The FDA has expedited its timetable for full approval of the Pfizer vaccine hoping to have the process completed by early September. The move to full approval is expected to kick off more vaccination mandates especially for hospital workers, college students and federal workers. Moderna has also filed for full approval, but is still submitting data. Sharon LaFraniere, investigative reporter at the NY Times, joins us for what to know.
Next, Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee have released a report focusing on the origins of the Covid pandemic and zeroed in on the lab leak theory. Citing information about changes in safety protocols and requests for an overhaul of a hazardous waste treatment system, the report says that the virus may have been accidentally released sometime prior to September 2019. Declan Garvey, associate editor at The Dispatch, joins us for this latest report.
Finally, vaccine maker Moderna announced that their Covid shot is 93% effective at preventing infection as much as six months after your second dose. However, Moderna also said that a booster shot might be needed before the winter. We are currently seeing hospital admissions and deaths rise about 40% since last week, but we are also seeing an uptick in people getting their shots. Carolyn Johnson, science reporter at the Washington Post, joins us for more.
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