WHO recommends use of nirmatrelvir or ritonavir for COVID patients
WHO recommends use of nirmatrelvir or ritonavir for COVID patients

World Health Organisation – WHO has now recommended the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (sold as Paxlovid) in the COVID-19 patients who possess mild or moderate symptoms and for also those who are at higher risk of getting admitted to the hospitalizations. 

The international health agency tweeted, “WHO strongly recommends the use of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (sold as Paxlovid) in people with mild/moderate COVID19, who are at high risk of hospitalization (such as unvaccinated, older, or immunosuppressed people)“. 

WHO further called for the wide geographical distribution and transparency from the drug originator, with the motive of making available this life-saving medicine is available also for low and middle-income countries.   

“Pfizer’s oral antiviral drug (a combination of – nirmatrelvir & ritonavir tablets) is strongly recommended for patients with non-severe COVID-19 who are at highest risk of developing severe disease and hospitalization, such as unvaccinated, older, or immunosuppressed patients,” underscored WHO.  

The recommendation has been given based on the data obtained from trials which involved 3078 patients. As per the data, the treatment reduces the chances of getting hospitalized by 85%.  

“Lack of transparency on the part of the originator company is making it difficult for public health organizations to obtain an accurate picture of the availability of the medicine, which countries are involved in bilateral deals and what they are paying,” the international health agency cited. 

For full information, one can visit the official website of WHO at – https://www.who.int/news/item/22-04-2022-who-recommends-highly-successful-covid-19-therapy-and-calls-for-wide-geographical-distribution-and-transparency-from-originator. 

Meanwhile, the Director-General of WHO – Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, asked the countries to strengthen their COVID-19 pandemic preparedness and response architecture, engage communities, build country capacity to deliver and finance vaccines, tests, meds, oxygen access in order to win this battle against the contagious COVID-19 outbreak. 

Till April 21, 2022, around 65.7% of the total world’s population is partially vaccinated by taking their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, whereas around 59.3% of the total targeted eligible population of the world is fully vaccinated.