Microbiologist Available for Interviews

Timothy Ford
Timothy Ford

04/29/2021

Contacts for media: Christine Gillette, 978-758-4664, Christine_Gillette@uml.edu and Nancy Cicco, 978-934-4944, Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu

LOWELL, Mass. – More than 5 million people around the country have skipped their second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

Nearly 8 percent of those who got a first shot of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines have missed their second doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Skipping the second dose puts individuals and overall public health at risk, according to a microbiology expert.

“There are risks to the individual in not developing sufficient immunity, but more importantly to public health in allowing more variants to emerge. Skipping the second shot and future boosters is a bad idea,” said Timothy Ford, chairman of UMass Lowell’s Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences.

Ford said there is a range of reasons why some people are skipping the second shot, from complacency (e.g. feeling that one shot should be enough) to fear of side effects or concern that it won’t work because of variants.

To connect with Ford, contact Christine Gillette at 978-758-4664 or Christine_Gillette@uml.edu, or Nancy Cicco at 978-934-4944 or Nancy_Cicco@uml.edu.