Health
Paxlovid Improved Long Covid Symptoms in Some Patients, Researchers Report
Can Paxlovid treat long Covid? A new report suggests it might help some patients, but which patients might benefit remains unclear.
The report, published Monday in the journal Communications Medicine, describes the cases of 13 long Covid patients who took extended courses of the antiviral drug. Results were decidedly mixed: Nine patients reported some improvement, but only five said it lasted. Four reported no improvement at all.
Perhaps more than anything, the report underscores that nearly five years after the pandemic began, there is still little known about what can help the millions of people with long Covid. While some people improve on their own or with various therapies and medications, no treatment has yet been shown to be widely successful.
“People with long Covid are eager for treatments that can help,” said Alison Cohen, an epidemiologist at the University of California, San Francisco, who is an author of the new report and has long Covid herself. “There’s been a lot of research, but it continues to be slow going.”
Paxlovid, made by Pfizer, is considered a tantalizing prospect because it can prevent severe illness during active Covid infections and because patients who take the five-day course during the infection have been less likely to develop long Covid later.
In addition, a theory that some long Covid cases may be caused by remnants of virus in the body suggests that an antiviral like Paxlovid might vanquish those symptoms by extinguishing lingering virus.
Last year, the first randomized trial of Paxlovid for long Covid showed no benefit. Conducted at Stanford, it involved 155 patients who took the drug or a placebo for 15 days. While taking Paxlovid for that long was found to be safe, it didn’t help patients much: Ten weeks later, the placebo and Paxlovid groups showed no significant difference in severity of long Covid symptoms.
Dr. Upinder Singh, an infectious disease specialist and a leader of that trial, said its results and the new report primarily generated “more questions to answer”: Could Paxlovid help if taken for longer than 15 days or paired with other medications? Does its effect vary by types of symptoms or by when symptoms started?
“It’s very possible that within long Covid, there’s different disease types,” said Dr. Singh, now head of internal medicine at the University of Iowa. Maybe Paxlovid or other antivirals would help patients who could be clearly determined to have lingering virus in their bodies, she said.
Akiko Iwasaki, an immunologist at Yale University, said scientists shouldn’t “throw in the towel” on the possibility of antivirals for long Covid.
“If you look in the aggregate, you don’t see a difference between the placebo group, but these case reports demonstrate there are people who truly benefit, so we need to home in on those people,” said Dr. Iwasaki, who is leading another randomized trial of Paxlovid, the results of which have yet to be published.
She said important next steps would be identifying biological markers in people whose long Covid symptoms improved with Paxlovid and seeing whether other antivirals help different patients.
The new report was not a clinical trial, but a collection of self-reports from 13 long Covid patients around the country who had tried extended courses of Paxlovid. It is the first published case series of such patients, according to the authors, who include Dr. Michael Peluso, an infectious disease physician at U.C.S.F., and members of the Patient-Led Research Collaborative, a group of researchers who also have long Covid.
The experiences of the patients were too varied to yield a consistent trajectory, but the variety may provide clues for larger studies, the authors said.
The patients, ranging in age from 25 to 55, were infected between March 2020 and December 2022. They experienced one or more of a range of symptoms, including fatigue; gastrointestinal problems; cognitive problems like brain fog; muscle pain; irregular heart rate; and a condition called post-exertional malaise, in which physical or mental exertion causes setbacks.
As with the Stanford trial, most patients in the new report had been vaccinated by the time they took Paxlovid. Their Paxlovid courses ranged from 7.5 days to 30 days. Most tried it to find relief from their persistent long-Covid symptoms; two patients with long Covid received extended courses of Paxlovid when they were reinfected with the virus.
Most patients were also taking other medications or supplements, making it difficult to determine the drug’s specific effect, Dr. Cohen said. Still, some said Paxlovid helped them significantly.
Kate Leslie, 46, a social worker in Boulder, Colo., said she was healthy and athletic before her coronavirus infection in March 2022. Six weeks later, she said, she felt as if she’d had a concussion, struggling to think clearly and find words.
She developed postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, with symptoms including erratic heart rate and blood pressure and occasional fainting. A longtime Ultimate Frisbee player and coach, she began experiencing profound fatigue and could barely lift her arms.
“It was like concrete blocks are on your body,” she said. “I couldn’t get out of bed. My husband had to wash my hair and dry it and dress me.”
After an antiviral she was prescribed for a flu infection, Tamiflu, ended up easing some of her long Covid symptoms, Ms. Leslie wondered whether Covid-related antivirals might help even more, she said. In February 2023, she found a doctor to prescribe a 15-day course of Paxlovid.
Afterward, “I could feel my body getting restabilized,” she said, adding, “I started to get my energy back.”
About six months later, she obtained another 15-day course, which helped again, she said. She estimates she can now function at about 85 percent of her pre-Covid level.
Ms. Leslie said, however, that a couple of her medical issues worsened after Paxlovid, including an immune system condition that has caused allergies. Three other patients also reported bothersome issues after taking Paxlovid, including tingling and gastrointestinal discomfort.
Among those who didn’t perceive any benefit from the drug was Julia Moore Vogel. Dr. Vogel, 39, a senior program director at Scripps Research, was a long-distance runner before being infected with the coronavirus in July 2020. Now she uses a wheelchair and is largely housebound, she said.
She and her daughter recently moved across the country, from California, to live with her parents in Schaghticoke, N.Y. “I got to the point where we were like, I either need to stop working or we need more help at home,” she said.
Dr. Vogel, whose symptoms include fatigue, post-exertional malaise and migraines, took a 10-day course of Paxlovid in April 2023. “It just had no impact for me at all,” she said.
These days, she manages by carefully budgeting her energy, trying to leave the house no more than once a week. Migraine medications provided some relief, she said, but other than that, “I’ve tried many things, and basically nothing has really helped me improve.”
Dr. Cohen said the report strengthens the theory that long Covid has many different causes and treatments.
“A really important question is who may benefit from taking an extended course of Paxlovid and why,” she said, “and if it benefits some symptoms, which symptoms does it benefit?”
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The Great American State Fair was postponed Saturday after multiple people reportedly fainted the day before, forcing thousands of visitors to pivot during celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.
Friday’s medical emergencies required onsite attention as crowds flocked to the nation’s capital for Independence Day.
The fair reopened later Friday evening but was postponed again Saturday.
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Fox News Digital asked attendees what it took to get to the capital and what they made of the closure.
“We are so blessed to live in the best country in the world,” Whitney Thomas, a mother from North Carolina who traveled with her family for the Great American State Fair, told Fox News Digital Friday.
An arch across the street from a 110-foot “Freedom 250” Ferris wheel during final preparations for the Great American State Fair on the National Mall June 22, 2026 in Washington, D.C. (Al Drago for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
Despite the weather closure, she said her family was able to enjoy the State Fair Thursday evening and planned to wait out the heat in nearby museums until the fair reopened.
“I wanted my kids, who are 9 and 10, to be able to experience this with us,” she said.
“You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot.”
Brad Shultis, a retired Marine who traveled from Stafford, Virginia, expressed frustration over the decision to halt festivities.
“You cannot tell me that America was won by shutting things down when it gets hot,” he told Fox News Digital.
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“It gets hot, and we shut it down because it’s hot? Who cares? If it’s too hot, stay home.”
Shultis noted that he drove to Springfield and took the Metro just to be turned away right after buying lunch. He questioned the decision to shut down the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, arguing that if people find the weather too hot, they should simply stay home or seek medical help rather than forcing a mass evacuation for those who spent time and money to get there.
Whitney Thomas brought her children with her from North Carolina to Washington to experience the historic event as a family. (Fox News Digital)
Wendy Lamb, who traveled eight hours from Connecticut with her family to support the state’s booth, noted that organizers were likely worried about the intense conditions and simply did not want visitors to suffer.
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While disappointed that her home state did not send official representation due to budget issues, Lamb and her fellow travelers refused to let the heat ruin their first trip to Washington, D.C.
“We’ve had a really, really fun time so far,” added John, another member of the group.
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He said they plan to navigate the heat by moving from museum to museum and using the Metro system to stay cool until the gates reopen.
For these visitors, the setback was minor compared to the emotional weight of seeing the U.S. Capitol and the Rotunda.
Judy drove with her family from Connecticut to support the state after officials withdrew support prior to the fair opening. (Fox News Digital)
“I mean, we are so fortunate we are free, and yet we have people out there that hate our country. … it’s very emotional,” said Pat Lamb, who fanned her face to stop tears welling in her eyes as she described the pride she felt for the nation.
The decision to close the fairgrounds aligns with severe weather protocols designed to prevent mass casualty medical events.
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, extreme heat can quickly impair the body’s ability to cool itself, causing internal temperatures to rise faster than they can dissipate.
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When exposure to extreme conditions triggers a heat-related illness, symptoms can escalate rapidly from heat exhaustion — marked by heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea and fainting — to a life-threatening medical emergency, according to the CDC.
Brad Shultis, a veteran, was turned away just after lunch due to extreme heat at The Great American State Fair. (Fox News Digital)
The most severe risk is heat stroke, which occurs when the body’s cooling mechanism fails entirely, potentially driving core body temperatures to 103 degrees Fahrenheit or higher within minutes.
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To prevent severe complications like permanent organ damage or death, the CDC advises that anyone exhibiting warning signs such as confusion, slurred speech or a loss of consciousness should receive immediate medical treatment.
Public health officials urge individuals in high-heat environments to seek shade, stay heavily hydrated and identify air-conditioned cooling centers.
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Many of the American colonists’ eating habits have made a comeback in recent years. They ate minimally processed, locally sourced whole foods and regularly incorporated organ meats into their meals.
Livestock and many Old World crops had already been introduced to North America by European explorers and settlers during the centuries before the nation’s founding.
Early settlers adapted European cooking traditions using ingredients available in North America, the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC) reported.
Indigenous peoples introduced corn to the colonists, and it became a core ingredient in many of their recipes. Beans, squash, and potatoes were among the other crops that became incorporated into colonial cooking, according to the CSPC.
“Cornmeal appeared in dishes such as hasty pudding — a thick porridge similar to polenta — and johnnycakes, simple griddle cakes that were popular from New England to the South,” History Facts reported.
Cornmeal Johnnycakes, roast pork and cream cheese are distinctly early-American foods the CSPC has recipes for on its website.
Corn became a staple of early colonists’ diets after Indigenous peoples introduced the crop to the settlers and taught them how to cultivate it. (iStock)
Regional customs and crops greatly influenced what the colonists ate. Rice and okra grew well and were plentiful in the South, where French and African influences also shaped eating habits.
Dutch, English and German immigrants largely settled in the north and established the region’s culinary traditions.
Seafood such as rockfish and crab dominated the diets of early Maryland settlers, NPR reported.
Meat was a status symbol, local food historian Joyce White told the publication. Beef was prized, and chicken was often saved for egg production.
“If it’s your pig or cow coming from your plantation, you don’t want to waste it,” White said.
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Thomas Jefferson was known for his decadent tastes and a fondness for French wine and macaroni and cheese. Records show that black-eyed peas, turnip greens and ham were also part of the Founding Father’s diet.
Salted and preserved fish and meats, including bacon, sausage, liver pudding and offal, were staples of working-class people’s diets, while the upper classes indulged in such luxuries as white flour and sugar.
Interest in these traditional foods has resurfaced in recent years as some Americans seek diets centered on whole, minimally processed ingredients.
Founding Father Thomas Jefferson was known for his continental tastes and enjoyed French wine and macaroni and cheese. (iStock)
Advocates of the Make America Healthy Again movement, for instance, have promoted organ meats, or offal, as some of the cheapest and most nutrient-dense foods people can eat.
Stews that evolved as ingredients became available were also common an America’s early days.
The amount of alcohol the colonists consumed was “staggering,” Adrian Miller, author of “The President’s Kitchen Cabinet,” told NPR.
“They were very open about how much they were drinking,” he said.
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George Washington wrote a recipe for “small beer” in a journal he kept as a young colonel in charge of the Virginia militia during the Seven Years’ War, Fox News Digital previously reported. The New York Public Library houses the journal.
“Small beer,” according to the library, derives its name from the small amount of alcohol it contains. It was quick to make, safer to drink because the brewing process helped eliminate bacteria in the water — and it was an “everyday, mainstay beverage,” the library reported.
“While the 1776 Diet has some positives — such as emphasizing whole foods, home cooking and fewer ultra-processed foods — it’s not one I’d recommend following too literally,” registered dietician Lisa R. Young, adjunct professor of nutrition at New York University, told Fox News Digital.
Working-class colonists would often save chickens for their eggs, rather than consuming their meat. (iStock)
“Colonial Americans often ate foods like salted ham, organ meats and other preserved meats out of necessity,” she said. “Today, we know it’s best to limit processed and cured meats because they’re high in sodium and saturated fat, and organ meats, while nutrient-dense, are best eaten in moderation due to their high cholesterol content.”
Focus on the healthiest aspects of the 1776 diet, Young recommended. That includes plenty of fruits and vegetables, beans, whole grains, fish and lean proteins.
“Of course, you can emulate the Founding Fathers’ diet for the week of the 250th anniversary,” she said. “What you eat for a day or a week won’t matter much in the scheme of things.”
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Some of the Founding Fathers drank a lot of ale, often in the morning, Young noted.
“We shouldn’t emulate that,” she said.
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Fireworks have been a quintessential part of Fourth of July celebrations across the nation for generations.
But as Independence Day festivities light up the night sky, the colorful displays can also pose serious health risks — especially to the lungs.
Nearly 300 million pounds of fireworks are released into the atmosphere each year in the U.S., according to the American Lung Association. This creates smoke filled with tiny particles, as well as gases like sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are “very harmful to our lungs.”
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The smoke from fireworks can also release harmful metals, like aluminum, manganese and cadmium, into the air.
Some illegal fireworks may contain lead, which the association describes as “extremely dangerous” due to its potential to cause lasting health damage.
Attendees watch the Independence Day fireworks display along the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images)
“Inhaling any of these chemicals can irritate the lungs, making it hard to breathe and causing serious health problems, which is why it is important to avoid firework smoke whenever possible,” the group said in a public advisory.
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Air pollution levels increase by an average of 42% on the Fourth of July, according to a 2015 study.
Smoke from fireworks can worsen symptoms and cause flare-ups in those who have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
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Fine particle pollution has also been linked to more serious health consequences, including heart attacks, stroke, lung cancer and premature death, according to the American Lung Association.
The organization warned that children, older adults and pregnant women, as well as people with lung and heart disease, are especially vulnerable.
Smoke from fireworks can worsen symptoms and cause flare-ups in those who have asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. (iStock)
Dr. Afif El-Hasan, member of the Lung Association’s board of directors, shared some advice for high-risk fireworks spectators in an interview with Fox News Digital.
Instead of using fireworks at home, El-Hasan recommends watching them from a distance.
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People with asthma who use a rescue inhaler should keep it close at hand in case fireworks trigger wheezing or other symptoms, the expert advised. Wearing a well-fitting N95 mask can also help reduce exposure to fine particles from fireworks smoke and debris.
“If you are familiar with the area and the wind patterns, try to be upwind from the fireworks display and avoid areas where smoke may accumulate,” he said.
An expert recommends watching fireworks from a distance to avoid exposure to air pollution. (iStock)
The expert also recommends attending fireworks events with friends or family, so someone is available to help if a medical emergency arises.
“Make sure you have taken all of your preventative medication before a fireworks show,” El-Hasan advised. “If possible, take a car to the fireworks display. Try to park as close as possible to the event in case you have to get to the car quickly.”
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The expert also recommends drinking water immediately after the show to clear the upper airway. Changing and washing clothes upon returning home can also help to prevent smoke particles from accumulating in the home.
If case of shortness of breath or chest pain, it’s important to seek medical care immediately.
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