Joining the Flu Fight: Moderna's Simultaneous Flu and COVID Booster Ep 151

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Are you ready to arm yourself against the double threats of flu and COVID? Dr. Michael Koren has some pertinent advice you wouldn't want to miss. With the season of family gatherings on the horizon, Dr. Koren enlightens us on a unique opportunity to participate in a clinical trial project in conjunction with Moderna, which aims to study the effects of getting both flu and COVID boosters simultaneously. This is a deviation from the current practice of separating the two vaccines and promises to be a game-changer.

Ever wondered how you could contribute to medical research while safeguarding your health? Dr. Koren introduces us to the active control study, which not only ensures that all participants receive vaccinations, but also allows for valuable medical data collection for the FDA. We also delve into the concept of 'truth behind the data' at MedEvidence.com, a site dedicated to providing objective medical information. So whether you're a high-risk individual or someone with a high exposure risk, this is your chance to make informed health decisions while contributing to the larger cause. So, buckle up and join us for a fascinating ride into the world of cutting-edge medical research. Don't miss out on this enlightening conversation packed with practical advice and medical insights.

Be a part of advancing science by participating in clinical research.

Have a question for Dr. Koren? Email him at [e-mail]

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Music: Storyblocks - Corporate Inspired

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Episode Transcript

Narrator (00:00):
Welcome to the MedEvidence Monday Minute Radio
Show hosted by Kevin Gettings ofWSOS St Augustine Radio and
powered by ENCORE Research Group.
Each Monday morning, Dr.
Michael Koren calls in to bringyou the latest medical updates
with insightful discussions.
Medevidence is where we helpyou navigate the real truth
behind medical research, withboth a clinical and research

(00:20):
perspective.
So sit back, relax and getready to learn about the truth
behind the data in medicine andhealth care.
This is MedEvidence.

Kevin Geddings (00:30):
As promised, Dr.
Michael Koren joins me with agreat opportunity for those of
you out there listening, drivingaround, who have not had your
flu shot and maybe have not hadyour COVID booster shot.
Right, Dr.
Koren?

Dr. Michael Koren (00:42):
That's correct, Kevin.
Good morning, how are you?

Kevin Geddings (00:44):
Well, doing well .

Dr. Michael Koren (00:45):
Doing well.

Kevin Geddings (00:46):
We're heading into the season, of course we're
going to see family ofThanksgiving and Christmas and a
lot of times people get sickfrom various illnesses that are
rolling around.
So this is a great opportunityto fight back against the flu
and against COVID correct.

Dr. Michael Koren (01:02):
Exactly right .
So for folks out there who arelistening, who have not gotten
their flu or COVID boosters,this is a tremendous opportunity
to get both in a clinicalresearch project.
We're working with Moderna onthis project and everybody that
participates in these programswill get both, and we're testing
the latest and greatestmessenger RNA vaccines.

(01:25):
But the key point of the studyfrom a research standpoint is
that you can get both at thesame time, and a current
recommendation is that is notwhat happens.
Current recommendation is thatyou separate your flu and your
COVID vaccines, so in this case,we'll get them both at the same
time.
So it's a neat opportunity, andpeople get paid for
participating, as long as theyfill out their electronic

(01:46):
diaries, which allows us tocollect data that we send to the
FDA on whether or not thiscombination is working out as
well as we think it should.

Kevin Geddings (01:54):
And these, of course, leading edge, cutting
edge medical technology vaccinesare going to be available here
in St Augustine at the WhetstoneBuilding, really close to UF
Flagler Hospital, right thereoff of 312.
So that makes it superconvenient for our listeners
here in St.
John's County, right, Dr.
Koren?

Dr. Michael Koren (02:11):
That is correct, and we also run the
studies in Jacksonville and alsoin Inverness, Florida, for
people that may be out there onthe West Coast.

Kevin Geddings (02:22):
And Dr.
Koren.
Simple-minded questions,because that's what I'm really
good at?
Are we looking at two differentinjections or are both v
accines are basically in thesame injection.

Dr. Michael Koren (02:34):
Well, you're going to get two injections as
part of the study, one in eacharm, but one of them will be the
placebo and the other one willbe the new one or a combination
thereof.
So you're basically going toget both, but the way
distributed is what the study islooking at.
Hopefully that makes sense.
So some people will get both inthe same injection with the
placebo, some will get one inone arm and one the other, and

(02:58):
some people will get the currentstandard.
But everybody gets vaccinated.

Kevin Geddings (03:02):
And Dr.
Koren, unlike other clinicaltrials, where sometimes we
participate and we're going toget a placebo, in this case
everyone is going to getprotection from the flu and
COVID.

Dr. Michael Koren (03:13):
Exactly.
This is what we call an activecontrol study.
So the arm that the control arm, is actually active medication
as well.
That's one of the reasons it'sa neat opportunity for people
because of that active controlconcept.

Kevin Geddings (03:29):
And of course I know putting on your other hat.
We're expecting, probably thiswinter, to see a spike in COVID
cases, and there's alreadyreports of RSV and the flu going
around, correct?

Dr. Michael Koren (03:41):
Absolutely.
Yeah, it'll be interesting tosee.
Again, this is now a full yearwhere people are sort of back to
their normal activities.
No one's wearing masks anymore,people's guard are down, and so
we'll see how that plays out,but it could be a pretty active
season for all the seasonalviruses that's the anticipation.

Kevin Geddings (04:01):
Well, once again , to participate in this, to
potentially get compensation but, more importantly, to get
protection from the flu and fromCOVID and participate in some
leading-edge medicine.
It's a lot of fun, too.
Great team to work with atENCORE Research Group.
All you have to do is call thisnumber here locally
904-730-0166.

(04:22):
Ask any questions you'd likeabout this combination flu and
COVID vaccine effort and how youparticipate and how you can be
compensated for that.
Go to 904-730-0166.
And of course, some of ourlisteners would say, Dr.
Koren, are we seeing peoplewith any side effects that are
significant?

Dr. Michael Koren (04:43):
So far, so good.
We've dosed over 100 people inthe study so far and we seem to
have happy customers, sohopefully you will continue like
that, yeah absolutely.

Kevin Geddings (04:54):
Well, once again to participate, go to
ENCOREdocs.
com or call this number.
There's also a variety of otherclinical trials that you can
participate in addition to thiscombination flu and COVID
booster effort.
So call and learn more aboutthat, 904-730-0166.
Dr.
Koren, before we let you go,people that are driving around

(05:15):
is there kind of an ideal groupof folks who really should give
this serious consideration?

Dr. Michael Koren (05:22):
Yeah, as we mentioned in previous episodes
of our discussions, there's twothings to consider it's your
personal risk and your exposurerisk.
Some people who are older, sayover 60 years of age or at
higher risk people withpreexisting medical conditions
such as asthma or diabetes orcancer, would be people that we
would wanna protect.
And then people who are beingexposed, either in their

(05:46):
workplace, to a lot of peoplewho are sick, or people who can
expose themselves to othervulnerable people should
consider this.
So, for example, if you're ayoung, healthy 30-year-old, well
, you may not think that you'reat high risk and you would be
correct, but if you're livingwith a grandparent who's 85
years old, that person isextremely high risk.
So by you protecting yourself,you're also protecting the

(06:08):
people around you.

Kevin Geddings (06:09):
Once again, that's the voice of Dr.
Michael Koren.
He joins us here on Mondaymornings.
He's a medical doctor and runsthe show at ENCORE Research
Group, with offices andlocations all around North
Florida, including here in St.
John's County, in St Augustine,next to UF Flagler Hospital on
State Road 312.
Before we let you go to Dr.
Koren, of course I always wannamake sure people check out the
website MedEvidence.

(06:30):
com Explain to our listenerswhat that's all about.

Dr. Michael Koren (06:36):
Medevidence is our platform to relay medical
information to people in a veryobjective way.
When you ask for Dr.
Google's opinion, you getsomething that's always
subjective.
Somebody's trying to sell yousomething.
On MedEvidence.
com, we're just trying to giveyou the facts.
We call it the truth behind thedata and we present whatever

(06:56):
the medical question is in a waythat's objective, that is
related to the data that'savailable, so that people can
make a really good decision forthemselves and their families.
So I think people enjoy it.
It's also an entertainingformat.
We've gotten a lot of positivefeedback that people enjoy the
conversations that we have onMedEvidence.
So check it out, see what youthink.

Kevin Geddings (07:14):
Yeah, once again , that website, MedEvidence.
com good information.
They're presented in a waythat's very easy to consume,
very easy to digest, and givesyou a really good, balanced view
of what's going on in thehealthcare world.
So we encourage you to do that.
Learn more, though, about thecombination flu and COVID
booster by going to ENCOREdocs.
com and calling this number.

(07:36):
Punch it into your cell phone[phone].
That's 904-730-0166.
Dr.
Michael Koren, as always,thanks for joining us and we
appreciate your time.
Okay, it's my pleasure, Kevin.

Narrator (07:51):
have a great week.
Thanks for joining theMedEvidence podcast.
To learn more, head over toMedEvidence.
com or subscribe to our podcaston your favorite podcast
platform.