- Trials have shown that it can reduce hospitalization and the risk of death by 88%.
- Britain has ordered 2.75 million courses of Paxlovid.
- People with weakened immune systems, cancer patients or people with Down syndrome can access it directly.
London: Britain will begin rolling out Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill to vulnerable people next month, the health ministry said Friday, targeting treatment at people with compromised immune systems for whom the vaccine may be less effective.
The Department of Health said Pfizer Paxlovid’s antiviral treatment, which combines Pfizer’s birth control pill with an older antiviral ritonavir, will be available to thousands of people from Feb. 10.
“It’s fantastic news that this new treatment, the latest advanced drug to roll out the NHS through new COVID-19 drug delivery units, will now be available to help those at highest risk for COVID-19,” says the National Health Service. medical director Stephen Powis said.
“Trials have shown it can reduce hospitalizations and the risk of death by 88%, meaning we are in the best position to save thousands of lives.”
Britain has ordered 2.75 million courses of Paxlovid and the government said it would provide more details on access to the treatment soon, but would allow people with weakened immune systems, cancer patients or people with Down syndrome to access it directly. can get.
It is the second antiviral drug to be rolled out in Britain after molnupiravir, a pill made by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics that is being used in patients through the Panoramic Trial.
