Each day I feature a listener question sent by one of these methods. The summer surge of Covid has worked like clockwork since the onset of the virus. For the third consecutive summer Covid cases are surging in Florida and around the world. The better news is that for the third consecutive year outcomes for those infected is improving as well. Some of that can be attributed to natural immunity, some of that can be attributed to vaccinations, much of it can be attributed to viral history which indicates subsequent variants of viruses tend to be more benign with time. But something else which has changed with time is treatment options as well. No doubt most people would prefer to pop a pill as opposed to about anything else given the option. And what’s different during this summer surge is that it is now an option. I’ll breakdown what’s going down with Pfizer’s new pill, but first it’s a good time and opportunity to hit the reset button with the impact of the virus itself.
After Covid cases hit their lowest levels in mid-March, around 1,100 daily cases in Florida, since the onset of the pandemic – we've experienced a slow and steady rise higher which has culminated with Florida entering this week averaging over 11,100 cases per day. You don’t have to be good at math to realize there’s about 10x more Covid flying around than there was in early spring. That’s the bad news. The better news is the impact the virus is having. Here’s a breakdown of how many Floridians have been hospitalized each of the past three summers when we’ve averaged 11k+ plus cases:
- July 2020: 8,500
- July 2021: 7,500
- July 2022: 3,800
The bottom line is that one’s risk of severe symptoms resulting from an infection is 2.2 times lower than two years ago and about 2 times lower than a year ago. The less-than-ideal news is that obviously no one wants to get sick and flu season now seemingly extends to summer as well which is still a significant issue for many across the state when they contract it. That’s one more thing we can thank China & the Fauch (who helped fund the Wuhan Lab) for – incidentally, there’s a development on that front. A leak last week revealed the FBI has questioned team Fauch at National Insitute's of Health about the funding provided to the Wuhan Lab. But back to the ‘vid and specifically now Pfizer’s pill and whether it's worth popping.
On July 6th the FDA issued emergency authorization for Pfizer’s Covid pill Paxlovid. One of the benefits of the authorization for those inclined is that it may be possible to get the pills without having to visit a doctor. The FDA’s authorization allowed pharmacists to make a determination based on risk factors as to whether a potential patient is a good candidate for the pills or whether they should seek medical care. As if popping a pill wasn’t already preferable to other treatment options, bypassing a doctor only adds to the connivence. But who’s a candidate for it? The FDA authorization was limited. Paxlovid was approved for...
- Those over the age of 12 weighing at least 88 pounds who’ve tested positive and are “at risk” to severe symptoms
So not anyone can just pop into a pharmacy and pop out with the pills. And that’s due to the safety concerns you were asking about. This being yet another emergency authorization as opposed an approval, means there’s limited clinical data available. What is known is this...
Risks & side effects:
- Potential allergic reactions (most topical – rashes, etc.)
- Potential for altered sense of taste, diarrhea, achy muscles, and elevated blood pressure
- Interactions with other meds
- Liver issues
As Pfizer also notes – that might not be the full scope because of the limited study to-date. But you also see why not just anyone should be popping these things at the first sign of Covid. One of the complications for use is that many at risk for severe Covid symptoms may have conditions, like heart disease or compromised liver function, which a doctor may determine isn’t worth the risk of the potential side effects of the pills. So, to the root of your question... Is it safe? I reported, if you’re at elevated risk for the leading known potential side effects that’s one for your doctor to decide based on your medical history. And that’s also the point where pharmacists are to refer you to your doctor as opposed to simply filling a script. So, if you are a potential fit are they effective?
The FDA issued the emergency authorization based on this finding:
- In clinical studies those with high risk factors experienced an 88% decline in severe symptoms/death
That’s obviously pretty strong. But then again, it's worth noting that the studies began in February under the original strain of Omicron. Is it as effective against potential symptoms brought about by the current variant, BA-5? That’s a bit of an unknown. The more treatment options change, the more the virus does as well.
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Today’s entry: Submitted via talkback regarding Pfizer’s new FDA approved Covid pill.