The drug, approved in December for contaminated, high-risk individuals 12 and older, was proven in scientific trials to cut back the chance of hospitalization or demise by 88 p.c when given to adults inside 5 days of the beginning of their signs. That knowledge was collected in unvaccinated individuals when the Delta variant of the virus was in heavy circulation.
The remedy is supposed to be taken as 30 drugs over 5 days. Earlier than beginning it, sufferers are suggested to seek the advice of a well being care supplier about attainable drug interactions. Dr. Ashish Ok. Jha, the White Home coronavirus coordinator, mentioned at a White Home press briefing Thursday that Mr. Biden had been informed to pause two medication he takes, a ldl cholesterol remedy and a blood thinner, in order to not threat severe negative effects from Paxlovid.
Scientists have additionally been working to grasp whether or not Paxlovid could result in a recurrence of signs or optimistic exams, a pattern generally known as rebounding. Dr. Jha mentioned Thursday that knowledge from massive well being techniques confirmed such a outcome to be uncommon, with the share of Paxlovid recipients who skilled a rebound “within the single digits.”
“When individuals have rebound, they don’t find yourself within the hospital. They don’t find yourself significantly sick,” Dr. Jha mentioned. “Paxlovid is working rather well at stopping severe sickness, rebound or no rebound, and that’s why he was provided it. And that’s why the president took it.”
