Joe Palca
Stories
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Morning Edition
How Pfizer developed a COVID pill in record time
Pfizer researchers looking for a drug to treat SARS found clues that gave the company a head start in its quest for a pill to treat COVID-19, including the omicron variant.
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A different kind of COVID vaccine is about ready to roll
Protein subunit vaccines work by injecting people with a tiny portion of a virus. In the case of the COVID-19 vaccine, that tiny portion is the spike protein that the coronavirus uses to enter cells.
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All Things Considered
What we know about the omicron variant
The omicron variant of the not been found in the United States yet. Here's what's we known about it, how dangerous it's likely to be, and whether vaccines or new drugs will be effective against it.
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Weekend Edition Saturday
FDA authorizes COVID boosters for all adults
The US Food and Drug Administration has authorized COVID vaccine boosters for all adults. We look at what this means for people who are considering getting their third shot.
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Pfizer and BioNTech ask FDA to authorize COVID vaccine booster for people 18+
The companies say a study of more than 10,000 volunteers showed a vaccine efficacy of 95% or greater for people receiving the booster.
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Breakthrough infections might not be a big transmission risk. Here's the evidence
Are vaccinated people who get COVID as likely to spread the infection as unvaccinated people? Scientists don't think so.
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All Things Considered
New antiviral drug from Merck could help reduce COVID hospitalizations and deaths
Pharmaceutical giant Merck announced promising results from a study of a new antiviral drug. Molnupiravir reduced COVID hospitalizations or death by 50% in a trial involving 775 volunteers.
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Weekend Edition Saturday
The Pfizer Booster Shot Is Only Being Recommended For People 65 And Over
A Food and Drug Administration panel voted against giving most Americans a third Pfizer vaccine despite President Biden's plan to provide a COVID-19 booster to anyone over the age of 16.
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All Things Considered
FDA Advisers Endorse Pfizer COVID Booster Only For Those 65 And Over Or At Risk
An independent committee of experts has recommended that the Food and Drug Administration should not allow Pfizer to provide a third dose of its COVID-19 vaccine to Americans older than 16.
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Morning Edition
A Decision About Booster Shots For Fight COVID Could Be Coming Soon
The committee of independent experts advising the FDA on vaccines meets Friday. They'll be considering Pfizer's application to start offering COVID-19 vaccine boosters to all Americans older than 16.