Photo taken on August 23, 2021 shows Pfizer’s global headquarters in New York, United States. (Michael Nagle / Xinhua)
WASHINGTON, Dec.22 (Xinhua) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Wednesday cleared Pfizer’s oral antiviral tablets for the treatment of a mild to moderate form of COVID-19. It is the first pill approved for the treatment of COVID-19 in the country.
The pill, called Paxlovid, is authorized for use in adults and pediatric patients 12 years of age and older who test positive for SARS-CoV-2 directly, and who are at high risk of progression to severe disease. COVID-19, including hospitalization or death, according to the FDA.
Paxlovid is available by prescription only and treatment should begin as soon as possible after diagnosing COVID-19 and within five days of onset of symptoms, according to the FDA.
The FDA decision comes as a winter wave of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths has been reported across the country. End
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