across the state. While more recent wastewater data on the CDC dashboard is delayed, Covid-related hospitalizations are rising—though they’re much lower than they were around this time last year, according to epidemiologist Marisa Donnelley.
“We are in a lot better situation than we were a few years ago, but it is still circulating,” said Cynthia Leifer, professor of immunology at Cornell University. “Although the risk is low, there’s still a risk, and it is still causing a lot of people to get hospitalized, and still causing deaths every week.”
A reminder: Like all viruses, Covid-19 is always changing to better evade our immune systems. Flu, RSV, and Covid tend to spike in the fall (and winter). As people congregate more as they head back to school and work from travel and outdoor activities, it’s easier for these viruses to transmit.
As the vaccination campaign for this trifecta starts for fall, there are also concerns about the future of mRNA vaccines after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine development. We asked Leifer what we should know about mRNA vaccines and the effects of this defunding, Covid boosters and who we can trust amid rampant misinformation around vaccines. Edited excerpts:
Epicenter NYC: What is mRNA and how does it work in a vaccine?
Cynthia Leifer: For decades, we had one type of vaccine technology. It takes a very long time and requires us to isolate the virus from someone who’s sick and grow it in the lab. That’s not always possible, and even when we can do that, it takes a very long time to make a vaccine. With mRNA vaccines — developed over 20 years but widely recognized in 2020 — we don’t need all that lab research. Researchers identify the virus and provide a little bit of the instructions it uses to make copies of itself.
With those instructions, we can make this mRNA. Every cell in your body has mRNA, which are instructions for important functions. This is just an mRNA from the virus added to that mix. It gives the immune system instructions to attack the virus. Think of it like giving your immune system the virus’s fingerprint, so it can recognize and get rid of it.
Epicenter NYC: What role did this mRNA technology play in helping us reach the end of the official Covid-19 public health emergency?
CL: When Covid first struck, everyone was really scared. Some early reports said up to 10% of people who got Covid were dying. We got lucky because doctors learned how to treat it, and luckier because vaccines were developed so quickly and rolled out widely. That was important. Without vaccines, you could end up hospitalized or dead. Vaccines give your body instructions so you’re less likely to get really sick. They saved millions of lives and kept even more people out of the hospital. People argue, “I still got sick.” Yes, but you didn’t get as sick as you could have without the vaccine. That’s what vaccines are designed to do.
Epicenter NYC: What does the evidence say about Covid making people more vulnerable to other health issues like heart disease and a weakened immunity?
CL: Lots of viruses cause problems later. Covid is no exception. Some people don’t recover quickly or fully. Others develop ongoing problems with the heart, lungs, or increased susceptibility to infections. Vaccines help by allowing the body to fight the virus faster, which means less opportunity for long-term damage.
Epicenter NYC: For groups hardest hit during the pandemic, how do we best equip them now?
CL: Protect yourself with vaccines. Masking on public transportation during peak infection times still helps. Keep your family’s vaccines up to date. Support science. Call your representatives and senators. You can look up your elected officials here. The more constituents speak up, the more likely leaders are to support science and vaccines.
Epicenter NYC: What does the administration’s decision on mRNA vaccine research mean for Covid boosters this year?
CL: The good news is Covid boosters weren’t eliminated. They’re still recommended for certain populations, especially people over 65. But policies are removing easy access for most others. Without government recommendation, insurance companies may not cover costs, manufacturers may produce fewer doses and pharmacies may distribute less. That limits access, especially for groups already facing health disparities.
Epicenter NYC: So the booster for this year is still moving forward?
CL: In May the updated Covid vaccine got preliminary approval. Companies are working on it, and the expectation is it will be distributed this fall. With current policy shifts, recommendations may change, but as of today, we expect vaccines this fall.
Epicenter NYC: For people under 65 or with underlying conditions, how can they check if they qualify for a booster?
CL: The best place is the CDC website. Search “CDC Covid vaccine recommendations.” It lists who the vaccine is recommended for and schedules. Don’t forget about flu and other vaccines too.
Epicenter NYC: So the CDC is still a trusted source?
CL: For recommendations and underlying conditions, yes. But I also turn to other sources.
Epicenter NYC: For people skeptical of government information, what are these other sources?
CL: I get it — social media is full of contradictions. Your doctor is one reliable source. Also groups like the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. These groups of physicians make evidence-based recommendations, sometimes differing from government guidance.
Epicenter NYC: Given the cuts in mRNA vaccine development funding, do you think we’ll see more reliance on imported vaccines, and could that raise costs?
CL: I don’t know. For reference, last year, if you didn’t have insurance, a Covid shot could cost up to $200 at a pharmacy. That’s prohibitively expensive. I don’t know how tariffs or import policies might affect costs.
Epicenter NYC: Since mRNA isn’t just for Covid but also cancer trials and other projects, what’s at risk with funding cuts?
CL: Officials say they’re only cutting funding for mRNA vaccines for respiratory infections. But that cuts off many investigators who’ve worked for years. You can’t cherry pick one application and expect huge gains. We need broad funding — for cancer, HIV, respiratory infections, and more.
We don’t know where the next big breakthrough will come from. Cutting this off is short-sighted, especially knowing another pandemic will come. We need to fund research at the highest levels. More research means more discoveries. Sometimes breakthroughs come from unexpected areas. Cutting research destroys creativity and scientific advancement.
Epicenter NYC: Anything else you’re watching right now on vaccine policy?
CL: It feels like whiplash — something new every day. What worries me most is an executive order giving government power to decide which research projects get funded. Currently, scientists review grants to ensure the best projects are funded. Letting people without scientific expertise, with political agendas, cherry-pick projects will harm research quality and scientists’ morale.
Epicenter NYC: What can people do to push back?
CL: Vote. Don’t ignore local elections. And talk to friends and family. Point them to trusted sources, and explain how science impacts your life. People today live twice as long as 100 years ago because of medical advancements. We can’t afford to turn our backs on science.
Epicenter NYC: And what can your average non-medical provider do to combat false information around vaccines?
CL: There are two things out there. Some people inadvertently share information without checking if it’s right — that’s misinformation. There’s also a whole group of people whose job is to put out disinformation they know is wrong, and they spread it far and wide. That’s hard to combat, because researchers should be in the lab doing research, not spending all their time fighting misinformation.
Just because there isn’t as much information coming out from scientists doesn’t mean they don’t believe it or don’t trust it. It’s that they don’t have the time that professional disinformation groups have to flood social media with contradictory information. We get funded to do research. We don’t get funded to go on TikTok.
Some trusted sources of information around the vaccines:
- For all ages:
- For pregnant people:
American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
- On children’s vaccines:
The Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
American Academy of Pediatrics
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