FDA approves emergency use of Pfizer pills for COVID-19
Photo: Pfizer / Reuters
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Pfizer's coronavirus pills for emergency use. This was reported on the company's website.
According to Pfizer, the US medical regulator has authorized the use of Paxlovid for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and adolescents aged 12 years and older who are at high risk of disease progression to severe disease, including hospitalization or of death. It is noted that possible side effects of the use of the tablets are taste disturbances, diarrhea, high blood pressure and muscle pain.
Pfizer reduces the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 by 89 percent, according to studies that predate the omicron strain of coronavirus.
Earlier, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended refraining from general vaccination against COVID-19 in adolescents and children. Following the meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group on Immunization (SAGE), experts said that children and adolescents are the least susceptible to the severe course of the coronavirus, so one should not rush to vaccinate them. “The burden of severe disease in these age groups is small, and high vaccination coverage among the most at risk groups has yet to be achieved in all countries,” the WHO said.
