Q&A: Immunobiologist Deepta Bhattacharya Discusses COVID-19 Vaccines And Variants

Dr. Deepta Bhattacharya wearing a blue button down shirt, outside among trees
UA@Work

As the pandemic dominated headlines, Dr. Deepta Bhattacharya, professor in the Department of Immunobiology at the College of Medicine – Tucson, was busy collaborating with campus colleagues to develop an antibody test for the virus that causes COVID-19. It was approved by the FDA as one of the most accurate tests of its kind, and is used to study the immune response to infection and vaccination. In a recent Q&A, Dr. Bhattacharya discusses what we know so far about COVID-19 vaccines, the interactions between the vaccines and the latest variants, and strategies for staying healthy and safe.