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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued an emergency use authorization for an antiviral pill intended to help treat COVID-19 cases.
Paxlovid, by Pfizer, is authorized for at-home use. Individuals ages 12 and up can take the prescription-only pill as soon as they are diagnosed with COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset. The pill is intended to treat COVID-19 before getting sick enough to require hospitalization. According to Pfizer, the treatment cut the risk of hospitalization or death by 88% among high-risk unvaccinated individuals when administered a few days after seeing symptoms.
The FDA stressed the pill is not a substitute for the vaccine, is not authorized for COVID-19 pre- or post-exposure prevention, and it not a substitute for treatment among those who need hospitalization. Paxlovid is only intended to help reduce the seriousness of the COVID-19 infection, not preventing infection in the first place.
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This blog is intended to be a compilation of information and resources pulled from federal, state, and local agencies. This is not intended to be legal advice. For up to the minute information and guidance on COVID-19, please follow the guidelines of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local health organizations.