We have two Q&A videos addressing various current questions around COVID-19. Feel free to use any of this information in your reporting.
Dr. Bryan Alsip discusses good news and bad in the COVID-19 pandemic, like the proposed treatment pill developed by Merck and new evidence that links COVID-19 to the development of diabetes.
Dr. Bryan Alsip, University Health chief medical officer
00:00 - How would molnupiravir, the new pill developed by Merck, help COVID-19 patients?
00:24 - How does Merck’s new COVID-19 pill work?
00:57 - Who would get Merck’s new COVID-19 pill and when?
01:28 - What is the practical benefit of Merck’s new COVID-19 pill?
02:46 - What other new COVID-19 treatments are on the way?
03:19 - What is the connection we are seeing between COVID-19 infection and the development of diabetes?
04:24 - Why is the connection between COVID-19 and diabetes a concern?
04:51 - In what other ways has COVID-19 worsened the diabetes situation?
Will my side effects get worse with each shot? And what does it mean if I was vaccinated but my antibody count is low? Dr. Jason Bowling talks about the latest information on COVID-19 booster shots and how scientific opinions change as we learn more.
Dr. Jason Bowling, University Health hospital epidemiologist
00:00 - What kind of timing are we looking at for COVID-19 vaccine authorization for children younger than 12?
00:37 - What is the recommended COVID-19 vaccine dose for children 5-11?
01:34 - When will we see vaccines for kids younger than 5?
02:40 - If I get a COVID-19 booster shot, will I have worse side effects than I did with the initial vaccines?
03:13 - How likely is it that we’ll be able to mix and match our COVID-19 booster shots, combining J&J with the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines?
04:49 - If I’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 but my antibody count has dropped, does that mean I have less protection?
06:44 - Should I get my antibody levels checked?
07:21- Why is there a gap between the first series and the booster for COVID-19 vaccines, and why have the recommendations varied?
08:14 - Why have recommendations on prevention methods and vaccination seemed to shift throughout this pandemic?