NPR: COVID treatments https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=904285751 COVID treatments en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Wed, 07 May 2025 00:10:26 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR: COVID treatments https://www.npr.org/tags/904285751/covid-treatments In a pandemic milestone, the NIH ends guidance on COVID treatment The National Institutes of Health is sunsetting its influential COVID-19 treatment guidelines, used by millions of doctors to guide care during the pandemic. Tue, 19 Mar 2024 09:01:05 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/19/1239276507/nih-covid-treatment-guidelines https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/03/19/1239276507/nih-covid-treatment-guidelines

The National Institutes of Health is sunsetting its influential COVID-19 treatment guidelines, used by millions of doctors to guide care during the pandemic.

(Image credit: Joe Raedle)

]]> Pien Huang COVID test kits, treatments and vaccines won't be free to many consumers much longer Insurers, employers, taxpayers and other consumers will all be affected as drugmakers move these products to the commercial market in May. How much you'll pay depends on your health insurance. Wed, 08 Feb 2023 05:00:33 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/02/08/1155225903/covid-test-kits-treatments-vaccines-increasing-cost-to-consumers https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/02/08/1155225903/covid-test-kits-treatments-vaccines-increasing-cost-to-consumers

Insurers, employers, taxpayers and other consumers will all be affected as drugmakers move these products to the commercial market in May. How much you'll pay depends on your health insurance.

(Image credit: Alex Wong)

]]> Julie Appleby Coronavirus FAQ: Is Paxlovid the best treatment? Is it underused in the U.S.? The drug is the most effective way to cut the risk of severe disease. It's heading to China now. Yet the drug is underused in some places. Why? And are there options if you're not a good candidate? Fri, 16 Dec 2022 08:56:21 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/16/1142586058/coronavirus-faq-is-paxlovid-the-best-treatment-is-it-underused-in-the-u-s https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/12/16/1142586058/coronavirus-faq-is-paxlovid-the-best-treatment-is-it-underused-in-the-u-s

The drug is the most effective way to cut the risk of severe disease. It's heading to China now. Yet the drug is underused in some places. Why? And are there options if you're not a good candidate?

]]> Fran Kritz How monoclonal antibodies lost the fight with new COVID variants The treatments were highly popular earlier in the pandemic. One by one, they got knocked out by more convenient, less expensive treatment options, and new COVID variants. Sun, 20 Nov 2022 06:00:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/11/20/1137892932/monoclonal-antibodies-covid-treatment https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/11/20/1137892932/monoclonal-antibodies-covid-treatment

The treatments were highly popular earlier in the pandemic. One by one, they got knocked out by more convenient, less expensive treatment options, and new COVID variants.

(Image credit: Yara Nardi)

]]> Pien Huang 3 ways to get COVID pills, if you've just tested positive Some people have had trouble getting Paxlovid pills quickly, despite the administration's effort to ease access after a COVID test confirms infection. Wed, 11 May 2022 11:53:46 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/05/11/1097698090/3-ways-to-get-covid-pills-if-youve-just-tested-positive https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/05/11/1097698090/3-ways-to-get-covid-pills-if-youve-just-tested-positive

Some people have had trouble getting Paxlovid pills quickly, despite the administration's effort to ease access after a COVID test confirms infection.

(Image credit: thomas hansmann.fotograf)

]]> Pien Huang Lifesaving COVID drugs are sitting unused on pharmacy shelves, HHS data shows States and health providers report they've dispensed less than half their supply from the government, raising fears that the drugs may go to waste while people who could benefit get sicker. Fri, 18 Mar 2022 05:00:26 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/03/18/1087380770/lifesaving-covid-drugs-are-sitting-unused-on-pharmacy-shelves-hhs-data-shows https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/03/18/1087380770/lifesaving-covid-drugs-are-sitting-unused-on-pharmacy-shelves-hhs-data-shows

States and health providers report they've dispensed less than half their supply from the government, raising fears that the drugs may go to waste while people who could benefit get sicker.

(Image credit: Emily Elconin)

]]> Pien Huang Feds' contract with Pfizer for Paxlovid has some surprises NPR has obtained the government's $5.3 billion contract for the first 10 million courses of Paxlovid, an antiviral pill for COVID-19. Here's what's in it. Tue, 01 Feb 2022 17:22:13 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/01/1075876794/feds-contract-with-pfizer-for-paxlovid-has-some-surprises https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/02/01/1075876794/feds-contract-with-pfizer-for-paxlovid-has-some-surprises

NPR has obtained the government's $5.3 billion contract for the first 10 million courses of Paxlovid, an antiviral pill for COVID-19. Here's what's in it.

]]> Sydney Lupkin Hospitals use a lottery to allocate scarce COVID drugs for the immunocompromised So far the government has distributed nearly 400,000 doses of Evusheld, a new drug that protects against COVID-19. Some 7 million Americans could benefit from the drug right away. Tue, 25 Jan 2022 15:20:07 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/01/25/1075432400/hospitals-use-a-lottery-to-allocate-scarce-covid-drugs-for-the-immunocompromised https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/01/25/1075432400/hospitals-use-a-lottery-to-allocate-scarce-covid-drugs-for-the-immunocompromised

So far the government has distributed nearly 400,000 doses of Evusheld, a new drug that protects against COVID-19. Some 7 million Americans could benefit from the drug right away.

]]> Pien Huang The COVID antiviral drugs are here but they're scarce. Here's what to know Paxlovid and molnupiravir have been authorized for emergency use to keep COVID-19 patients out of the hospital, but don't expect to be able to go to your usual pharmacy and get them. Fri, 31 Dec 2021 05:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/31/1069323181/covid-antivirals-paxlovid-molnupiravir https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/31/1069323181/covid-antivirals-paxlovid-molnupiravir

Paxlovid and molnupiravir have been authorized for emergency use to keep COVID-19 patients out of the hospital, but don't expect to be able to go to your usual pharmacy and get them.

]]> Sydney Lupkin First doses of Paxlovid, Pfizer's new COVID pill, are released to states The new at-home COVID treatment is currently available in limited quantities to states and territories. Some states will get as few as 120 courses of treatment at first. Wed, 22 Dec 2021 12:23:27 -0500 https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/22/1066761436/fda-authorizes-1st-antiviral-pill-for-covid https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2021/12/22/1066761436/fda-authorizes-1st-antiviral-pill-for-covid

The new at-home COVID treatment is currently available in limited quantities to states and territories. Some states will get as few as 120 courses of treatment at first.

(Image credit: David Dee Delgado)

]]> Scott Hensley