I think I am an example of what we are talking about today, given my age, of what we are talking about: I am vaccinated, I am doubly boosted, and I believe that if that were not the case, I very likely wouldn't be talking to you as well as I look. That was Dr. Anthony Fauci, the White House's chief medical adviser, speaking at a COVID 19 Response Team briefing just a week after revealing he had tested positive for the virus.
Fauci looked good at the virtual briefing on Thursday, credited with his mild COVID symptoms and quick recovery to being fully vaccinated and getting two booster shots.
Fauci said that he was feeling fine and was responding to a reporter's question about his COVID case. He described having mild symptoms the previous week, testing positive, and feeling symptomatic for one day. He also completed a five-day Paxlovid antiviral treatment regimen.
All is well with Fauci, and thank you for asking, he said.
The White House reported that the White House stepped up its efforts to give more Americans access to Pfizer's PFE, COVID antiviral drug Paxlovid, and about 30,000 people in the US received a Paxlovid prescription every day during the last week of May. Pfizer said it will prioritize studying Paxlovid in vulnerable and at-risk patient populations going forward.
Read more: Pfizer says that Paxlovid doesn't help COVID 19 patients unless they are high risk for high risk.
Pfizer shared updated data from a Phase 2 3 clinical trial that looked at Paxlovid just this week that showed the antiviral isn't effective for people who are vaccinated and healthy. Pfizer s CEO said that Paxlovid didn't have a significant impact on high-risk people who have been vaccinated, but it helps high-risk, unvaccinated patients.
Fauci would be in a high-risk group at 81 years old. Older adults have the highest risk of getting sick from COVID 19, according to the CDC, and more than 81% of COVID 19 deaths have occurred in people over 65.
The White House COVID 19 Response Team met Thursday to brief the public on the plan to give children under 5 years COVID vaccines. The COVID 19 vaccines were available to infants, toddlers, and preschoolers this week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the vaccines for the youngest Americans last weekend.
Here is what parents should know about COVID vaccines for kids under 5, including where to find vaccines, how many doses are needed and possible side effects.