Should healthy people take Paxlovid?

Plus more health news | Email not displaying correctly? [View it in your browser.]( [Health Matters]( [I'm young and healthy. Should I take Paxlovid?]( By Jamie Ducharme Health Correspondent As a COVID-19 reporter, one of the questions I get most often from my friends and family is whether they should take the antiviral drug Paxlovid when they catch the virus. Officially, the federal guidance on Paxlovid is clear: the drug regimen is approved for people who have at least one risk factor for severe disease, such as older age, an underlying health condition, or a compromised immune system. But I get why younger, healthier people would want the drug. If there’s an effective treatment on the market, why wouldn’t you take it? Maybe because there’s no proof that Paxlovid is effective for people at low risk of severe disease, experts told me. Studies have not found that it meaningfully reduces either acute or chronic symptoms for people in this category. It also comes with some side effects and can interact with other medications. And it now costs money for some patients. None of these things should dissuade people who need Paxlovid from taking what could be a lifesaving drug, and experts stressed that people should speak with their doctors about the best course of action. But taking it purely for peace of mind may not be worth it. [READ THE REST]( Share This Story WHAT ELSE TO READ [Microplastics in Bottled Water At Least 10 Times Worse Than Once Thought]( By Aryn Baker New research reveals that a liter of bottled water contains an average 240,000 microscopic plastic particles. The health impact is unclear. [Read More »]( [How People With Diabetes Can Lower Stroke Risk]( By Elizabeth Millard People with diabetes have more cardiovascular issues, but these problems aren’t inevitable. [Read More »]( [Are Onions and Garlic Healthy? Here’s What Experts Say]( By Jamie Ducharme They don't just add flavor. (Originally published in 2019.) [Read More »]( [9 Ways to Combat Self-Criticism]( By Angela Haupt and Video by Andrew. D Johnson Investigate the origins, create a 'done list,' and set up a self-criticism jar. [Read More »]( [Inside the Nuclear Fusion Facility That Changed the World]( By Alejandro de la Garza TIME followed government scientists in the year after they achieved the biggest scientific breakthrough of the decade. [Read More »]( AN EXPERT VOICE "It's very clear people are telling us they don’t want to get vaccinated [against COVID-19] every six months or a year. They are voting with their feet and not going to get vaccinated—look at the rates this year, they're not good. As public health experts, we need to learn from that. That's not the life we want to live." —Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, assistant professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and director of the clinical epidemiology center at VA St. Louis Healthcare System If you were forwarded this and want to sign up to receive it daily, [click here](. Today's newsletter was written by Jamie Ducharme and Alice Park, and edited by Mandy Oaklander. [Want more from TIME? Sign up for our other newsletters.]( [Subscribe to TIME]( TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services in this email. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Connect with TIME via [Facebook]( | [Twitter]( | [Newsletters]( [UNSUBSCRIBE]( [PRIVACY POLICY]( [YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS]( TIME Customer Service, P.O. Box 37508, Boone, IA 50037-0508 Questions? Contact health@time.com Copyright © 2024 TIME USA, LLC. All rights reserved.