Asia

South Korea gets first supply of Pfizer’s COVID-19 pills

Editorial Bureau January 14, 2022

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea on Thursday received its first supply of Pfizer’s antiviral COVID-19 pills to treat patients with mild or moderate symptoms. Health officials have described the Paxlovid pills as a potentially important tool to suppress hospitalizations and deaths, as the

Pharma/BioTech

Pfizer pill becomes 1st US-authorized home COVID treatment

Editorial Bureau December 23, 2021

WASHINGTON — U.S. health regulators on Wednesday authorized the first pill against COVID-19, a Pfizer drug that Americans will be able to take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus. The long-awaited milestone comes as U.S. cases, hospitalizations and deaths are all rising and health officials warn of a tsunami of […]

World

Pfizer jabs protect 70% against hospitalization from omicron

Editorial Bureau December 15, 2021

JOHANNESBURG — A two-dose Pfizer/BioNTech vaccination provides just 33% protection against infection by the omicron variant of the coronavirus, but 70% protection against hospitalization, according to a large-scale analysis in South Africa released Tuesday. The first large-scale analysis of vaccine effectiveness in the region where the new variant was discovered appears to

Health

EU regulator authorizes Pfizer’s COVID vaccine for kids 5-11

Editorial Bureau November 26, 2021

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The European Union’s drug regulator on Thursday authorized Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine for use on children from 5 to 11 years old, clearing the way for shots to be administered to millions of elementary school pupils amid a new wave of infections sweeping across the continent. It is the first time the […]

World

CDC director signs off on Pfizer, Moderna boosters for all adults

Editorial Bureau November 21, 2021

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave a final signoff Friday for everyone 18 and older to get a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna booster if they’re at least six months past their final shot, teeing up many Americans to gain extra protection ahead of a possible winter surge in cases. Recipients of the Johnson & […]

USA

Pfizer, U.S. ink $5.29 deal over possible COVID-19 treatment

Editorial Bureau November 19, 2021

NEW YORK — The U.S. government will pay drugmaker Pfizer $5.29 billion for 10 million treatment courses of its potential COVID-19 treatment if regulators approve it. Pfizer asked the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday to authorize the experimental pill, which has been shown to significantly cut the rate of hospitalizations and deaths among people […]

USA

Pfizer asks US officials to OK promising COVID-19 pill

Editorial Bureau November 17, 2021

WASHINGTON — Pfizer said Tuesday it is asking U.S. regulators to authorize its experimental pill for COVID-19, setting the stage for a likely launch of the promising therapy in the coming weeks. The company’s filing comes as new infections are rising once again, driven mainly by hot spots in states where colder weather is driving […]

World

Protection against Delta variant and other strings, J&J claims its vaccine the best

Editorial Bureau July 2, 2021

Johnson & Johnson said that its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine showed strong promise against the Delta variant and other emerging strains and also provided durable protection against the infection more broadly. Data showed that the durability of immune response for recipients of its vaccine lasted at least eight months, the healthcare company said, adding that its […]

World

Innoculation strengthened in New Zealand, PM gets her first Pfizer shot

Editorial Bureau June 18, 2021

WELLINGTON (NEW ZEALAND) – As New Zealand steps up efforts to inoculate its population, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern received her first shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Friday. The Pacific island nation shut its borders and used tough lockdown measures to become one of the few countries to have virtually eliminated COVID-19 in the […]

USA

COVID-19 vaccine causing heart inflammation being investigated by US CDC

Editorial Bureau May 23, 2021

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advisory group has informed that some teenagers and young adults who received COVID-19 vaccines experienced heart inflammation. CDC has recommended further study of the rare condition. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices in a statement dated May 17 said it had looked into reports that a few […]