This is the first in a series of town halls featuring Joel M. Gelfand, MD, MSCE, and Leonard H. Calabrese, DO, who will discuss the latest knowledge and research on COVID-19. In this episode, they're joined by Carlos del Rio, MD, who discusses the use of booster shots in the general population and in patients with underlying autoimmunity. Welcome from Joel Gelfand, MD, MSCE :10 About Calabrese, del Rio and Gelfand :30 del Rio on the future of the pandemic 1:12 Recommendations for boosters in general population 3:25 What does "immunocompromised" mean in terms of boosters? 6:14 What is an additional dose vs. booster dose? Who's eligible? 9:24 Summary 14:12 Immunosuppressed patients – degree of severity 16:14 Safety of boosters in general population 17:00 Safety of boosters in those with underlying autoimmunity 18:12 Questions from the audience 22:03 Tweet your questions @DrJoelGelfand, @LCalabreseDO and @CarlosdelRio7 29:24 We'd love to hear from you! Send your comments/questions to Drs. Gelfand, Calabrese and del Rio at
[email protected]. Be sure to check Healio.com/coronavirus for daily updates on the pandemic and follow us on Twitter @InfectDisNews, @GoHealio, @DrJoelGelfand, @LCalabreseDO and @CarlosdelRio7.