You know, we have some pretty great products that can keep us very safe during this pandemic.
Between the Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Janssen (J&J) vaccines, the odds of us getting COVID-19 are very low. Of course, given the plethora of Anti-Vaxxers, we- the entire population- can still be at risk. Because no vaccine is 100% effective- effectivity is based upon dosage and frequency of contact.
But, now, consider if we lived in Pakistan, Columbia, Nigeria…
Those places don’t have (many) facilities to store vaccines at -80. That’s a luxury we Americans- and most Europeans (and Israelis)- have. But, we must consider the needs of the world. Especially if we want this pandemic to cease ruining our lives.
Which is why this new drug from Pfizer, Paxlovid, is so important. It doesn’t require storage at -80, it’s stable for a long period of time- and it seems to cut the lethality of COVID-19 by 89%- if the drug is administered within 3 days of COVID-19 infestation. Moreover, it seems safe and well-tolerated.
This drug acts differently from the vaccine. Instead of an mRNA concoction, it’s a protease inhibitor. That is exactly the same sort of drug type that has proven most useful against HIV (the virus behind AIDS).
Pfizer’s drug has a competitor- an antiviral (molnupiravir) marketed by Merck (developed by Ridgeback Biotherapeutics LP). Except Pfizer claims their drug is 89% effective if started within 3 days of symptoms- with no deaths; Merck’s is about 50% effective against hospitalization and death.
With either drug, once COVID-19 symptoms develop, the patient calls his/her healthcare practitioner, obtains a prescription and takes the drug at home. If we are talking about Paxlovid, the course of treatment is 5 days, 3 pills twice a day. (By the way, this is NOT a cheap therapy- about thrice the cost of the vaccine.) Each pill episode involves two Paxlovid plus the antiviral ritonavir (which extends the ability of the Paxlovid [protease inhibitor] to attack the viral actions within the cell).
Now, I just made that sound easy. But, it’s pretty involved. First, one has to recognize they are in the throes of COVID-19; then they get a test (now there’s a real roadblock); reach a healthcare practitioner to get a prescription- all that within 2 or so days from the onset of symptoms.
Pfizer will manufacture some 50 million doses in 2022 (and 180000 during the rest of 2021)- and will distribute it worldwide.
Help for the world is at hand.
Yet, vaccination is still the best and safest route. That stops 90+% of the infections from starting. Not 90% from dying.
And, don’t forget there are still 70000 new cases diagnosed every day in the USA alone-with a 1.6% death rate.
I had heard in passing that there was an oral pill but I hadn’t checked to see what was in the pill. This is pretty amazing — but I am still amazed by the status of HIV infection nowadays. I remember the fear when I was in med school and the number of patients with AIDS with little real hope. And here we are now!
This treatment will be an improvement but it will be challenging to get all of the steps needed to fully utilize it. But it’s a step in the right direction!
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The issue is the “window” for opportunity. A vaccine is best; these are at best two steps down the line.
Good to know there are new developments.
It makes me quite mad that anti-vaxxers in Switzerland (about 35% of my country’s citizens) are complaining about being discriminated against when there are millions and millions of people in poor countries that would happily get the vaccine if only they had access to it.
We even have citizens who refuse to get tested to let’s say visit a relative in a hospital that requires proof of not carrying the virus. I can’t get over it.
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I, too, am fed up with these anti-science, anti-knowledge folks. Can you imagine had these folks hold sway during World War II when blackouts were ordered, what would have happened to their communities?
Sounds promising if they can get in the window but I still can’t understand why people don’t get vaccinated. Rich has a very weakened immune system and is very concerned Everytime he goes out.
I don’t begin to comprehend the bulk of the unvaccinated, either, Martha.