Researchers have found that taking Paxlovid may not provide as much benefit as previously thought, particularly for older adults who are vaccinated. The study, published in JAMA, used Canadian data from nearly 1.5 million people and compared those who received prescriptions for the drug to those who didn’t.
The study’s lead author, Dr. John Mafi, found that Paxlovid showed no statistically significant reduction in COVID-19 hospitalizations or mortality among vaccinated older adults. This is a stark contrast to previous studies, including one by Pfizer in 2022, which reported a 89% reduction in hospitalizations and deaths.
The study’s results suggest that the benefits of Paxlovid are about four times smaller than those reported for unvaccinated adults. Dr. Mafi emphasizes that this does not mean Paxlovid is useless, but rather that its effectiveness is lower in vaccinated individuals.
Pfizer has remained confident in Paxlovid’s clinical effectiveness, despite the study’s findings. However, the new research raises important questions about future studies, including how past infections may affect the body’s response to the drug and whether vaccination status impacts its effectiveness.
The study’s authors plan to access individual-level data and conduct further analysis to better understand the relationship between Paxlovid and COVID-19 outcomes in vaccinated individuals.
Source: https://time.com/7260102/does-paxlovid-work-covid-19-vaccinated