The new anti-Cavid-19 pill and efforts to spread it to developing countries

Clinical trials indicate that if the pill is taken early, it reduces the risk of hospitalization or half the risk of death. The medicine is easy to use.

You can take it to the pharmacy just as you get the other drugs“, says Dr William Schaffner with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

If the Food and Barnave Administration approves Merck's request for emergency use, the pills may be available in the US before the end of the year. The company plans similar applications for urgent use worldwide.

But funding and distribution of this medicine and other treatments, including vaccines, in underdeveloped parts of the world remains a challenge:

“The situation is serious because it is a worldwide problem that needs global solutions. So, the saying that nobody is sure if they're not all safe, is very true”, says Ann Lindstrand with the World Health Organization.

The United States has already acquired 1.7 million doses of medicine.

To help deliver medicine to the rest of the world, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing $120m to promote the cheaper production of Merck's medicine for developing countries.

Financial support is essential to any COVID treatment.

Dr. Caleb Hernandez is a medical emergency, and a potential drug researcher for COVID.

He says three other drug treatments are being studied, including one that rivals the medicine developed by Merck. He says they lack financial support to seek FDA's approval.

The government cannot spend $500,000 to do these studies. We rely on private companies to take medicines for approval to the FDA. That's why we don't see as much innovation as we could see”, says Dr. Caleb Hermandez with the Coney Island Hospital.

Experts have expressed concern that people can choose medicine instead of taking the vaccine, an alternative they prefer after the vaccine teaches the body to produce antibodies.

“Vaxin in the first place can prevent COVID infection, and we want to prevent infections, not just wait to deal with them once they happen”, says Jeffrey Zients, White House co-ordinator for responding to the coronary.

Dr. Hernandez remembers a colleague who left his profession behind the burden of COVID's situation.

For almost two years we've fought every day, we've seen people die, and I think it's very difficult when people in the community don't believe you. They think you're part of some conspiracy or you're overreacting and making things up. Then he goes to work and loses a lot of people from this illness”, says Dr. Caleb Hernandez.

With nearly five million deaths worldwide and 740 thousand deaths in the United States from COVID, an artist created the installation with a white flag for everyone. / VOA