American Patients Held Hostage Day 71

Jeffrey A. SingerThe new omicron variant is the most contagious variant of COVID-19 yet to emerge. Cases of omicron aredoubling every 1.5 to 3  days, as the virus quickly spreads throughout the U.S. While the delta variant is still the dominant variant in this country, omicron is on track to replace it. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventionreported late today that the omicron variant is responsible for 73 percent of recent COVID-19 cases in the U.S.The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines remain effective against omicron but aremuch less effective than with earlier variants. Evidence shows 2  doses of the mRNA vaccines are 30–40 percent effective against a symptomatic omicron infection. The 2‑dose regimen plus a booster is roughly 70 percent effective.Fortunately, two new antivirals have been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization. Antivirals are to viral infections what antibiotics are to bacterial infections. They effectively poison the pathogen and prevent it from replicating and surviving.Merck submitted molnupiravir to the FDA to consider for emergency authorization on October 11, 2021 —71  days ago. Randomized controlled trials show the drug prevents30 percent of symptomatic cases from progressing to severe disease. No patient receiving molnupiravir died of COVID-19. The U.K. Medicine and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agencyapproved its use in Britain on November 4. On November 30 an FDA advisory committee recommen...
Source: Cato-at-liberty - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs