All Episodes
What Do We Really Know About Adenovirus Vectors for Vaccines?
Feb. 23, 2021
As the U.S. hits the half-million death mark from COVID-19 -- a grim milestone that is equal to roughly the entire population of Atlanta and more than that of Miami -- a new weapon is being added to the COVID-19 vaccine arsenal. Johnson & Johnson is seeking emergency use authorization for what wo…
Can the Same Vaccines Protect Against New COVID Strains?
Feb. 16, 2021
As many as a dozen COVID-19 variants are knowingly circulating worldwide. Among them, B.1.1.7 and B.1.351, the highly transmissible strains that originated in the U.K. and South Africa, respectively. As more vaccines continue to push forward for emergency approval worldwide, we're still learning t…
COVID Vaccines: Too Risky for Some People?
Feb. 9, 2021
Nearly 1.5 million Americans are being vaccinated every day against COVID-19. Allergic reactions have led some to question if they should get the vaccine; and scant data from clinical trials for the currently approved vaccines in vulnerable populations means we don't fully know how those with certa…
Can COVID Vaccination Become Mandatory?
Feb. 2, 2021
New viral strains continue to spread across the country, which has added to the urgency of getting as many people vaccinated as possible. With supplies of the two vaccines currently available in the U.S. falling well short of demand, mandating vaccination is likely not a realistic scenario now. But…
NIH Director: Collaboration Amid Chaos, and Biden's First 100 Days
Jan. 27, 2021
A new week, and a new administration that has taken over the pandemic response. Now that 1 million vaccine doses are administered almost daily, President Joe Biden has increased the daily vaccination goal to 1.5 million Americans. What will the COVID national strategy actually look like under a ne…
COVID-19 Vaccine Policies: Ethical Concerns
Jan. 20, 2021
Eight COVID-19 vaccines have been approved somewhere in the world, at least for emergency use. In the U.S., only Moderna and Pfizer's two-dose mRNA vaccines are now available for distribution. But as the COVID pandemic continues to run rampant, vaccine supply everywhere remains limited. How did di…
The Distribution Debacle
Jan. 12, 2021
Vaccine distribution — it's been a rocky road. While millions of doses have been shipped, only about one-third have been administered. The federal government has said a lag in reporting as well as the holiday season are partly to blame. But as long lines were seen across the country and in some sta…
How Did COVID Vaccine Development Move at Warp Speed?
Jan. 5, 2021
As vaccine distribution ramps up across the U.S., and globally, skepticism remains. Many cite the speed at which vaccines have rolled out as one of their main concerns. In this episode we explore how we got here, how the biopharmaceutical industry readied for this very moment that allowed them to m…
Why Aren't Highest-Risk People Better Represented in COVID Vaccine Trials?
Dec. 28, 2020
Vaccination across the nation is now underway, with healthcare workers and those living and working in long-term care facilities among the first to receive the vaccines. Long-term and nursing home residents make up about 1% of the U.S. population, but have accounted for roughly 40% of all COVID-19 …
How Do We Inject Confidence Into Vaccine Hesitant Americans?
Dec. 22, 2020
With a 'return to normal' from the pandemic practically hinging on COVID-19 vaccines, how do you overcome those who are vaccine hesitant? How does vaccination history impact perception and what role do medical professionals have in explaining the science? To learn more we chatted with MedPage Today…
What Do We Really Know About Pfizer's New COVID Vax?
Dec. 16, 2020
The first vaccine in the U.S. has been granted Emergency Use Authorization and begun distribution and inoculation among the first group of recipients: frontline healthcare providers and assisted-living residents. Questions remain, however, about Pfizer's data and long-term studies. To learn more we…
How Do the New COVID-19 Vaccines Work?
Dec. 9, 2020
The two vaccines showing most promise - and moving first through the regulatory process - are a new type of vaccine known as messenger RNA vaccines. Before COVID-19, mRNA vaccines have never been on the market, but they have been studied. To learn more about the mRNA vaccine technology we chatted w…
FDA Chief Vows Transparency in Vaccine Approvals
Dec. 1, 2020
As pharmaceutical companies move at warp speed to develop a vaccine, the U.S. agency at the center of emergency approvals is "working around the clock" to evaluate whether the limited data meets the standard for emergency approval, FDA commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn tells our weekly podcast Track th…
Coming Soon: Track the Vax
Nov. 25, 2020
Following the race to the COVID-19 Vaccine. Track the Vax will be a limited-series podcast with a goal of explaining how the COVID vaccines work, understanding the mechanism behind their effectiveness, talking to those behind the safety goggles...and trying to stay out of the political fray…and get…