>> SUPPORT FOR CONVERSATIONS LIVE COMES FROM GOOD EVENING, WELCOME TO CONVERSATION GOES LIVE, I'M CAROLYN DONALDSON.

AS COVID-19 VACCINES ARE BEING DISTRIBUTED IN PENNSYLVANIA AND ACROSS OUR COUNTRY THERE ARE MANY QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS.

HOW EFFECTIVE ARE THE VACCINES?

CAN SOMEONE TRANSMIT THE VIRUS AFTER GETTING VACCINATED?

WHEN WILL THINGS RETURN TO, QUOTE, NORMAL?

HERE TO ANSWER THESE AND OTHER QUESTIONSES OUR GUESTS BROUGHT TO YOU SAFELY IN OVER ZOOM.

DR. DAVID BURWELL CHIEF QUALITY OFFICER FOR UMPC ALTOONA, BED FORWARD, SOMERSET AND WESTERN MARYLAND.

INFORMATICS, FAMILY MEDICINE AND SAFETY.

AND DR. BETH McGRAW IS DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE DYNAMICS AT PENN STATE AND PROFESSOR AND HUCK SCHOLAR IN ENTOMOLOGY.

HER RESEARCH INCLUDES WORK ON THE BIOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF VIRUSES.

YOU TOO CAN JOIN TONIGHT'S CONVERSATION WHETHER YOU'RE WATCHING US ON AIR, ONLINE OR THROUGH OUR LIVE STREAM OR ON OUR FACEBOOK LIVE OR ON THE RADIO, LISTENING TO US RIGHT NOW.

IN ALL CASES, OUR TOLL FREE NUMBER IS 1-800-543-8242 THE NUMBER WILL BE UP AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN OR EMAIL US AT CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

DAVE AND BETH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING VALUABLE TIME IN YOUR SPECIALTIES TO JOIN US REMOTELY AND SAFELY TONIGHT.

WE HAVE SO MUCH TO GET TO.

WE'RE IMPORTANTLY GOING TO TRY TO GET TO AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE.

WE ASK FOR YOU TO BE SUCCINCT WHEN YOU ARE ON OR IN FRAMING YOUR QUESTION IF YOU EMAIL US IN.

WE'D LIKE TO BEGIN IF WE CAN WITH A LOOK AT THE SCIENCE.

LET'S GO WITH THE SCIENCE.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK DR. BURWELL TO START OFF THE DISCUSSION WITH A LOOK AT EXACTLY WHAT THIS COVID-19 VACCINE IS.

IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, PLEASE.

AND ALSO HOW IT VARIES OR DIFFERS FROM THE OTHER VACCINES MAYBE WE WERE USED TO GETTING OVER THE YEARS.

DR. BURWELL, WE ASK YOU FOR WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT WITH COVID-19 VACCINES.

>> YES, CAROLYN, THANK YOU.

I JUST WANT TO SPEND A LITTLE TIME HERE TO DISCUSS THE VACCINE.

AS A FAMILY PHYSICIAN I FIND THAT IT REALLY WORKS BEST IF WE KIND OF GO OVER WHAT THE VACCINE IS, WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE, HOW IT WORKS, IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS ARE INFORMED WHENEVER IT IS THEIR TURN, THAT WE COULD MAKE A GOOD DECISION THAT IS RIGHT FOR THEM ON WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN BE VACCINATED.

SO IF WE CAN GO THROUGH THAT TONIGHT, I'D BE HAPPY TO DO THAT.

BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY KEY, BECAUSE THERE'S DIFFERENT INFORMATION OUT THERE.

AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUS PROGRAM AND THE VIEWERS HAVE A CHANCE TO REALLY MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

>> GREAT.

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT THAT FIRST GRAPHIC THAT WALKS US THROUGH HOW THIS VACCINE IS DIFFERENT.

WE'VE HEARD DIFFERENT DEFINITIONS AND TERMS.

DOES IT HAVE A LIVE VIRUS IN IT OR WHAT DOES MRNA STAND FOR, DR. BURWELL?

>> YES, I THINK THAT'S A GOOD SEGUE.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO VACCINES THAT HAVE AN EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION.

ONE FROM PFIZER, ONE FROM MODERNA, AND THEY ARE THIS TYPE THAT'S AN MRNA VACCINE.

THAT SCIENCE HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR QUITE A WHILE.

WE HAVE MADE SOME VACCINES FROM IT IN THE PAST BUT NOT UTILIZED THEM TO THIS EXTENT.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHY SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS MAY BE A NEWER MODEL BUT LET'S GO AHEAD AND LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS M RNA IS, MESSENGER RNA IS A TYPE OF -- LET'S SAY IT'S A RECIPE, AND THIS IS THE RECIPE MIX FOR HOW A PART OF THE CORONAVIRUS IS ACTUALLY DEVELOPED.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE MRNA VACCINE ITSELF, PART OF THE MRNA IS WRAPPED IN A FAT MOLECULE.

THAT MOLECULE IS THEN INJECTED UNDER THE SKIN.

THE MRNA THEN GOES INTO THE CELLS.

IT GOES -- DOES NOT GO INTO THE NUCLEUS OF THE CELL, IT DOES NOT MIX WITH DNA, BUT WHAT IT DOES IN THE PORTION OF THE CELL THAT'S KIND OF THE MIDDLE OF THE CELL IS THE -- IT'S RED AND THE CELL ITSELF CREATES THESE SPIKE PROTEINS.

THE SPIKE PROTEIN GOES TO THE OUTER PORTION OF THE CELL, AND IT SIMULATES LIKE THE CORONAVIRUS.

ON THE OUTSIDE OF THIS PORTION OF THE CORONAVIRUS, THE SPIKE PROTEIN, AND THE BODY DEVELOPS ANTIBODIES TO THAT PROTEIN.

THEN THOSE ANTIBODIES REMAIN IN OUR SYSTEM.

AND WHAT HAPPENS IS WHEN WE DO GET EXPOSED OR WE DO COME IN CONTACT WITH THE CORONAVIRUS THOSE ANTIBODIES ARE ABLE TO ATTACH TO THE SPIKED PROTEINS OF GETTING SERIOUS INFECTIONS.

AND THOSE ARE THE EFFICACY NUMBERS THAT WE LOOKED AT FOR THESE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VACCINES THAT I'M SURE WE'LL GET INTO.

WHAT YOU CAN SEE FROM THE GRAPHIC IS A COUPLE OF THINGS.

IF THE MRNA ONLY CODES FOR THE SPIKE PROTEIN THEN YOU CAN SEE RIGHT THERE THAT YOU CANNOT DEVELOP THE CORONAVIRUS.

OR GET THE CORONAVIRUS FROM THE VACCINE ITSELF.

ALSO IT DOESN'T MIX WITH PORTIONS OF YOUR DNA SO IT DOES NOT INVOLVE THAT SECTION.

SO YOU WOULDN'T THINK IT WOULD ALTER YOUR DNA OR OTHER TYPES OF MISINFORMATION OUT THERE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE BRIEF RESPITE FROM LOOKING AT THAT AND COMPARING IT WITH THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE THAT IS JUST NOW PERHAPS EVEN GETTING FDA APPROVAL AS EARLY AS TOMORROW.

I'D LIKE TO ASK BETH AT THIS POINT TO LOOK AT HOW -- WE TALK ABOUT THE PHASES THAT THIS WENT THROUGH FOR THE APPROVAL AND THE FDA'S APPROVAL AND THE FACTS THAT SOME SAY THIS WAS SPED THROUGH THE PROCESS.

BETH, CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH THE PROCESS FOR THE APPROVAL OF THESE VACCINES THAT WE'RE NOW SEEING OUT GETTING FOLKS VACCINATED?

>> I THINK IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO REASSURE PEOPLE THAT THESE VACCINES HAVE GONE THROUGH ALL THE TRADITIONAL SAFETY TESTING.

THAT REALLY INVOLVES PHASE 1, 2, AND 3 TRIALS.

THOSE ARE EVER-GROWING LARGE GROUPS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING TESTED FIRST TO MAKE SURE THE VACCINE IS SAFE, NOT CAUSING SIDE EFFECTS, AND SECOND THAT THAT VACCINE IS EFFICACIOUS SO IS IT REALLY WORKING TO PREVENT INFECTION.

WE DO THIS IN LARGE GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS, WE TRY TO CAPTURE ALL DIFFERENT AGE CLASSES SO THAT WE REALLY UNDERSTAND IF THE VACCINE IS GOING TO WORK IN A BROAD CROSS SECTION OF THE POPULATION.

THE REASON WE COULD GET VACCINE APPROVAL THIS TIME WITHIN A YEAR RATHER THAN FOUR YEARS WHICH IS LIKE SOME OF OUR OTHER VACCINES, INSTEAD OF DOING THESE STUDIES SEQUENTIALLY, ONE AFTER THE OTHER, WE RAN A NUMBER OF THEM IN PARALLEL.

THAT ALSO APPLIES TO THE PRODUCTION OF THE.

NORMALLY WE WOULD RUN ALL THE PHASE 1, 2, 3 TRIALS BACK-TO-BACK AND WAIT TO SEE THE PROGRESSIVE RESULTS FROM EACH BEFORE GOING TO THE NEXT STAGE AND BEFORE BEGINNING PRODUCTION OF THE VACCINE.

WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS TIME IS STACK ALL OF THESE THINGS AND RUN THEM IN PARALLEL SO WE COULD GET THROUGH ALL OF THE SAFETY TESTING MUCH FASTER BUT STILL HAVE ALL OF THE SAFETY TESTING THERE THAT WE NEED AND THAT THE FDA IS LOOKING FOR TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE BEFORE IT'S APPROVED.

SO NO ONE SHOULD BE CONCERNED WE DIDN'T GO THROUGH THE TRADITIONAL SAFETY TESTING.

>> THANK YOU, BETH.

WE HAVE OUR FIRST CALLER.

THAT NUMBER IS OPEN, 1-800-543- 2842.

DICK, YOU'RE ON THE AIR.

WHAT IS YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT, SIR?

>> YEAH, GOOD EVENING.

A FAMILY MEMBER RECEIVED THE FIRST DOSE AND WAS SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE THE SECOND DOSE WITHIN 30 DAYS.

JUST A FEW DAYS AGO HE GOT AN EMAIL STATING THAT THE SECOND DOSE HAS BEEN PUSHED BACK TEN DAYS OR TWO WEEKS, WHATEVER.

BUT IT WAS SAID THAT IT'S STILL WITHIN CDC GUIDELINES.

WHAT IS THE OUTER LIMIT BETWEEN THE FIRST INJECTION AND THE SECOND THAT WILL STILL MAINTAIN ITS EFFICACY?

THE EMAIL DID NOT SAY THAT.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU, DICK.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT?

>> I'D BE HAPPY TO TALK TO THAT.

SO YES, THANK YOU FOR THE CALL.

SO A COUPLE OF THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN THE TIMING.

THE PFIZER VACCINE, OPTIMAL TIME IS 21 DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL INJECTION.

MODERNA IS 28 DAYS.

SO WHAT MODERNA HAS ALSO SHOWN, AND I THINK THIS IS WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, DICK, IS, BECAUSE YOU REFERENCED 30 DAYS, THEY HAVE UPDATED THEIR GUIDELINES TO HAVE A 14-DAY TRIAL PERIOD OR ACTUALLY GRACE PERIOD IN BETWEEN THERE.

BUT WHAT WE ARE SEEING, ESPECIALLY OUT OF THE U.K., THEY HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE'S BEEN EFFICACY WITH EVEN FURTHER GAPS IN RECEIVING THAT SECOND DOSE.

SO I JUST GAVE YOU WHAT THE -- WHAT CAME FROM THE MANUFACTURERS AND IT STILL REMAINS EFFICACIOUS EVEN IF THERE'S A LARGER PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND DOSES.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THAT EXPLANATION.

NOW, DR. BURWELL, GOING OFF OF THAT, WITH THIS THIRD VACCINE THAT COULD SOON BE AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND PERHAPS QUICKLY COMING OUT HERE IS THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WHICH IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT MAKE UP AND DIFFERENT DOSAGE, ONE DOSE I UNDERSTAND AND ITS STORAGE IS DIFFERENT.

WE HAVE ANOTHER GRAPHIC FOR THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE COVID VACCINES AND HOW THEY'RE MADE UP.

>> RIGHT.

THE J & J VACCINE THAT I BELIEVE IS GOING FOR THE EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION EVEN AS EARLY AS TOMORROW, DEPENDING, IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

IT HAS A VIRUS AS ITS TYPE OF VECTOR, AS FAR AS GOING INTO THE CELL, IT'S A TYPE OF ADENOVIRUS THAT DOES NOT REPRODUCE IN THE CELL SO YOU DO NOT GET SICK FROM THAT TYPE OF VIRUS VECTOR.

AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE GRAPHIC IS THAT IT HAS A DNA FOR A PORTION OF THE SPIKE PROTEIN AGAIN, OF THE CORONAVIRUS.

IT BECOMES -- IT'S INJECTED UNDER THE SKIN, IT GETS ENGULFED INTO THE CELL, AND THEN THAT DNA IS THEN INSERTED INTO THE NUCLEUS AREA OF THE CELL.

THE DNA FOR THAT, THAT'S ENCAPSULATED AND ENCODED FOR THE PROTEIN, THE SPIKE PROTEIN, THEN IS TRANSLATED INTO mRNA SIMILAR TO THE OTHER VACCINE, AND THIS mRNA IS READ AND THE CELL CREATES SPIKED PROTEINS THAT GO ON TO THE OUTSIDE THAT OUR BODIES WILL THEN CREATE AN IMMUNE RESPONSE AGAINST.

SO THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING, IT'S A ONE-SHOT VACCINE.

THERE'S SOME OTHER POSITIVES THAT THEY NOTE WITHIN IT BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY CREATES SPIKE PROTEINS THAT ALSO REMAINS IN THE CELL.

SO WHEN THE CELL GOES THROUGH ITS LIFE CYCLE THAT ACTUALLY DOES RELEASE INTO THE BODY AS WELL, AND YOU CAN DEVELOP ADDITIONAL IMMUNE RESPONSE FROM THAT.

SO THIS IS PRETTY EXCITING, IT'S A ONE-SHOT VACCINE.

THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES.

BECAUSE THAT VIRUS, THE ADENOVIRUS IS WOULD SAY MORE STABLE, IT'S EASY TO STORE IT.

SO IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE FROZEN.

PER SE FOR TRANSIT.

THAT MEANS THAT WE CAN DISTRIBUTE IT EVEN EASIER TO REMOTE PLACES AND KEEP IT IN REFRIGERATORS FOR PERIODS OF TIME.

SO IT'S PRETTY EXCITING, AND I THINK IT IS A VACCINE THAT WILL BE HELPFUL AS PART OF OUR OPTIONS.

>> GREAT.

WE'LL GET TO ACCESSIBILITY HERE AND HOW THE DISTRIBUTION METHODS AND WHAT TYPE OF VACCINES MAY BE COMING DOWN THE PIKE AND WHAT ARE HERE ESPECIALLY AT DR. BURWELL'S PLACE BUT BARBARA FROM STATE COLLEGE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE?

>> THANK YOU.

I HAVE FRIENDS, AND IT'S SURPRISING HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE NOT GETTING THE VIRUS.

SOME IS FEAR-BASED.

THE THING I HEARD THIS WEEK IS WELL YOU KNOW WHEN I GET THE FIRST VACCINE IT'S PROBABLY GOING TO BE OKAY BUT IT'S THE SECOND ONE THAT'S GOING TO MAKE ME TERRIBLY ILL.

SOME SAY I'LL TAKE MY VACATION AROUND THE SECOND DOSE.

THE ONLY WAY I CAN EXPLAIN IS THE FIRST VACCINE IS PRIMING YOUR BODY SO YOU'RE READY TO FIGHT IT.

THEN YOU WON'T REACT AND PROBABLY GET SICK.

BUT THE SECOND DOSE, YES, BECAUSE IT'S THE -- CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT BETTER THAN I COULD?

>> YES.

GIVE US SOME TALKING POINTS, DR. BURWELL OR BETH OR BOTH OF YOU, AS TO HOW TO COMBAT, PERHAPS, SOME OF THIS MISINFORMATION THAT'S OUT THERE.

>> I WOULD SAY TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOUR BODY IS HAVING THOSE REACTIONS, THAT'S A GOOD SIGN.

MEANS YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IS NOTICING THAT IT'S GOT THIS SPIKE PROTEIN INSIDE THE BODY, AND IT'S DOING ITS JOB.

SO WHILE SOME OF THE SYMPTOMS ARE UNCOMFORTABLE, YOU MIGHT HAVE A SORE ARM, A FEVER, FEELING FUZZY FOR A FEW DAYS JUST RECOGNIZING THAT'S A SIGN THAT YOUR BODY'S DOING ITS JOB, AND IT'S GOING TO LEAVE YOU PROTECTED AFTER THE VACCINE.

I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE WHO ARE NERVOUS TO TALK TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY WHO HAVE ALSO GOTTEN THE VACCINE TO PROVIDE REASSURANCE FOR THEMSELVES.

>> DR. BURWELL, ARE YOU FINDING BOOTS ON THE GROUND WHERE YOU ARE A QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER OVER WHAT HAS BEEN THE RESPONSE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN GETTING VACCINATED WITH THEIR SIDE EFFECTS?

>> YEAH.

WE'RE SEEING EXACTLY WHAT WAS SEEN IN THE STUDIES.

WE'RE SEEING THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING AT A PERCENT ARM PAIN, MAYBE LOW-GRADE FEVER, FATIGUE, MAJORITY OF SYMPTOMS LAST ONE TO THREE DAYS AFTER THE FIRST SHOT.

CAN BE NOTICING EVEN A MORE OF A ROBUST IMMUNE RESPONSE WITH THE SECOND VACCINE.

IT DEPENDS.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THAT MULTIPLE -- I'VE HAD THE VACCINE.

I COULD TELL YOU THAT I HAD A SORE ARM BUT IT WAS LESS THAN MY TETANUS SHOT.

SO, YOU KNOW, IT WENT AWAY.

IT'S NOTHING TO EVEN WRITE HOME ABOUT.

BUT YEAH, I THINK THERE ARE SOME INDIVIDUALS THAT DO HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF FATIGUE AND HEADACHE AND DIZZINESS AFTERWARDS FOR A FEW DAYS.

BUT WE'RE NOT SEEING SUBSTANTIAL SIDE EFFECTS THAT ARE -- OR ALLERGIC REACTIONS OR OTHER TYPES OF THINGS ASSOCIATED THAT ARE OUTSIDE OF THE STUDY.

WE'RE SEEING A PRETTY SAFE AND LIKE DR. McGRAW MENTIONED, I MEAN, THE IMMUNE RESPONSE IS WHAT WE'RE NOTICING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE HAVE AN EMAIL QUESTION THAT CAME IN.

FIRST, BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, CAN I ASK BOTH OR ONE OF YOU ABOUT THE VARIANTS?

THERE ARE SOME CONCERNS NOW THAT WILL ANY OF THE THREE THAT YOU JUST DESCRIBED, DR. BURWELL OR BETH, WEIGH IN ON THIS, THE U.K., BRITISH, AFRICAN VARIANT, WILL THESE VACCINES STILL WORK?

WHAT ARE WE FINDING SCIENCE TELLING US AT THIS POINT?

>> I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS ON ALL OF THAT YET.

SO I NOTICE THERE'S BEEN SOME EVIDENCE THAT THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE WORKS QUITE WELL AGAINST SOME OF THE VARIANTS.

THE THE ASTRAZENECA MAY MAY WORK WELL AGAINST THE AFRICAN VARIANT.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR US TO VACCINATE AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE MORE PEOPLE WE HAVE TRANSMITTING THIS VIRUS THE MORE OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE FOR NEW VARIANTS TO ARISE.

SO IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF A RACE TO GET OUT FRONT OF THE ADDITION OF NEW VARIANTS AND TO SEE THAT OUR CURRENT VACCINES ARE EFFECTIVE.

MODERNA IS LOOKING TO MODIFY THEIRS FOR MULTIPLE PROTECTIONS.

THAT VACCINE IS CURRENTLY BEING PLANNED FOR ADDITIONAL TESTING.

THAT HAS TO HAPPEN BEFORE IT CAN BE RELEASED INTO USE AND PRODUCTION.

BUT THAT WON'T TAKE AS LONG AS IT DID TO CREATE THE ORIGINAL VACCINE.

SO THERE WILL BE SHORTENED TESTING TO MAKE SURE IT IS SAFE.

>> WE HAVE AN EMAIL QUESTION I'D LIKE TO GET TO.

NANCY WRITES I HAD A TREATMENT LAST YEAR IN 2020.

CAN I STILL CAN THE VACCINE?

IF SO, WHEN?

I KNOW DOCTORS ARE FACING THIS ON THE FRONT LINE.

DR. BURWELL, I KNOW THE STAGING WE'RE AT, WHAT PEOPLE CAN PRESENT AND STILL GET VACCINATED WITH.

>> I THINK THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

THEY'RE LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT IF YOU'RE ON, MAYBE, A DRUG OR MEDICATION THAT ALTERS YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE, WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO BE VACCINATED?

THE QUESTION SPECIFICALLY, IF YOU ARE TAKING A MEDICATION THAT SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERS YOUR IMMUNE RESPONSE, YOU SHOULD HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

AND THE DISCUSSION MAY NOT NECESSARILY REVOLVE AROUND WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD BE VACCINATED, IT MAY BE ABOUT THE TIMING OF THE VACCINE.

IF SOMEBODY'S ON A DOSE OF STEROID MEDICATIONS OR THINGS THAT MAY ALTER YOUR RESPONSE THERE MAY BE A MORE OPTIMAL TIME TO BE VACCINATED.

SO I DO HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT IF YOU ARE ON IMMUNOSUPPRESSANTS, THAT YOU HAVE YOUR DISCUSSION WITH YOUR DOCTOR AS FAR AS NOT ONLY IS THE VACCINE RIGHT FOR ME BUT ALSO WHAT IS THE BEST TIME IN MY COURSE OF TREATMENT TO RECEIVE THAT VACCINE.

>> ALL GOOD POINTS.

THANK YOU.

IF YOU'RE JUST JOINING US, I'M CAROLYN DONALDSON, CONVERSATIONS LIVE, COVID-19 SPECIAL, DR. DAVID BURWELL AND PROFESSOR BETH McGRAW ARE OUR EXPERTS.

1-800-532-8242 OR SEND US QUESTIONS AT CONNECT@WPSU.ORG.

LET'S LOOK AT THE ELIGIBILITY OF FOLKS RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S BEEN CONCERNS AND QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO'S IN, WHO'S OUT, WHAT ORDER, WHAT, YOU KNOW, AM I 1A, 1B, 1C?

IN PENNSYLVANIA WALK US THROUGH THE STEPS OF HOW THE CRITERIA WERE DETERMINED AND WHERE WE'RE AT FOR THE FOLKS LISTENING TODAY.

BETH, DO YOU WANT TO START WITH WHERE THE LINES ARE?

>> WE'RE IN PHASE 1A.

THAT WAS FOR OLDER POPULATIONS INITIALLY.

THEN NOW MOVING INTO POPULATIONS YOUNGER, UNDER 65, WHO MAY HAVE PREEXISTING CONDITIONS.

I THINK THE DOCTOR CAN PROBABLY SPEAK TO THAT A BIT BETTER ABOUT THE LIST.

PHASE 1B STARTS MOVING INTO ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES RELATING TO INCREASED CONTACT FOR PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE STILL TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF THOSE WHO MIGHT HAVE HEALTH CONDITIONS AND DOCTORS AND NURSES, FRONT LINE WORKERS ARE INCLUDED IN THE PHASE 1A.

>> DR. BURWELL?

>> YEAH.

SO THAT LIST IS ON OUR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE.

AS FAR AS WHAT LEVEL WE'RE IN AT THIS TIME.

IT HAS CHANGED.

IT DID CHANGE A FEW WEEKS AGO.

MORE PEOPLE WERE -- CREATED GREATER ELIGIBILITY.

IT STARTED OFF AT FOLKS THAT WERE IN HEALTH CARE, FOLKS THAT ARE OVER THE AGE OF 75 AND FOLKS THAT WERE IN SKILLED NURSING FACILITIES.

THEN IT'S GONE DOWN THROUGH PEOPLE THAT ARE 16 AND ABOVE THAT HAVE CERTAIN COMORBIDITIES AND HEALTH CONDITIONS.

SO I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU REVIEW THAT LIST AND SEE IF YOU'RE ELIGIBLE AT THIS TIME, AND IF YOU ARE TO SEEK VACCINATION.

BUT, YEAH, I THINK SOME OF THOSE DO ALTER AND CHANGE OVER TIME.

PREVIOUSLY THEY WERE MORE ROLE-BASED, AND THEY'RE STILL ROLE BASES IN THERE, AS FAR AS WHETHER YOU ARE A TEACHER OR A BANK TELLER.

BUT THERE ARE ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES THAT GOT PUT INTO PLAY AS FAR AS AGE AND ALSO COMORBIDITIES LIKE DIABETES AND COPD OR CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE.

>> WE'RE LOOKING AT THAT PA.GOV WEBSITE.

PERHAPS BETH HAS THE BEST DESCRIPTION.

THE FOLKS WHO HAVE GOTTEN THE VACCINE ARE THOSE AGGRESSIVELY SEARCHING.

THERE YOU SEE AN OPTIMAL WAY THAT HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY HOW YOU CAN FIND OUT WHERE THE VACCINES ARE BEING GIVEN AND BEING COMPUTER SAVVY ENOUGH TO GET IN THERE, CLICK ON THE DOT, GET TO THE APPOINTMENT, YOU KNOW, GET TO REGISTER, THINGS LIKE THAT.

DR. BURWELL, YOU ARE SITTING TWO DAYS AFTER YOU'VE INTRODUCED A BRAND-NEW WEBSITE AND A NEW VEHICLE TO GET FOLKS WITHIN THE UMPC SYSTEM AND BEYOND IN YOUR REGISTRATION PROCESS.

MAYBE START US OFF WITH HOW EASY IS IT?

HOW DIFFICULT HAS IT BEEN?

MAYBE EVEN TIPS FROM BOTH OF YOU ARE ON HOW FOLKS CAN.

I'VE BEEN HEARING IT FROM ALL OVER THAT IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO GET ON THE LIST SO TO SPEAK.

>> AT UMPC WE'VE BEEN VERY EXCITED, GIVEN OVER 160,000 SHOTS OF THE COVID VACCINE IN THE COMMONWEALTHS, GIVING OUT TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT GROUPS.

OVER 41,000 TO THOSE NOT AFFILIATED WITH UMPC.

WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO PIVOT AND GO MORE COMMUNITY-BASED.

SO WE HAVE RECENTLY LAUNCHED OUR VACCINE.UPMC.COM WEBSITE GIVING THE ABILITY TO REGISTER AND THEN RECEIVE A CALL BACK OR TEXT OR EMAIL FOR SCHEDULING TO RECEIVE YOUR APPOINTMENT TO GET YOUR SHOT.

SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY TO PIVOT TO THE COMMUNITY.

WE RECENT STARTED AT UMPC ALTOONA, WE OPENED UP TODAY, WE GAVE 60 DOSES, WE HAVE 150 SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW.

BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED TO DO A WHOLE LOT MORE.

AND I DO BELIEVE THAT WE ARE UNIQUELY POSITIONED IN ORDER TO DO SIGNIFICANT VACCINATIONS ON A DAILY BASIS.

SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL MOVING FORWARD.

AND LOOKING FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THE STATE ON THE SUPPLY.

>> AND BETH CAN YOU ADD TO THAT DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE SEEING, YOU KNOW, IN YOUR ROLE, LOOKING AT GETTING AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO RAMP UP WITH THE ADVENT OF THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON VACCINE SOON BECOMING AVAILABLE?

>> IF YOU HAVE OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS YOU'RE CONCERNED ABOUT WHO AREN'T TECH SAVVY, FRIENDS AND FAMILY, I WOULD REACH OUT TO HELP THEM GET ONTO SOME OF THESE LISTS TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO NEED THE VACCINE THE MOST ARE FINDING THEIR WAY TO THE LIST.

THE EXCITING THING ABOUT YET ANOTHER VACCINE IS HOPEFULLY GREATER NUMBERS.

IT WILL TAKE A LITTLE TIME FOR JOHNSON & JOHNSON TO RAMP UP TO THE PRODUCTION OF SCALE WE'RE SEEING WITH PFIZER AND MODERNA BUT HOPEFULLY IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS WE WILL HAVE FAR MORE.

AND THE GOAL IS TO GET AS MANY PEOPLE VACCINATED AS FAST AS POSSIBLE.

>> IS ANYBODY WILLING TO GO THE RECORD ON OUR SHOW AND TALK ABOUT WHEN WILL THE AVERAGE PEOPLE BE ABLE TO BE VACCINATED?

CAN WE LOOK AHEAD AND SEE WITH HOW THE SUPPLY'S DOING, THE RAMPING UP OF YOUR PROGRAM, DR. BURWELL, ANY INDICATION WHEN THINGS MIGHT RETURN TO NORMAL AS NORMAL AS PERHAPS OUR LIVES MAY BE GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK IT'S TWO-PRONGED, YOU SAID VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND INCREASE IN THERE AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL.

I WILL LET MY COLLEAGUE TAKE THAT QUESTION.

THE LATTER.

BUT WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITIES OF ADDITIONAL VACCINES.

IF YOU SEE WHAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS PROCURED FROM MODERNA AND PFIZER AND THEN NOW IT APPEARS TO BE FROM J.

& J.

THAT WE SHOULD HAVE SUBSTANTIAL VACCINES IN THE WORKS AND AVAILABLE HERE BY THE SUMMER.

SO I THINK IT'S PRETTY EXCITING.

YOU KNOW, PROCURING THE VACCINE ARE ONE THING BUT GETTING PEOPLE VACCINATED IS SOMETHING ELSE.

AND I THINK DR. McGRAW BROUGHT UP A VERY GOOD POINT.

WE CAN'T JUST HAVE THIS WEBSITE TO BE TECH SAVVY.

WE HAVE TO BE SURE THAT WE ARE LOW TECH AS WELL, AND WE REALIZE THAT.

SO WE HAVE CREATED A PHONE NUMBER 844-UPMC-VAC FOR FOLKS TO DIAL US UP AND GET YOU ON THE LIST AND TAKE CARE OF YOU.

WE DO NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF ALL CROSS SECTIONS OF OUR POPULATION.

BUT, YEAH, I DO BELIEVE WE'LL HAVE A FAIR AMOUNT OF VACCINE IN THE WORKS.

I'M NOT GOING TO PREDICT AN EXACT DATE FOR YOU, CAROLYN, I'M SORRY, BUT I'D LOVE TO HEAR THE PROFESSOR TALK ABOUT WHAT SHE FELT WOULD BE THE SLOWING DOWN OF THE PANDEMIC OR WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE, YOUR TIMING.

>> YEAH, SO HOW QUICKLY WE GET BACK TO NORMAL DEPENDS ON HOW RAPIDLY WE'RE ABLE TO VACCINATE PEOPLE.

AND WHETHER WE CAN SORT OF GET IN FRONT OF NEW VARIANTS COMING INTO THE POPULATION.

SO IDEALLY OVER THE SUMMER WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE DECLINES IN TRANSMISSION TO A POINT WHERE WE FEEL LIKE WE'RE MAKING HEADWAY.

YOU KNOW, WHETHER WE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE OUR MASKS OFF, YOU KNOW, BEFORE FALL, I THINK THAT'S A DIFFERENT QUESTION.

I THINK THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES GOING FORWARD.

IF WE HAVE LARGE SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION THAT'S NOT VACCINATING THEN WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THE VIRUS CIRCULATING SO IT'S IMPORTANT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO CONVINCE OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY OF THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF THESE VACCINES SO WE CAN ALL BE STRONGER AND SAFER TOGETHER.

ALSO WE'RE STILL NOT SURE WHETHER THE VACCINES PREVENT TRANSMISSION.

SO EVEN FOR VACCINATED PEOPLE THEY'RE GOING TO NEED TO TAKE CARE AROUND OTHERS TO MAKE SURE THEY AREN'T SPREADING THE VIRUS.

HOPEFULLY WE'LL HAVE MORE DATA ON THAT IN THE COMING MONTHS SO IT'S REALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN EXACTLY THINGS WILL BE BACK TO NORMAL.

BUT I THINK WE UNDERSTAND ALL THE FACTORS THAT NEED TO COME INTO PLAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

>> THINGS ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION SO THAT'S REASSURING.

WE HAVE A NEW QUESTION.

>> THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL.

TODAY IN THE ALTOONA MIRROR THERE WAS A PHONE NUMBER UPMC ANNOUNCED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO GIVE VACCINATIONS AT STATION MALL.

I TRIED CALLING THAT NUMBER ALMOST 20 TIMES.

AND THE NOTE CAME UP THAT THE CALL HAD FAILED.

I TRIED LATER THIS AFTERNOON.

AND THEY SAID THE NUMBER HAD BEEN DISCONNECTED.

SO -- AND THEN I ALSO TRIED THE WEBSITE.

BUT IT NEVER -- I COULD NEVER CONNECT.

WHAT IS THE DOCTOR'S SUGGESTION FOR THOSE OF US WHO DO WANT TO MAKE APPOINTMENTS BUT ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE PHONE OR THE WEBSITE?

THANKS FOR TAKING MY CALL.

>> THANK YOU, DAVID.

DR. BURWELL?

>> NO, I APPRECIATE THAT.

I APPRECIATE THAT, DAVID, AND I APPRECIATE THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU'RE HAVING AS WELL WITH EVEN PHONE AND TECHNOLOGY.

SO I DID -- I WOULD LIKE YOU TO CALL THE NUMBER I JUST REFERENCED 844-UPMCVAC IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

THE NUMBER IN THE PAPER TODAY WAS NOT THAT SAME NUMBER.

WE HAVE SHIFTED.

BUT I BELIEVE EVEN WITH THAT SORT OF THING, I THINK THAT WE CAN DO -- THAT'S WHY I'M COMING ON THE SHOW TONIGHT, TO REALLY HELP ESPOUSE AND SHOW THOSE OTHER OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO YOU.

SO I DO THINK THAT THE PHONE NUMBER WOULD BE A GOOD THING.

I DO KNOW THAT WE DID HAVE SOME TECHNICAL ISSUES SPECIFICALLY TODAY.

SO I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU PLEASE RETRY THAT, EVEN THE WEBSITE AS WELL, TOMORROW.

WE DID HAVE SOME SPECIFIC TECHNICAL ISSUES TODAY.

AND WE'RE SORRY ABOUT THAT.

WE REALLY WANT TO GET YOU IN AND INVOLVED.

AND GET YOU VACCINATED.

>> CAN I SAY ALSO CURRENTLY THERE'S A BILL BEING EXAMINED IN THE HOUSE, PENNSYLVANIA PENNSYLVANIA STATE HOUSE TO GET PA HEALTH WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP SET UP VACCINATION STATIONS, PARTICULARLY IN RURAL AREAS.

SO THIS IS BEING USED VERY EFFECTIVELY IN OTHER STATES.

THE NATIONAL GUARD'S REALLY GOOD AT LOGISTICS, ROLLING OUT LARGE-SCALE INITIATIVES.

IT'S ALSO AN EXTRA SET OF HANDS ON TOP OF OUR CURRENT HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND PEOPLE RUNNING PHARMACIES, ET CETERA.

I THINK THERE ARE EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES GOING FORWARD TO GET THAT EXTRA MANPOWER AND ORGANIZATIONAL SKILL BEHIND DEPLOYMENT PARTICULARLY AS THE SUPPLY OF VACCINE INCREASES AND THE PROBLEM WILL NOT BE ABOUT ACCESS, IT WILL BE ABOUT HOW DO WE DEPLOY IT.

>> GOOD.

GOOD POINTS.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

I DO WANT TO ASK DR. BURWELL JUST AN ADDITIONAL QUESTION WHEN WE LOOK AT THAT DOCTOR/PATIENT RELATIONSHIP, THAT'S STILL CRITICAL, RIGHT?

IF SOMEONE HAS PREEXISTING CONDITIONS OR IS ON MEDICATION, TO CONTACT YOUR LOCAL DOCTOR, WHEREVER THAT MAY BE, IS STILL AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS PROCESS, DR. BURWELL?

>> YEAH, I AGREE.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE, YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN IS DEFINITELY KEY, YOUR MEDICAL HOME IS DEFINITELY KEY.

IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT'S VERY SPECIFIC TO YOU, MAYBE YOU FEEL THAT YOU HAVE AN ALLERGY TO SOMETHING OR YOU DO HAVE A CERTAIN ALLERGY, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE, IS THIS SAFE FOR ME TO TAKE?

OR IS THIS THE RIGHT THING FOR ME TO DO?

WHAT CAN I EXPERIENCE?

I DO RECOMMEND HAVING THOSE DISCUSSIONS WITH YOUR PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN AND YOUR TRUSTED SOURCE.

I THINK THAT WILL REALLY MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL NICE AND COMFORTABLE AND INFORMED WHEN THEY DO GET VACCINATED.

SO HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT, CAROLYN.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU.

DUANE FROM WEST DECATUR IS CALLING IN WITH HIS QUESTION.

THANKS FOR HOLDING.

YOUR QUESTION?

>> TRYING TO DECIPHER WHICH IS THE BEST OF THE VACCINES.

WHY IS SOME OF THEM TWO DOSE AND THE OTHER ONE IS ONE DOSE?

>> WE DID EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT OF THAT IN THE EARLIER DISCUSSION, AND WE SHOWED A LITTLE BIT OF THE GRAPHICS BUT DR. BURWELL DO YOU HAVE A KIND OF LAYMAN'S ANSWER FOR THAT SO THAT WE CAN KIND OF UNDERSTAND WHY -- WHY -- AND WHEN WE HAVE A CHOICE IN PENNSYLVANIA AS TO WHICH VACCINE MAY BE GIVEN OUT.

HOW IS THAT WORKING?

>> SURE.

RIGHT NOW I DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC CLINICAL SCENARIOS FOR YOU OR RECOMMENDATION BETWEEN ONE VACCINE OVER ANOTHER.

ESPECIALLY IF YOU LOOK AT THE PFIZER VERSUS THE MODERNA, mRNA VACCINES, THEY ARE SCIENTIFICALLY VERY SIMILAR.

THE ONLY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES ARE STORAGE REFORM -- MECHANISMS AND HOW LONG ARE THE INTERVALS BETWEEN THE FIRST AND SECOND SHOT.

FOR SOMEONE RECEIVING THE SHOT, VERY LITTLE.

I DO NOT SEE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO.

THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES THAT WE'RE NOTICING WITH THE J & J VACCINE AS FAR AS IMMEDIATE EFFICACY BUT WE ARE STILL HIGHLY RECOMMENDING IT BECAUSE THE OVERALL EFFICACY AGAINST SERIOUS DISEASE SEEMS TO BE VERY SIGNIFICANT.

ALSO, THERE'S SOME SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION THAT ONE SHOT IS BEST FOR.

AND THAT WE CAN GET TO THEM.

SO RIGHT NOW I DON'T -- I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT IF YOU HAVE X, Y AND Z THAT YOU SHOULD GET THE PFIZER VERSUS MODERNA, WE'RE NOT REALLY BREAKING IT DOWN TO THAT POINT.

WE'RE NOTICING THAT WHAT'S COMING OUT, THEY'RE ALL VERY SAFE AND ALL VERY EFFECTIVE.

I DON'T KNOW IF DR. McGRAW WANTS TO TALK ABOUT ANY OF THE EFFICACY AS WELL BUT I THINK WE'RE PRETTY BLESSED WITH WHAT WE'RE SEEING.

>> OKAY.

BETH?

>> I THINK SOME OF THE REASONS AROUND WHY YOU MIGHT SEE ONE NEEDING ONLY ONE SHOT AND THE OTHER ARE NEEDING TWO, THEY'RE MADE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON HAS BEEN BUILT IN A DIFFERENT WAY, TRIGGER A STRENGTH OF IMMUNITY IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

IT'S REALLY ALSO ABOUT HOW THEY WERE TESTED AND WHAT WE HAVE OUR DATA FOR.

SO I WOULDN'T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT WHETHER IT'S ONE OR TWO SHOTS AND DOES THAT MEAN SOMETHING ABOUT ITS EFFICACY.

I THINK THEY'RE ALL VERY EFFICACIOUS VACCINES, AND AT THIS POINT WHEN THE VACCINES ARE STILL RARE MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO GET THE ONE YOU CAN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

>> THAT MAKES SENSE.

BETH, CONTINUING ON, DO WE KNOW YET IF YOU CAN PASS ON OR CARRY COVID-19 EVEN AFTER YOU'VE BEEN VACCINATED?

WHAT IS THE LATEST SCIENCE TELLING US AND RESEARCH ON THAT?

MAYBE BETH START THE DISCUSSION AND DR. BURWELL ADD TO IT?

>> YEAH.

SO YOU KNOW IN ALL THE PHASE 1, 2, 3 TRIALS, WHEN THEY WERE RUN WE WERE TEST FOG THE PRESENCE OF DISEASE.

SO WE CAN SAY WITH STRONG SURE ITS THAT THE VACCINES ARE PREVENTING PEOPLE FROM HAVING SYMPTOMATIC DISEASE.

WHAT WE DIDN'T TEST FOR WAS WHETHER THERE WAS VIRUS IN THE BODY OF PEOPLE INFECTED OR WHETHER THEY COULD POTENTIALLY GIVE IT TO SOMEONE.

THOSE ARE HARD TO RUN THOSE IT STUDIES, IT'S HARD TO TEST FOR.

WHEN THE STUDIES WERE RUN THEY WERE DONE VERY QUICKLY TO QUICKLY DECIDE WHETHER THESE VACCINES WOULD BE SAFE AND EFFICACIOUS.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE LONGER TO DO THE WORK TO SEE IF PEOPLE WITH THE VACCINES ARE CAPABLE OF BEING INFECTED WITH THE VIRUS.

EVEN IF THEY HAVE VIRUS IN THEIR BODY DOESN'T MEAN THEY WILL BE ABLE TO TRANSMIT IT.

WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO SCIENTIFICALLY TO MAIL DOWN THE LAST PART OF THAT QUESTION.

>> DR. BURWELL, ANY ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS.

>> I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT BUT I THINK THAT'S ALSO WHY THE RECOMMENDATION IS TO CONTINUE TO HAND WASH AND MASK AND PHYSICALLY DISTANCE AFTER THE VACCINE BECAUSE WE STILL NEED TO KNOW THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

HAVING SAID THAT, THOUGH, WE ARE NOTICING SOME CHANGES, EVEN THE CDC IS NOTICING SOME CHANGES AS FAR AS AFTER FULL VACCINATION, IF YOU HAVE AN EXPOSURE, THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR QUARANTINE CHANGE.

SO THEY HAVE RECOGNIZED THAT IT APPEARS TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME PROTECTION, WITH DECENT PROTECTION, BUT ALSO THERE MAY BE SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS THERE AS WELL.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE IN THE WORKFORCE AS WELL.

QUARANTINE CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT.

AND CAN ALSO REALLY COST PEOPLE A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY AND LIVELIHOOD.

SO I DO BELIEVE THAT VACCINATING AND MAKING SURE, AFTER FULL VACCINATION, EVEN IF YOU ARE EXPOSED, THE CDC RECOMMENDATION THAT YOU DON'T HAVE TO QUARANTINE IS PRETTY SUBSTANTIAL.

THEY'RE NOT SAYING YOU DON'T HAVE TO MASK, YOU HAVE TO CONTINUE THE OTHER MITIGATION STRATEGIES BUT I THINK THAT'S A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

WE'LL SEE OUT OF THE ADDITIONAL STUDIES LIKE DR. McGRAW MENTIONED WHAT COMES OF IT.

WE'RE SEEING EARLY POSITIVE INFORMATION OUT OF ISRAEL REGARDING IT BUT IT'S STILL EARLY.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THAT ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TAKE A SIDE STEP A LITTLE BIT, AND I WANT TO ASK, FOR THOSE WHO MAY HAVE BATTLED COVID-19 OR ARE NOW HAVING LOVED ONES OR OTHERS, WHAT IS THE CURRENT TREATMENT PROCESS FOR SOMEONE?

I UNDERSTAND, DR. BURWELL, THERE ARE SOME MEDICATIONS AND OF COURSE WE SEE THE CASE NUMBERS COMING DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY IN PENNSYLVANIA, OF COURSE.

AND UNDERSTANDABLY THE DEATH TOLL NUMBERS ALSO COMING DOWN.

BUT WHAT ARE WE SEEING FOR THOSE ON THE FRONT LINES IN TREATING COVID?

CAN YOU ADDRESS THAT?

>> YEAH.

SOME OF THE TREATMENT HAS EVOLVED AND CHANGED SUBSTANTIALLY.

WHAT WE FOUND OVER TIME IS BASICALLY WHAT WORKS AND DOESN'T WORK.

WE FOUND A LOT OF THINGS THAT DO NOT WORK, UNFORTUNATELY, AND I THINK THAT'S COME THROUGH THE MEDIA SUBSTANTIALLY.

WE KNOW THAT THE NUMBER ONE THING IS OBVIOUSLY PREVENTING INFECTION BY MASKING, HAND WASHING, AND PHYSICALLY DISTANCING.

BUT WE'VE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT CERTAIN OTHER THINGS ARE HELPING REDUCE HOSPITALIZATION AND SEVERE DISEASE.

AND ONE OF THOSE THINGS IS THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSION, IF SOMEBODY WITHIN NINE DAYS OF THE ILLNESS AND WITHIN -- THAT HAVE CERTAIN COMORBIDITIES CAN RECEIVE THIS INFUSION, WE'RE NOTICING THAT THE SUPPLY OF THOSE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS ARE IMPROVING SUBSTANTIALLY.

SO WE'RE VERY EXCITED THAT UMPC HAS DELIVERED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY INFUSIONS TO THOSE WITH COVID AND WANT TO DO MORE AS THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES AND INFECTIONS CONTINUE TO OFFER THAT AS ONE OF THE MANY CAVEATS, VACCINE MITIGATIONS, PREVENTION, MITIGATION STRATEGIES ARE ALL KEY BUT WE'RE GOING TO NOTICE POCKETS OF INFECTION FOR QUITE SOME TIME DUE TO, AS MENTIONED BEFORE, THAT THERE MAY BE FOLKS THAT WERE RETICENT TO VACCINATE APPROPRIATELY.

SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO GIVING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES AND OPTIONS, BUT WE ARE NOTICING THAT IT DOES HELP REDUCE THE SEVERITY OF THE ILLNESS AND ALSO HOSPITALIZATION.

>> WE'VE GOT MORE CALLS ON THE QUEUE.

KATHERINE, YOUR QUESTION?

>> HELLO?

>> HELLO, YES, KATHERINE, YOU'RE ON.

YOUR QUESTION, PLEASE, TO OUR EXPERTS?

>> YES.

I'M -- I GOT THE FIRST VACCINE SHOT BACK IN JANUARY THE 30th.

AND THEN MY ARM GOT ALL BLACK AND BLUE, THEN ABOUT A WEEK LATER I GOT A RASH ALL OVER THE TOP OF MY ARM WHERE I GOT THE SHOT.

SO NOW I'M SUPPOSED TO GO AND GET THE SECOND SHOT ON SATURDAY.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF I SHOULD GET THIS SHOT OR NOT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WAS AN ALLERGIC REACTION OR WHAT IT WAS.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTION.

WHO WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THAT?

DR. BURWELL?

>> YEAH.

I THINK IF SHE HAD SUBSTANTIAL CONCERN AS FAR AS THE -- WHAT SHE HAD AS FAR AS A RASH OR THINGS LIKE THAT, I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD DISCUSSION FOR HER TO HAVE WITH HER DOCTOR AS FAR AS WHAT TO PROCEED WITH.

WE WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE PEOPLE COMPLETE THE VACCINATION CYCLE AS WELL.

I THINK IT OFFERS THEM THE HIGHEST EFFICACY FOR PROTECTION.

BUT FOR KATHERINE'S SPECIFIC ISSUE AND QUESTION I THINK SHE WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE SEEING HER DOCTOR AND HER TRUSTED SOURCE TO MAKE SURE THAT HER QUESTION IS ANSWERED.

SO HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT.

I DON'T -- YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY SWELLING OF YOUR ARM AND A RASH IS SOMETHING THAT WE'D SEE WITH AN IMMUNE RESPONSE, BUT I THINK WE DO -- I THINK THAT FOR HER TO BE REALLY FEEL COMFORTABLE, I THINK SHE MAY WANT TO ASK HER DOCTOR ABOUT THAT.

DR. McGRAW, DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD TO THAT RECOMMENDATION?

>> I THINK THAT'S A GOOD ANSWER.

>> LINDA FROM BRADFORD,ING LINDA, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOUR QUESTION TONIGHT?

>> I DON'T THINK I'VE HEARD THIS ADDRESSED ANYWHERE.

AND I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW LONG DOES THIS SERIES OF VACCINES THAT WE'RE GETTING NOW ARE GOOD FOR, IF THEY HAVE ANY IDEA YET WHEN WE NEED TO TAKE NEXT SERIES OR BOOSTERS OR WHATEVER.

>> MM-HMM.

GOOD QUESTION.

THANK YOU, LINDA.

AND I KNOW BETH HAD SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT RIGHT NOW AS I POSED THAT PRE-SHOW TONIGHT.

>> I'LL START US OUT.

I THINK THAT WE KNOW THAT IT'S -- >> I CAN'T HEAR ON THE PHONE.

>> OKAY, SORRY.

IT'S LIKELY THAT WE MIGHT NEED ADDITIONAL BOOSTERS OR ALTERED VACCINES IN THE FUTURE.

IF THE VIRUS CONTINUES TO EVOLVE AND CHANGE.

AS WE DO FOR THE FLU VACCINE.

WE KNOW, THOUGH, THAT IMMUNITY IS LASTING AT LEAST EIGHT MONTHS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE INFECTION, AND THEN SOON WE'LL SEE -- WE SOON THAT IMMUNITY WILL HAVE SIMILAR LASTING EFFECTS FROM THE VACCINES THEMSELVES.

I THINK WE'RE LESS CONCERNED ABOUT THE LENGTH OF IMMUNITY AT THIS POINT BUT WE MIGHT HAVE TO CONFRONT ISSUES ABOUT A CHANGING VIRUS AND WHETHER WE CAN COME UP WITH NEW AND IMPROVED VACCINES IN THE FUTURE TO KEEP UP WITH THAT EVOLUTIONARY CHANGE IN THE VIRUS.

BUT WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THAT THAT WITH MODERNA, THEY'RE PLANNING FOR THAT RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH IN THE PAST WITH RESPECT TO THE FLU VACCINE.

>> DR. BURWELL?

>> I HAVE NOTHING ADDITIONAL TO ADD TO THAT.

I THINK WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE VACCINE LAST FOR A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF TIME IN ORDER TO REALLY REDUCE, BUT I DO THINK THAT THERE WILL MOST LIKELY BE BOOSTERS OR THE LIKE, DEPENDING ON THE LENGTH OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS TONIGHT YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT CHECKING IN WITH YOUR LOCAL DOCTOR AND ACCESSING YOUR LOCAL HEALTH CARE SO I HAVE TO ASK THIS QUESTION, FOLKS HAVE POSED THIS TO ME, DOES ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE WITH HEALTH INSURANCE AFFECT ACCESS TO THE VACCINE?

I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT WE NEED TO CLARIFY FOR FOLKS.

YOU KNOW, WHAT IS NEEDED WHEN YOU DO GET TO THAT VACCINATION SITE?

DO YOU HAVE TO HAVE PROOF OF SOME SORT OF INSURANCE?

I KNOW IN YOUR CASE, UMPC, YOU'RE WELCOMING FOLKS FROM OUTSIDE OF YOUR NETWORK BUT HOW EXACTLY IS THAT WORKING THAT YOU SEE?

>> YEAH, AND AT UMPC WE ARE NOT ASKING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION, WE ARE NOT CHARGING FOR THE VACCINE OR THE ADMINISTRATION.

THE VACCINE ITSELF HAS BEEN PAID FOR BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT BUT WE'RE NOT CHARGING FOR ADMINISTRATION EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE CERTAIN PLACES, AND THEY'RE WITHIN THEIR RIGHTS TO CHARGE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION, WE ARE NOT.

SO WE ARE NOT LOOKING AT WHETHER OR NOT SOMEBODY HAS CERTAIN HEALTH INSURANCES OR NOT AT OUR VACCINATION SITE.

>> AND, BETH, DOES ANYONE GET TO GO TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE BECAUSE THEY DO HAVE A PLAN OVER ANOTHER PLAN THAT YOU SEE AT LEAST HERE IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA OR PENNSYLVANIA THROUGHOUT?

>> NO, I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN SOME REPORTS IN THE MEDIA OF PEOPLE TRYING TO SKIP UP THE LINE OF HIERARCHY BASED ON VARIOUS CRITERIA.

I THINK FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE, INDIVIDUALS ARE TRYING TO RESPECT THE QUEUE AND THE CHARACTERISTICS OF WHO IS CURRENTLY BEING VACCINATED.

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO TRY TO GET AS MANY VACCINATED AS POSSIBLE.

>> WE HAVE AN EMAIL, BILL FROM JOHNSTOWN WRITES MY WIFE HAS LUPUS, AND HAS BEEN ADVISED BY HER DOCTOR NOT TO HAVE THE FLU VACCINE.

HOW LIKELY WOULD SHE HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THIS VACCINE.

>> I THINK BILL'S QUESTION IS A GOOD ONE.

WE REALLY HAVE LIMITED THE FOLKS THAT CANNOT GET THE VACCINATION BUT THERE ARE CERTAIN PEOPLE IF THEY ARE OBVIOUSLY ALLERGIC TO THESE VACCINES OR HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT, SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTIONS TO A PREVIOUS VACCINE.

THOSE ARE ONES THAT REALLY NEED TO HAVE CAUTION.

AND WHAT I MEAN BY SEVERE ALLERGIC REACTION IS IF YOU REQUIRED AN INJECTION OF A MEDICATION TO STOP THE REACTION.

FROM A VACCINE.

SO -- BUT WITH THAT, I THINK HIS QUESTION IS SPOT ON.

THAT IS AN INDIVIDUAL THAT NEEDS TO DISCUSS WITH THEIR DOCTOR.

MAYBE THERE WAS SOMETHING SPECIFIC IN THE INFLUENZA VACCINE.

MAYBE IT HAD EGG, YOU KNOW, OR SOMETHING THAT WAS -- THAT'S NOT IN THE COVID VACCINE.

BUT I THINK THAT WOULD BE A PERFECT SITUATION TO HAVE A DISCUSSION WITH YOUR PROVIDER AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU SHOULD BE VACCINATED.

>> BETH, ARE YOU SEEING SOME CDC RECOMMENDATIONS ON THOSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT WHO SHOULD NOT BE VACCINATED AT THIS POINT?

>> I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE CDC IS ECHOING WHAT DR. BURWELL IS SAYING, IF YOU'RE HAVING EXTREME ALLERGIC REACTION, IF YOU COMMONLY HAS THESE TYPES OF RESPONSES, IF YOU CARRY AN EPIPEN, HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

>> A COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE VACCINE AND POST-VACCINATION FOR THOSE ABLE TO GET IT AT THIS POINT.

IS IT WORTH WEARING TWO MASKS RATHER THAN ONE?

DO THE MASKS PROTECT THE PERSON WEARING THEM OR JUST THE PEOPLE AROUND THEM?

WE'VE HEARD DIFFERING THEORIES ON THIS SO LET'S DISPEL THAT AND ASK OUR EXPERTS WHAT THEIR THEORY IS ESPECIALLY WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO MASKS BEING RECOMMENDED IN SOME CASES.

>> I THINK VERY RECENTLY THE CDC PUT OUT SOME GUIDELINES SUGGESTING THAT IF YOU WORE A SURGICAL MASK WITH A CLOTH MASK OVER IT YOU WOULD PREVENT INHALATION UP TO 97% OF VIRUS PARTICLES.

SO THAT'S USEFUL FOR PREVENTING YOU GIVING IT TO OTHERS BUT PROTECTING THE WEARER.

SO IF YOU'RE IN A CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE OR IN AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN'T COMPLETELY PHYSICALLY DISTANCE, AND IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WEARING TWO MASKS, I'M SURE DR. BURWELL CAN SPEAK TO WHETHER THAT COULD BE DIFFICULT TO PEOPLE BUT IF YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT EXPOSING YOURSELF, IF YOU DOUBLE-MASK YOU CAN BE ASSURED OF GREATER SAFETY.

>> YEAH.

I TOTALLY AGREE.

AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, THE MASKING GOES, OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE DISCUSSING INCREASED FILTRATION, SO IT'S PRETTY BASIC KNOWLEDGE, AND I THINK THAT WAS THE UNDERSTANDING.

I SPECIFICALLY JUST WOULD LIKE PEOPLE TO WEAR A MASK AT LEAST.

SO I'M REALLY, YOU KNOW, NOT GOING TO THE EXTENT OF THE DOUBLE MASK BUT, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST A DECENT MASK WOULD BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL.

AND YES, I DO BELIEVE IT PROTECTS BOTH PARTIES.

I KNOW THERE WERE SOME CONCERNS UP FRONT THAT IT MAY JUST BE FOR OTHER INDIVIDUALS AROUND US.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT FILTRATION ALSO CONFERS PROTECTION FOR US AS WELL.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THE CLINICAL ENVIRONMENTS WHERE WE ARE TAKING CARE OF COVID-19 PATIENTS ON A REGULAR BASIS.

THE PROTECTED PERSONAL EQUIPMENT IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN PROTECTING HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

SO YEAH.

LET'S NOT GO INTO THE WHOLE DOUBLE-MASK IDEA, LET'S STICK TO BASICS AND WEAR A GOOD MASK UP FRONT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

EMAIL FROM TONY, THIS IS ANOTHER POPULATION THAT WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED, ARE PHASE 1 STUDIES BEING DONE ON CHILDREN SO WHEN VACCINES ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT DEMOGRAPHIC THEY'LL BE ABLE TO RECEIVE THEM?

WHERE DO THINGS STAND FOR THAT POPULATION BASE?

BETH, ARE YOU ABLE TO START?

>> I'LL START US OFF, DOCTOR CAN FINISH IT UP.

IF YOU HAVE A 16-YEAR-OLD, YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT YOUR CHILDREN, THE NICE THING ABOUT PFIZER IS CHILDREN 16 AND UP CAN USE THAT ONE SO THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

THE OTHER VACCINES ARE BEING EXPLORED, THAT VACCINE AS WELL IN YOUNGER CHILDREN, THOSE STUDIES ARE UNDERWAY, ROLLING OUT THIS SUMMER, IT'S HOPED BY LATE FALL POTENTIALLY WE WOULD HAVE THE ABILITY TO DEPLOY THE VACCINES IN CHILDREN, SIMILAR SAFETY HAS TO BE TAKEN JUST LIKE FOR THE OTHERS.

CHILDREN ARE DIFFERENT, THEIR IMMUNE SYSTEMS ARE DIFFERENT, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE VACCINES ARE SAFE AND EFFICACIOUS IN THIS DIFFERENT GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH DIFFERENT PHYSIOLOGY.

>> HEY, WE ARE ALMOST OUT OF TIME, AND I WANT TO GET TO YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS AND POSE THIS IN A STATEMENT THAT GENERALIZES IT.

AFTER OUR DISCUSSION TONIGHT, CONVERSATION, CALLS, WHAT WOULD YOU EACH SAY TO SOMEONE AFTER HEARING THIS WHO MAY STILL BE HESITANT TO GETTING VACCINATED?

WHAT IS YOUR FINAL IDEAS AND GOOD SCIENCE BEHIND THEIR PURPOSE IN GETTING VACCINATED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE AND AS DOABLE, YOU KNOW, AS THEY FIT INTO THEIR VACCINATION PROCESS?

DR. BURWELL, WE'LL START WITH YOU?

>> YEAH, I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO FIND OUT WHY DO YOU NEED THE VACCINE, WHY DO YOU WANT TO VACCINATE?

FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL HEALTH OR THE HEALTH OF OTHERS AROUND YOU?

I THINK THAT'S REALLY KEY FOR DETERMINING WHY YOU WANT TO BE VACCINATED.

I THINK THEN YOU'LL BE MUCH HAPPIER WHENEVER YOU ANSWER THAT QUESTION FOR YOURSELF.

AND ALSO, IT MAY NOT JUST BE FOR YOURSELF AND FOR THOSE IMMEDIATELY AROUND YOU, IT MAY ALSO BE FOR SOCIETY AS WELL.

SO WE WILL PUT A PUSH OUT THERE TO VACCINATE TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S PART OF THE END PROCESS OF THE PANDEMIC.

AND WE REALLY THINK THAT'S EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.

IT'S A VERY SAFE VACCINE.

AND IT'S VERY EFFICACIOUS.

SO WE ARE VERY, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, BLESSED TO EVEN HAVE THIS OPTION ESPECIALLY IN THIS TIME PERIOD.

SO I DO RECOMMEND FOLKS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN IT'S YOUR TURN TO GO AHEAD AND GET VACCINATED.

>> AND BETH, AS THE CENTER FOR INFECTIOUS DISEASE DYNAMICS AT PENN STATE YOU'VE RESEARCHED THIS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS OF COURSE AND YOUR COLLEAGUES.

WHAT IS YOUR NUMBER ONE SALES PITCH TO THE FOLKS WATCHING AND LISTENING TONIGHT?

>> VACCINES ARE THE SINGLE BEST INVENTION IN MODERN MEDICINE AND HAVE BEEN PROTECTING US FOR DECADES FROM A LOT OF DISEASES WE'VE GOTTEN USED TO NO LONGER BEING A PROBLEM FOR US AND OUR CHILDREN.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER VERSION OF THEM.

A LONG HISTORY OF SAFETY.

THESE VACCINES ARE INCREDIBLY SAFE AND EFFICACIOUS.

SO I THINK IT'S AN INCREDIBLE OPPORTUNITY TO LET PEOPLE GET THEIR LIVES BACK TO NORMAL, DECLINE IN THE NUMBERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

>> ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE, WE APPRECIATE YOUR HELP.

DR. BURWELL WITH UMPC AND DR. BETH McGRAW.

WE'LL LEAVE YOU WITH ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL DOCTOR, DR. BURWELL HAS HIS NEW WEBSITE AND PHONE NUMBER TO CALL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TONIGHT.

BE WELL, BE SAFE.