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 th