The omicron variant is spreading at a excessive price of pace, however Pfizer has a brand new experimental tablet that may assist placed on the brakes.
Michigan COVID-19 circumstances, deaths, and hospitalization are rising throughout the state. Chilly season is right here, extra persons are indoors collectively, and with the delta and omicron variants thriving, the stats are solely going to worsen.
WOOD reported that Pfizer did a research with 2,250 individuals utilizing a brand new tablet to deal with COVID-19. To date the brand new drug has diminished mixed hospitalizations and deaths by slightly below 90% for individuals who had early signs. The large information is the drug retained its efficiency towards the omicron variant.
Pfizer’s new tablet and a competing model from Merck could each quickly be licensed by the Meals and Drug Administration. If these new tablets get authorized, it is possible for you to to go to the pharmacy and have the ability to deal with your self at house.
These new tablets developed by Pfizer and Merck have been examined on unvaccinated adults who have been on the most threat on account of their age or present well being points.
There may be nonetheless extra testing to do, this time round they’re working with vaccinated adults to see if the outcomes are just like the unvaccinated research they’ve already accomplished.
Well being officers are hoping for extra constructive outcomes so these new tablets can get authorized. Hospitals in West Michigan and across the nation want some type of reduction from the COVID-19 overload they’re seeing now and now we have not gotten to January and February when the chilly season is at its peak.
The Pfizer and Merck tablets which are being studied are focusing on a key protein that omicron makes use of to breed itself as an alternative of the coronavirus spike protein. That being mentioned, being vaccinated will deal with the early variants whereas the tablet will fight the omicron variant.
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Solutions to 25 frequent COVID-19 vaccine questions
Vaccinations for COVID-19 started being administered within the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The fast rollout got here a little bit greater than a yr after the virus was first recognized in November 2019. The spectacular pace with which vaccines have been developed has additionally left lots of people with numerous questions. The questions vary from the sensible—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?
Hold studying to find solutions to 25 frequent COVID-19 vaccine questions.