We did it all. We social distanced, masked, got vaccinated, masked some more, and got boosted. But still, with Omicron -- a much more contagious variant spreading like wildfire -- infections are at an all-time high. There remain more than 100 different vaccines in human trials and development for COVID-19, from protein subunits to inactivated coronavirus vaccines, as well as another 70-plus in animal trials. So, is boosting with our existing authorized vaccines going to be our "new normal?"...

Millions of Americans are experiencing chronic, lingering, and debilitating symptoms months after recovering from COVID-19. The symptoms of so-called long COVID range from breathing problems to memory impairment, making it difficult for clinicians to pinpoint the syndrome and who may be at highest risk. The NIH has directed $1 billion toward studying the syndrome, and some hospitals, including pediatric hospitals, have opened centers to research and care for patients experiencing long...

The longer the COVID-19 epidemic persists the more likely we are to see more super-spreader events, even among those vaccinated, and possibly by variants not yet identified. Health experts have already worked to help prevent and treat COVID – but say there's more we need to do to track individual cases and community spread. On this week's episode, John Connor, MD, an associate professor and researcher at the National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories at Boston University, joins us to...

Omicron has reached the U.S., and widespread vaccination may not be enough to keep the new variant from spreading. The variant is expected to outpace Delta in the coming weeks, with more than 30 states having now reported a case. On this week's episode, Abraar Karan, MD, MPH, an infectious disease physician at Stanford University, joins us to explain all we know -- and still don't -- when it comes to this new variant.

wo years into the COVID-19 pandemic -- and 1 year after vaccines first became available -- there are still those who are opting out of getting vaccinated. Deep distrust in government and science are among the reasons that some are continuing to hold out on the shots. But experts suggest that there are psychological barriers that may have nothing to do with mistrust. To understand all of the factors at play, we need to first recognize how the mind processes the act of making a decision --...

COVID booster shots are now recommended for millions of Americans, prompting questions on why immunity acquired from the vaccines is waning so soon. Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has hinted that periodic booster shots against COVID are likely here to stay, and may redefine what it means to be "fully vaccinated." While natural immunity from previous COVID infection is of scientific interest, it's also a political talking point that...

While the CDC initially recommended COVID-19 booster shots for a limited swath of Americans, last week they updated their guidance to allow all adults 18 and up to receive a booster. Data have pointed to breakthroughs among the earliest vaccine recipients, as well as older individuals and those with pre-existing conditions. On this week's episode, Katelyn Jetelina, PhD, MPH, an epidemiologist at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Dallas, walks us through what to watch for when...

As COVID-19 vaccines become available to more age groups, will fatigue from the pandemic subside? Or will it create a greater disconnect between the healthcare workers struggling to provide consistent and compassionate care, and the people sick with COVID who need treatment due to resistance to protective health measures? Oftentimes, it can feel like you're doing all the right things -- getting vaccinated, wearing masks, social distancing -- while others are opting out, which can lead to...

Twenty-eight million American children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. Within hours of the emergency use authorization, vaccine distribution mechanisms kicked into high gear, allowing for kids to roll up their sleeves without having to go too far. Vaccines are now being distributed in pediatrician offices, pharmacies, and schools, as a strategy to eliminate any logistical barriers that kids may face in getting vaccinated. But many parents, who are the key decision...

Side effects from the COVID-19 vaccines -- such as soreness and fever -- are quite common, but the more serious complications are among the top reasons why many may still be hesitant to get vaccinated. Now that hundreds of millions of people have gotten the shots, the FDA and CDC -- through their Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) -- are getting a clearer picture of how frequently more serious side effects occur. On this week's episode, Peter Marks, MD, director of the FDA's...

Should doctors who spread disinformation lose their medical licenses? Phony cures and/or resistance to public health messaging is nothing new, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, we've seen it all -- from patients suing their doctors or hospital systems to allow for use of the deworming medication ivermectin to treat COVID-19, to healthcare providers echoing conspiracy theories that the virus is a hoax. The Federation of State Medical Boards put out a statement in early August saying that they...

Three different vaccines to protect against COVID-19 have been either approved or authorized for emergency use in the U.S. And now the conversation has turned to booster doses for all three. Booster shots are nothing new. After all, a flu "booster" is what is encouraged each and every year. When it comes to COVID-19, however, the back and forth and disconnect between the different government agencies may have left some confusion about who does and doesn't need a booster. After all, COVID...

You get sick with COVID-19. Instead of quarantining and hoping you don't get worse, or heading into the hospital, you can simply call your doctor, get a prescription, and take it at home. Seems too good to be true. But is it the future of COVID-19 treatment? Merck is hoping their new antiviral will do just that. The company officially submitted an application Monday to the FDA for emergency use authorization, for what would be the first pill to treat COVID-19. This pill, molnupiravir, has...

Mandating the COVID-19 vaccine has been called presidential overreach, un-American, even unprecedented, despite a long history of requiring vaccines to prevent other illnesses. In August, President Joe Biden mandated employees at all companies with more than 100 employees get vaccinated or undergo routine testing. And now, beginning in early November, federal agencies can enforce that same mandate on federal employees. Mass firings have occurred; but more often than not, employees chose to...

Wearing a masking to protect yourself and others against the spread of the coronavirus has become something of a political, social, and emotional fireball. Should the vaccinated continue to wear them? Is a mask really necessary outdoors? So many questions remain, but the answers are hard to come by as health agencies, local officials, and even health experts seem to continually change their recommendations. On this week's episode, Monica Gandhi, MD, MPH, associate chief in the Division of...

It has now been 6 months since the first wave of Americans received their first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. Proving just how effective the vaccines are in the U.S., we've seen the virus spread down to levels not seen since the start of the pandemic. But one thing we still don't know: how long immunity will last. As Pfizer and Moderna move forward for full FDA licensure, executives at both companies have cited the need for a likely booster. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla, DVM, PhD, predicted the...

The U.S. has hit a new COVID-19 milestone -- not a grim one, but one of hope -- experiencing the lowest case and death counts since early on in the pandemic. Around the world, a different picture is emerging as countries like Brazil, India, and Malaysia are experiencing devastating surges and shortages of critical supplies. India recently reported seeing more COVID deaths in a single day than any other country at any time during the pandemic. Globally, more than 3.5 million people are...

Almost half of all Americans have now received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and roughly 40% are fully vaccinated, making mask mandates a thing of the past. Already, more than half a dozen states have vaccinated more than 70% of adults with at least one dose and some counties are hitting vaccine rates as high as 90% for those over 65 years of age. As we've watched deaths from COVID drop across the country, it seems we are getting closer to the goal of the pandemic response: getting a...

The COVID-19 vaccine rollout has now expanded to include young adolescents among those eligible to receive Pfizer's two-dose shot. This expanded authorization comes as mask mandates across the country are lifting. Adding younger teens means an additional 17-million sleeves can be rolled up to receive a shot as the U.S. pushes forward with the largest mass vaccination program in history. But, even if vaccinations mean life can go 'back to normal,' many parents are concerned over potential side...

Wear your mask. Or, don't wear your mask if you are vaccinated, as long as you are outside. But, keep masking and social distancing inside even if you are vaccinated. It's confusing to many. Vaccines have been proven to prevent serious infection, and studies that show a reduction in transmission are building, but they aren't foolproof. A recent study by Public Health England found that a single dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccine reduced household transmission by up to...

Fever. Sore arm. Flu-like symptoms. These are the COVID-19 vaccines' side effects, which now also include possible rare blood clots in the brain, and maybe even shingles. But are the side effects worse than getting COVID? For roughly 5 million Americans, they are concerned enough to skip that second dose, according to the CDC. Even as we learn about the possibility of these side effects, others are no longer a concern. Bell's palsy, for example, which was noted during clinical trials and at...

Across the country, states are moving forward to either require or ban vaccine passports, even as nations move forward with bilateral agreements to allow travel without quarantining if you have one. As more people get vaccinated it will become the travel conundrum. Many cruise lines already say they will require proof of vaccination for crews and passengers. Sports and entertainment venues in certain states also say it will be required for entry. The federal government has maintained they...

The vaccine rollout so far has shown us that the process has been all but equitable for some of the most vulnerable populations. According to newly posted CDC data, more than half of all American adults have now received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, and a third are fully vaccinated. A disproportionate number of those already vaccinated, however, are white. Black and Hispanic communities received a smaller share of the vaccine. As vaccine eligibility nationwide opens up to all adults,...

COVID surges and vaccination rates. Are the two inextricably linked? Vaccination rates continue to increase as many states have opened availability to all adults. But also increasing? COVID-19 surges, apparently resulting from a combination of eager travelers, relaxed distancing and mask mandates, and new variants that are more transmissible and perhaps more dangerous. What does that mean for vaccines and the ability to stop this pandemic? Nahid Bhadelia, MD, MALD, the medical director for...