CDC reports on bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, Paxlovid effectiveness

In a study of symptomatic adults tested for SARS-CoV-2 at U.S. pharmacies since Sept. 14, bivalent COVID-19 vaccine boosters provided additional protection compared with previous vaccination with two or more monovalent doses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today. The benefit of the bivalent booster increased with time since receipt of the last monovalent dose. 
 
In a separate study released today, adult COVID-19 patients with mild-to-moderate illness who received a prescription for Paxlovid had a 51% lower hospitalization rate than those who did not, CDC said. While the initial clinical trial for Paxlovid preceded the omicron variant’s predominance and included only unvaccinated patients, the new study included people with omicron infection and previous immunity.