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“For the average healthy person-even a 55 year old with no major medical problems-they might not benefit and just complain of the bad taste in their mouth,” which is a common side effect of Paxlovid, says Adalja. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security and an infectious disease physician.ĭespite the drug’s increased popularity, for people who are otherwise healthy and not at high risk of getting severely ill, there are limited data supporting the benefits of taking antivirals like Paxlovid. “There is probably some overprescribing or prescribing in low-risk people,” says Dr. Paxlovid is still one of only a few COVID-19 antiviral treatments authorized by the FDA (others include a pill called molnupiravir and remdesivir, an IV therapy) so people are still asking for it. With improved access, some experts believe the drug may now be overprescribed. On July 7, the FDA further expanded access by allowing state-licensed pharmacists to write prescriptions for anyone over age 12. Supply of the drug increased by the spring, and it went from being under-prescribed (in order to reserve limited supplies for people at highest risk) to popular among doctors and patients. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2021, supplies were scarce, but the Biden Administration raised awareness and access to Paxlovid in March by announcing the Test to Treat program, which allowed people to get tested at places like pharmacies and receive a prescription on the spot if they were positive. Even after the drug was authorized by the U.S.
