The reasons why these lifesaving treatments have been underutilized are complex.
He couldn't catch his breath. He was middle-aged, overweight and unvaccinated. He had also recently tested positive for Covid-19.Two weeks earlier, a doctor who had diagnosed the man during an urgent care visit had noted his risk factors and prescribed a new drug: Paxlovid, an antiviral pill that in clinical trials cut a person's the risk of hospitalization or death from Covid-19 by nearly 90% compared with a placebo.But the man hadn't taken it because he couldn't find it.
Wainaina says many patients feel wary about taking a medication that's not fully approved by the FDA. Both antiviral pills are available through an emergency use authorization, which requires a lower standard of evidence to bring a treatment onto the market.She says timing also presents some challenges."We're offering these medications early because that's when they work. At that point, many people are not feeling unwell.
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