Opinion: China Has Approved Pfizer’s Covid Drug. What’s Next?

Pfizer’s oral Covid-19 Paxlovid pill was conditionally approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China on Feb. 12. This is an important step taken by China in its pandemic prevention and control. This undoubtedly sends a positive signal, but there is a long way to go before we can see real effects.

Paxlovid is very effective against Covid-19. According to clinical trials, if high-risk groups — those not vaccinated and having a high risk of being severely affected — are administered with Paxlovid in the early stage, which is within five days after showing symptoms, it will lower the risk of hospitalization or death by nearly 90%.