for more vaccine booster shots is expected soon. an fda panel will meet thursday to review moderna and on friday a review of johnson & johnson booster shots along with the potential for mixing different vaccines. and doctors could soon have a new weapon to help drive those hospitalization numbers down. today, merck asking for emergency authorization for the first anti-viral pill designed to fight covid. the company says in trials, the drug cut hospitalizations in half for people at risk for severe disease. merck's drug can be taken at home, four pills every 12 hours for five days. >> it's about 50% effective at preventing hospitalization. but remember the vaccine is virtually 99% effective at preventing hospitalization. you'd much rather prevent getting the illness than treating it once you've already gotten it. >> reporter: back in boston, physical therapist joy danaher has seen the struggle of those battling the virus. she says their perseverance inspired her to run today. >> they're the reason that i did