Coronavirus: Infectious diseases physician details the latest news and therapeutics in pandemic

Dr. Payal Patel, an infectious diseases physician at the University of Michigan, joins Yahoo Finance to discuss the U.S. lifting travel restrictions, vaccinations, therapeutics, and booster shots.

影片文字轉錄稿

- For the first time in more than a year and a half, the US is lifting COVID travel restrictions for 33 countries, including most of Europe, as long as the traveler has proof of vaccination and can show a negative COVID test. Joining me now is Dr. Paya Patel, infectious disease physician at University of Michigan. Doctor Patel, good to see you again. So the lifting of the travel ban comes at a time when we're now seeing COVID cases surging in parts of Europe. I guess, the question is, is now the right time to be lifting these travel bans?

DR. PAYA PATEL: Yeah, I think, you know, we're in a really different place than when many of these bans went into place. And, you know, getting vaccinated is a huge game changer. And so thinking about all the families that have really been suffering with, you know, everything that's been happening. I think that this is a very measured step forward if you're vaccinated. And you can mask for the flight. That's really protecting yourself and your family a lot more than when we didn't have a vaccine there for us. So I actually think that this makes sense.

- So now, those crossing a land border, meaning people coming from Mexico and Canada do need to show proof of vaccination. But they don't have to show a negative COVID test. Explain to me why that's a good decision unless you don't think it is.

DR. PAYA PATEL: Yeah, you know, when you think about all of the people that we know that have unfortunately had the infection, so much of what's been going on is community spread even within our own communities. So that's, you know, kind of the first step. And then the other thing is being vaccinated here in the US would be similar to someone driving from a city to another city within the US. And for many years, that's been very similar to perhaps the Canadian border or the Mexican border, people who do travel back and forth for business or family reasons.

So again, the real step here is getting vaccinated. And that's often the most important thing compared to a COVID test. And so I do believe that the community spread has played a big role. We will probably continue to see community spread, especially among unvaccinated. Whereas if you're vaccinated, you've already cut your own risk of getting infected and being able to spread as well.

- I want to switch gears a minute and talk about what's happening with Regeneron. They've got this COVID antibody drug that shows that it gives people protection up to eight months. Tell us in practical terms, what that means for people and for our fight against COVID.

DR. PAYA PATEL: Yeah, there's some new news out. And I would say, any good news from any of the drugs that we have and vaccines are always welcome. We're going to have to wait to get some more details because I think that the company plans to give some more details soon. But the way I would think about this is we know that folks who have immune compromised, let's say that, they have cancer and they're undergoing chemotherapy, or they had some sort of liver transplant, and they're having to take medications to kind of reduce their immune system, those are the folks that any kind of shot may be a little bit less effective in those folks.

So it sounds like here is another option along with vaccines that might be able to bolster immune systems. We'll have to figure out where this fits in the fight. But I would take it as good news. And we'll have to wait for some more details.

- Do you know how this antibody therapy from Regeneron stacks up or compares with the oral COVID pill that we see coming out of companies like Pfizer and Merck? It's starting to get a little muddy and, I think, confusing for the average person.

DR. PAYA PATEL: It's very confusing and it's very muddy. There have not yet been head to head trials of the two versus each other. The thing that I would try to remember is, first of all, we know that the vaccines are step one, right. So that's going to be the best way to reduce your chance of infection. Now, if you have been vaccinated, and, unfortunately, you get COVID-19, now there's another-- just yet another weapon to try to help reduce your chance of getting hospitalized.

On the other hand, if you aren't vaccinated, then these are other options to help try to treat you once you are infected. That's what we're going to have to try to figure out is where these new therapies really fit along that timeline.

- And I would love to get your thoughts on the booster shots, because a number of people have been asking me, because they know that I'm talking to doctors like you almost on a daily basis on this show, about the need for boosters. Who should be getting them and when? I had, actually, a friend ask, you know, they said, my second shot was six months ago, should I go out and get the booster? And they're not immunocompromised.

DR. PAYA PATEL: Yeah, that's a great question. So again, remembering that the booster shots are these third doses are first intended for the folks who may not have had such a robust response from those first two. And so, you know, the quickest and easiest way to go is really to always look at the CDC guidance. And that's, you know, where I go from my most up to date information as well.

If you fall into the categories, which now include a lot of people, I think, out in the US, I think it is totally fine to go get a booster. And I know that the information can be confusing. What I would end with is if you see that you do qualify for a booster, then probably getting an mRNA booster is going to be the best option for you.

- All right, Dr. Paya Patel, always good to see you here. Thanks so much.