Joe Biden doubles availability of Covid-19 pills

The administration of Joe Biden announced on Tuesday April 26 that it would double the number of places where at-risk Americans can obtain free Covid-19 treatment pills.

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These oral drugs, like Pfizer's antiviral Paxlovid, are seen as a new weapon of choice in the fight against the virus that has killed nearly a million people in the United States alone and continues to spread. .

"

," a spokesperson told reporters.

senior government official.

With 20 million treatments ordered, the government now has “

” and will double distribution locations to around 40,000, the official said.

The pills are notably available in pharmacies and in hospitals and health centers, and the American drug agency, the FDA, has authorized this treatment for high-risk patients aged 12 and over.

So far, about 500,000 antiviral treatments have been administered, the senior official said, and the pace is accelerating.

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The Biden administration's anti-Covid strategy, however, is under threat of blockage in Congress, which is unable to agree on new funding.

The senior official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, assured that funds had already been allocated to pay for the 20 million antiviral treatments ordered.

But what “

, ”he said.