Local Dr. explains new antiviral COVID-19 pills

Posted on November 8, 2021
Dr. John Wieland with Carl BroMenn Hospital spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – According to a recent study, a new antiviral COVID-19 pill could slash hospitalizations and COVID-related deaths in half.

Dr. John Wieland with Carl BroMenn Hospital said the pill produced by Merck & Co. Inc. is not yet available in the United States, but it could soon be approved for oral use.

“The Merck pill actually has been approved in the United Kingdom, but they have not submitted (a) Emergency Use Authorization request in the United States yet. So the U.S. doesn’t have a pill yet, but there are two very promising ones on the very short horizon.”

Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, Dr. Wieland said the pill would not be used as a substitute for the COVID-19 vaccine but instead used for those vaccinated and working in high-risk areas.

“One of the concerns is that if people say, ‘well, I’ll just wait. I’ll just take a pill—no big deal. I’m not really worried about COVID now, so I’m not going to get a vaccine. And really, all of the researchers have stated that vaccine is really the first line of defense. And the pill would be ideally used for a high-risk group that might have a breakthrough infection.

So certainly it would be available for somebody. I’d envision it being available widely for anybody vaccinated or unvaccinated.”

According to a new study, another antiviral pill, produced by Pfizer, cuts rates of hospitalization and death by nearly 90%.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].

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