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"October is going to be a very exciting month in the U.S., regarding COVID-19 vaccines," says Dr. Gregory Poland, head of Mayo Clinic's Vaccine Research Group.
"On Oct. 14 the Federal Drug Administration is going to look at COVID-19 boosters for Moderna. On Oct. 15, (the FDA will review) boosters for Johnson & Johnsons' COVID-19 vaccine. And on Oct. 29, the FDA will look at extending emergency use for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children down to 5 years of age," says Dr. Poland. He adds that vaccinations of children could begin within a couple of weeks of the emergency use authorization.
Dr. Poland also says approval of Merck's antiviral COVID-19 pill is expected soon, too.
"We're excited about this because it's oral," says Dr. Poland. "The nice part about this is you can take it at home, and it fits with the same paradigm we already have in clinical medicine — treating influenza with an antiviral."
In this Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Poland also talks about waning immunities and the approval possibility of mixing and matching COVID-19 booster vaccines being approved. And he reminds women who are pregnant to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
To practice safe social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, this interview was conducted using video conferencing. The sound and video quality are representative of the technology used. For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
Research disclosures for Dr. Gregory Poland.
Connect with others talking about the pandemic and supporting one another in the COVID-19 support group.
Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting. Due to the fluid nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, scientific understanding, along with guidelines and recommendations, may have changed since the original publication date.
For more information and all your COVID-19 coverage, go to the Mayo Clinic News Network and mayoclinic.org.
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Should I visit my granddaughter who has recovered from covid 19 but refuses to get vaccination? I am fully vaccinated and Will be getting My moderna booster as soon as I can. I’m 73 and she is 33 and has a five year old son.
My answer would be different based on what you mean by visit. Do you mean to see them for a few hours, or to travel and stay in the home for some days? And would you and your granddaughter be masked?
Sue
It involves travel and staying in their home. I could wear a mask but they would not.
As hard as this is to say - my personal response would be a "No" - just too much uncertainty right now. I assume she is going out to work, and he son to school or daycare? We in Minnesota are seeing roughly 15% of cases are breakthrough infections in vaccinated persons - very few severe illnesses, but unpleasant anyway.
What are you thinking at this point?
Sue
She claims she has sufficient antibodies and says she would take a Covid test before I come. But I feel that she has fallen into the misinformation cult and is putting her child at C risk. Right now I am not going, but was hoping to go for thanksgiving. But I feel that she should at least get one shot beefier I go. She is in Portland Oregon.
Thanks for your answer. This is a very hard decision as my great grandson could use some time with gramma … but I want to do the right thing.
No. Value your life especially when others don’t. Thank God for phones and computer video communications.