Omigron: The United States fills its “drug cabinet” and rushes to the tests – 12/23/2021 07:46 pm

Paxlovit tablets against Kovit-19, a drug developed by Pfizer at a factory in Freiburg, Germany (Pfizer / Guide)

The United States Medicines Agency (FDA) on Wednesday hastily approved the Covid-19 pill from the Pfizer Laboratory, but the immediate concern of Americans was to detect experiments facing the meteoric spread of the Omigron variant.

“This recognition provides a new tool to combat Govt-19 at a critical time of the epidemic,” FDA official Patricia Cavasoni was quoted as saying in a statement.

US President Joe Biden hastened to greet in a statement this “good news” that would allow it to embellish “the country’s drug cabinet.” The White House plans to receive 250,000 treatments and a total of $ 10 million by January.

This antiviral drug can be given to high-risk patients 12 years of age and older, although the FDA states that vaccines should be the first line of defense against infection.

Pfizer’s treatment, marketed as Paxlovid, consists of a combination of two tablets taken twice a day for five days within five days of the onset of symptoms.

Interpretation of the effects of Pfizer & Merck (MSD) Covit-19 treatment on the SARS-CoV-2 pollution cycle (AFP /)

According to clinical trials, taking it within the first five days after the onset of symptoms can reduce the hospitalization and death of those at risk by 88%.

Pfizer also announced that its antiviral treatment should work against Omigran.

This new, highly pervasive variant, like many countries around the world, has led to an increase in cases in the United States.

– Test rush –

However, the priority for Americans was to detect trials on Wednesday, especially for those preparing to meet with their families for the year-end celebrations.

The lines stretch in front of test centers in the United States, and some pharmaceutical chains or even e-commerce company Amazon have decided to buy rations because they do not have enough stock.

The Biden administration has promised to distribute 500 million free trials, but since January, however, has denied that it expects the situation to worsen.

“No, I do not think this is a failure,” Joe Biden said in an interview with ABC on Wednesday night.

The U.S. president has previously reiterated that he is “ready” to absorb the increase in hospital admissions, and that vaccinated Americans should not “panic.”

However, health officials have recommended avoiding large crowds and giving priority to ceremonies in small groups among vaccinated people.

“If you’ve been tested and you know where you are with vaccines,” “there is no reason you can not be with family and friends,” Joe Biden told ABC.

Some places have decided to close schools temporarily or set up a vaccination pass – in the federal capital, Washington, vaccination is mandatory to go to a cafe, restaurant or gym from January.

The high-end electronics and technology, consumer electronics show (CES) in Las Vegas, whose big face-off is scheduled for early January, has been compromised. Many large companies have decided to follow him or cancel their presence.

ia-aue / rle / iba