ID Expert Talks about the Year that Brought Us the COVID-19 Vaccine

Rodger MacArthur, MD, is an infectious disease specialist and NIH-funded AIDS researcher with decades of experience in the study of viruses.

In a conversation with Patient Care Online as 2021 began, Dr MacArthur acknowledged his own surprise at the pace of COVID-19 vaccine development and subsequent emergency use authorizations by the US Food and Drug Administration. He also was impressed with the successful use of the messenger RNA platform used to develop the vaccines, and, along with fellow scientists, “pleasantly surprised” at the level of efficacy seen in clinical trials for the COVID-19 vaccines.

The interview also touched on the potential for approval of many additional vaccines against SARS-CoV-2; the possibility for expedited research with other pharmaceuticals; and the science behind effective treatments for COVID-19 infection.

Rodger D. MacArthur, MD, is Professor of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Office of Academic Affairs, Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia. Dr MacArthur is an NIH-funded researcher and before arriving at the Medical College of Georgia, he headed the Wayne State University AIDS clinical trial program. He is widely recognized as an authority on the development of antiretroviral treatment.