Forbes - Merck’s Covid pill

Plus: 6% of U.S. adults know someone with a fake vaccine card

The FDA authorized Merck’s Covid-19 antiviral pill molnupiravir for emergency use today, the day after the agency greenlit Pfizer’s treatment Paxlovid. But the authorization comes with a few caveats. Merck’s pill, developed with Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, should not be used by people with Covid under the age of 18 and should not be used during pregnancy. The FDA recommended it be used when “alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.” Merck’s pill was moderately effective, reducing the risk of hospitalization and death by 30%, whereas Pfizer’s treatment was shown to be 89% effective. 

Two vaccine makers released data today regarding how well their jabs perform against the omicron variant as cases continue to surge. AstraZeneca said a third dose of its vaccine significantly raised the level of neutralizing antibodies against omicron, which was comparable to how its two-shot dose performed against the delta variant. The U.K.-based drugmaker is separately working on a new omicron-specific vaccine. Novovax also released data showing its two-dose vaccine offers protection against omicron, though similarly a third dose was much more effective. 

Also, mark your calendars for January 7. That’s when the Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in lawsuits challenging the Biden administration’s Covid-19 vaccine mandates for healthcare facilities and large employers. 

We’ll be taking tomorrow and next week off and will return to your inboxes on Monday, January 3. Wishing all of our readers a safe and happy holidays. See you in 2022!

Do you have comments or questions? Email us at health@forbes.com

More Covid News

President Joe Biden told ABC he wishes he offered 500 million free at-home Covid-19 tests to Americans “two months ago” instead of last week. 

Some restaurants are starting to require proof not just of Covid-19 vaccines but also of a booster in order to dine indoors. The Sundance Film Festival will also require booster shots for all attendees. 

Healthcare workers are burnt out, as a new study finds nearly 2 in 5 nurses and 1 in 4 physicians intend to leave their practice altogether.

An unvaccinated man in Texas was the first reported person to die from the omicron variant. This was his second coronavirus infection. 

Here’s a roundup of how well different monoclonal antibodies perform against the omicron variant. 

What Else We Are Reading

• As Patients Fell Ill With Covid Inside Hospitals, Government Oversight Fell Short (Kaiser Health News)

• Covid is here for good, scientists say. The rest remains unpredictable. (NBC News)

• Hospitals grapple with Omicron — and legal brawl over vaccinating staff (POLITICO)