Researchers study a potential universal coronavirus vaccine

A team of researchers from Cambridge, Oxford, and CalTech universities has developed an experimental vaccine that may have the potential to protect against a wide range of coronaviruses. The vaccine uses nanoparticles to train the immune system to recognize multiple proteins from various coronaviruses, inducing a broader immune response that may protect against known and unknown viruses in the same family. Social media posts celebrated the news, while predicting that conspiracy theorists and vaccine opponents will respond with outrage.

Recommendation: Because social media is awash in negative vaccine conversations, news of vaccine research developments provide an opportunity to celebrate science and present vaccines in a positive light. Community partners might also benefit from messaging about the benefits of vaccines and the exciting world of vaccine research.