Racing to Update the Vaccines For Variants

Prognosis: Misconception

Bloomberg

Health & Fitness, Science

4.1 • 838 Ratings

🗓️ 10 February 2021

⏱️ 15 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Just two months ago, the incredible performance of new vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer had people cheering for an imminent end to the pandemic. But an onslaught of fast-spreading and potentially dangerous mutations of the virus changed that. So now, even as pharma companies ramp up production in the early stages of a massive rollout, they are racing to retool their vaccine strategies. Robert Langreth reports that booster shots could give drugmakers a lucrative new revenue stream.

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0:00.0	What could you do if your data was working for you and not against you? With Bloomberg delivering
0:07.3	enterprise data directly to your systems, you get easy access to the details you want, optimized for
0:14.1	higher level analysis, and financial data experts committed to helping you maximize your every move.
0:24.0	Our data is made for more, so you can show the world what you're made of. Visit Bloomberg.com slash enterprise data to learn more.
0:33.8	Welcome to Prognosis. I'm Laura Carlson. It's day 33 since coronavirus was declared a global pandemic.
0:43.8	Today's main story, on the heels of developing near-miraculous vaccines, drug makers are scrambling to make booster shots that can fight COVID-19's dangerous new variants.
0:58.7	But first, here's what happened in virus news today. Some cities in Asia and Europe that have endured strict lockdowns are gradually opening up.
1:24.1	Hong Kong will double the number of people who can eat together at a restaurant if the virus remains contained over the Lunar New Year.
1:32.8	Officials who spoke at a briefing on Wednesday said they would also open other venues, like cinemas and beauty parlors, next week.
1:42.2	Germany's Angela Merkel proposed a gradual reopening today, while arguing for the
1:47.9	current restrictions to remain in place until early March. In Germany, disease rates have
1:54.9	declined steadily since their December peak. But things aren't loosening up everywhere.
2:02.6	The Japanese government is planning to keep its state of emergency in 10 prefectures in place,
2:07.9	despite earlier reports that it was considering lifting it in some areas.
2:13.9	According to local broadcaster FNN, officials are maintaining restrictions to ease pressure on the medical system.
2:22.3	Japan will start vaccinations by the middle of next week.
2:27.3	Finally, Eli Lilly's combination antibody drug was cleared for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
2:36.0	The drug will offer doctors a treatment option that is expected to help to combat mutations.
2:43.0	The FDA authorized the treatment for use in COVID-positive adults and children 12 and older, who are at high risk of getting very sick
2:53.6	from the disease.
2:58.3	Wings, nuggets, eggs, no matter the form, Americans love their chicken.
3:03.6	The chicken industry is one of the largest and most complex supply chains that America has.
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