🌿 Legacy of Love No. 6: Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett

Because brilliance, complexity, and consent can coexist.

Dr. Kizzmekia “Kizzy” Corbett is a viral immunologist, educator, and woman whose groundbreaking work helped develop the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. In the early days of the pandemic—when fear was high, information was scarce, and lives were being lost in staggering numbers—Dr. Corbett led with compassion and heart.

As a scientist working under extraordinary pressure, she stood at the crossings of science, representation and responsibility. Her efforts helped bring forth a vaccine in record time—a scientific achievement few thought possible.

And yet… the story is complex.

We now know that some people experienced serious side effects and complications from the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. These stories matter. Those bodies matter. It is important to honor them, listen deeply, and include them in the conversation—not to cast blame, but to ensure that truth and transparency remain central in medicine.

And what stands out most about Dr. Corbett is this:

She listened.

In a 2024 Harvard Public Health essay, she shared an emotional encounter with someone who was harmed by the vaccine. Instead of defensiveness, she responded with empathy. She called on the scientific community to do better—not just in data, but in how we respond to pain.

She said we need more compassionate systems to report, study, and respond to adverse effects.

Dr. Corbett was not responsible for the mandates or policies that pressured the vaccinations on individuals. She was responsible for leading with excellence in the lab—and she did. Her work was done in good faith, under global urgency, in service to millions.

As a mother, a healer, and a woman who honors the body’s wisdom, I believe that bodily autonomy is sacred.

Vaccines—like all medical decisions—must be chosen, not mandated.

Pro-agency. Pro-trust. Pro-consent. That is the only way forward.

We can honor the lives saved and grieve those impacted by adverse outcomes.

We can celebrate scientific breakthroughs and advocate for better systems of accountability and informed consent.

We can say:

“Thank you, Dr. Corbett, for your hard work.”

And also say:

“Let’s build systems where we honor the soveriegn freedom of personal choice in medical decisions.”

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett’s legacy is not simple.

It is brilliant, nuanced, and human.

She reminds us that even in imperfect systems, there are people working with integrity to protect and preserve human life in the best ways they know how.

You are a Legacy of Love, Dr. Corbett—

Not just for what you built,

But for how you’ve chosen to listen and continue to learn.

#LegacyOfLove #DrKizzmekiaCorbett #ModernaVaccine #BodySovereignty #MedicalConsent