TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – Local physicians are evaluating the efficacy of Paxlovid in young adults.
This antiviral drug was developed for patients with mild to moderate COVID. However, reports have shown that the drug is not effective in young people.
Phil Nelson, director of pharmacy at Mercy Saint Vincent Medical Center, said the drug had a significant impact on older adults.
“Paxlovid is very effective in people who are 65 and older or who are immunocompromised. Simply because they have more risk factors,” Nielsen said.
A recent study by the National Institutes of Health showed that the drug had little effect in younger populations. This is simply because younger people have stronger immune systems, Nielsen said.
“They’re healthier and have fewer risk factors, so actually in those patient populations, you’re not going to reduce hospitalizations and deaths because they’re less likely to get COVID, and they get to the point where they get hospitalized or die.”
Nelson said he looks at COVID like any other virus; you can treat the symptoms, but you can’t make them go away.
“Paxlovid, it’s more like Tamiflu because it’s an antiviral.”
See a spelling or grammar mistake in our story?Please include a title when you Click here report it.
Copyright 2023 WTVG. all rights reserved.
