The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday said it expanded the approval of the COVID-19 treatment Veklury, also known as remdesivir, for children 28 days and older.
Why it matters: The Omicron variant hit little kids hard, causingfive times as many hospitalizations of children ages 4 and younger than during the previous COVID peak. Monday's move makes Veklury the first approved COVID treatment for children under 12, many of whom remain unable to access vaccines.
The Biden administration is preparing to announce plans this week to make Pfizer's COVID-19 pill available at almost any pharmacy in the U.S. after early shortages.
Why it matters: The drug, Paxlovid, was called a potential "game-changer" for its ability to treat infections at home and keep individuals at risk of severe illness out of the hospital.
President Biden's call for more Ukraine aid could provide the groundwork for reviving a $10 billion COVID preparedness package that’s stalled in Congress — if Democrats can tamp down their internal divisions.
