Covid19 antiviral pill could be a game changer but vaccines are still Americas way out of the pandemic experts say

A pill that could potentially treat Covid19 is a gamechanger but experts are emphasizing that its not an alternative to vaccinations which remain the most effective path to ending the coronavirus pandemic if enough people get their shots.

Yet the average number of people getting vaccinated at 270531 is the lowest its been since August 15 according to Fridays data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A little over 65 of the eligible population is fully vaccinated the data shows.

At the same time the US hit a grim milestone Friday by surpassing 700000 deaths from Covid19 according to Johns Hopkins Universitys data. The US tops the world for Covid19 deaths followed by Brazil with nearly 600000 fatalities according to the data.

The news from Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics on Friday that they created an antiviral pill that can reduce Covid19 hospitalization and death by 50 was hailed by health experts although they cautioned it wasnt a replacement for vaccinations.

This can be used in conjunction with the vaccine. And its not an alternative to vaccination. We still have to try to get more people vaccinated Dr Scott Gottlieb former commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration told CNN on Friday.

Gottlieb acknowledged that the antiviral medicine could be effective for those who choose not to get vaccinated as well as those who catch the virus while fully vaccinated.

This is the most impactful result that I remember seeing of an orally available drug in the treatment of a respiratory pathogen perhaps ever Gottlieb told CNNs Anderson Cooper. I think getting an oral pill that can inhibit viral replication that can inhibit this virus is going to be a real gamechanger.

Merck said Friday it will seek FDA emergency use authorization for its molnupiravir medication as soon as possible. If permitted it would become the first oral medicine that fights viral infection for Covid19.

If approved I think the right way to think about this is this is a potential additional tool in our toolbox to protect people from the worst outcomes of Covid White House Covid19 Response Coordinator Jeff Zients said Friday.

Zients echoed Gottliebs stance on vaccination underscoring inoculation remains far and away our best tool against Covid19 because the shots can prevent people from getting infected in the first place.

And we want to prevent infections not just wait to treat them once they happen Zients said.

Meanwhile Louisiana reported Friday that a child at or under the age of four died from Covid19. It was the states 17th pediatric death from the virus.

We owe it to ourselves our children and everyone around us to take advantage of the best protection we have and that is the vaccine and wearing a mask Louisiana State Health Officer Dr Joseph Kanter said.

The Delta variant of the coronavirus has made child infections much more common than during the onset of the pandemic.

More booster talks to come Americans who received the Moderna or Johnson and Johnson vaccines can expect to hear next steps for booster shots this month.

The FDA will meet with its Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee on October 14 and 15 to discuss those boosters for those vaccines which have only been authorized for emergency use in those 18 and older. The committee will also consider data on mix and match use of boosters the agency said Friday.

Only Pfizers Covid19 twodose vaccine has been fully approved by the FDA for people 12 and older. Pfizers booster shot is authorized for emergency use in people 65 and older people at high risk of severe disease and people whose jobs put them at risk of infection.

More than 4.03 million people have received an additional dose of Covid19 vaccine or booster since August 13.

The FDA vaccine committee is also slated to discuss Pfizers Covid19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 on October 26. Pfizer has started submitting data about this age group to the agency but has not yet formally requested emergency use authorization.

The committee of independent advisers typically discusses and makes recommendations to the FDA on vaccine authorizations and approvals. Then the agency makes the final decision.

Vaccine mandates continue coming into play As federal health officials consider booster shots vaccine mandates are being implemented more widely and some are not happy with the move.

On Friday American Airlines told its US workers that they must follow the Biden administrations requirement to be vaccinated against Covid19. The airline noted that its business with the federal government means it will be covered under the mandate but fell short of saying when the requirement takes effect.

Religious and disabilityrelated exemptions will be available but there will be no provision of a regular testing alternative the airline said.

While we are still working through the details of the federal requirements it is clear that team members who choose to remain unvaccinated will not be able to work at American Airlines according to a memo CNN obtained from the airline management sent to employees.

Meanwhile Ochsner Health in Louisiana said it will charge employees enrolled in their upcoming 2022 health care benefits a fee for spouses and domestic partners who are not vaccinated against Covid19.

This is not a mandate as nonemployed spouses and domestic partners can choose to select a health plan outside of Ochsner Health offerings. As with our employee vaccination policy spouses and domestic partners with medical and religious objections will be able to file exemption requests Ochsner Health President and CEO Warner Thomas said in a statement this week.