Biden spoke about the COVID vaccine at NIH, and Kizzmekia Corbett was there to brief him
By Scott Sharpe
Bethesda, MD
Kizzmekia Corbett has gained national attention for her work contributing to the development a coronavirus vaccine.
Corbett, an immunologist at the US National Institutes of Health, was lead scientist on the development of the Moderna vaccine. That’s one of two COVID-19 vaccines that are being administered to the public, having received emergency use authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Thursday, the North Carolina native gave President Joe Biden a tour of NIH’s Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory that created the COVID-19 vaccine now manufactured by Moderna, The Associated Press reports.
“It’s incredible,” Biden said, according to remarks released by the White House. “Our top minds spend years researching vaccines and treatments for all kinds of viruses, and partnering with academia and industry to prepare for the next one, because there will be others: HIV, Influenza, SARS, MERS, West Nile, Zika, Ebola. And today, COVID-19.”
In his speech at NIH, Biden said there will be enough COVID-19 vaccine for 300 million Americans by the end of the summer, The AP reports.
Corbett was born in Hurdle Milles and was raised in Hillsborough. After graduating from Orange High School, she graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She returned home to UNC-Chapel Hill to earn a doctorate in microbiology and immunology.
Hillsborough declared Jan. 12, 2021, as Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett Day, recognizing her efforts to ease fears about the vaccine, especially in the Black community, The News & Observer reported.
President Joe Biden bumps elbows with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett as he visits the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., Feb. 11, 2021. PETE MAROVICH NYT
National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins, left, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, second from right, walk with President Joe Biden as he visits the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist with the Vaccine Research Center at the NIH looks on at right. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden visits the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist with the Vaccine Research Center at the NIH looks on at right. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden speaks as Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist with the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health looks on during a visit to the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the NIH, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden, left, listens as Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist with the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), right, speaks during a visit at the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the NIH, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. NIH Director Francis Collins is second from left. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden listens as Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist with the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), right, speaks during a visit at the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the NIH, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. From left, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, left, Biden, NIH Director Francis Collins and Corbett. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden listens as Kizzmekia Corbett, an immunologist with the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), right, speaks during a visit at the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the NIH, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. NIH Director Francis Collins is second from left. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden listens as Kizzmekia Corbett speaks during a visit at the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Francis Collins, National Institutes of Health Director listen. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden speaks as he visits the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. Francis Collins, National Institutes of Health Director and Kizzmekia Corbett, right, listen. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden greets Barney Graham, left, as he visits the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Bethesda, Md. From left, Graham, Biden, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Kizzmekia Corbett. Evan Vucci AP
President Joe Biden bumps speaks with Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett as he visits the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., Feb. 11, 2021. PETE MAROVICH NYT
This story was originally published February 12, 2021 at 10:33 AM.
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