Doctors were often at a loss what to do in early days of the new coronavirus pandemic. They tried proven respiratory disease medication, but sometimes had to helplessly watch patients die. Nowadays of course, we have highly effective vaccines to prevent infections happening. Merck and Pfizer have given us two alternative medicines. However, there are still things we need to know about these COVID-19 pills.
Two Options on the Table with Unanswered Questions
The United Kingdom approved use of molnupiravir by Merck and Ridgeback on November 4, 2021. Pfizer announced its paxlovid alternative a day later, claiming it cut hospitalization 89%. Either tablet could change the rules of the game for virus-skeptic people. However, Nature Magazine posed a number of unanswered questions on November 10, 2021.
There are still things we need to know about these COVID-19 pills, the scientific journal launched 1869 insists. For example, the demographic ages and ethnicity of volunteers in trials are still largely a mystery. This means we don’t have proof how effective the antiviral pills are overall, and for specific categories.
More Things We Need to Know about COVID-19 Pills
Anti-viral pills can by definition only be administered after an infection appears. That’s because unlike proactive vaccines, they are reactive medicine. Nature Magazine asks how many days passed before the patients received their antiviral pills. And whether that time interval affected their efficacy.
We are left believing molnupiravir and paxlovid pills are no reason to take the pressure off the vaccination campaign. Although we do agree with Nature Magazine that vaccines and antivirals could combine to become a powerful tool.
We are going to need combinations like that as new virus strains keep appearing in unvaccinated people. Anything that helps prevent viral spread, including face masks and social distancing is a welcome ally in these troubling times.
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