In China, no easy way to get Pfizer’s COVID drug Paxlovid

Beijing – When Li’s 83-year-old diabetic father started coughing and complaining of body aches last month, the Beijing resident became anxious about finding a cure for COVID-19 in case his parent contracted the virus that swept the city .

He learned at the time that Pfizer’s antiviral drug Paxlovid was an effective treatment, but that patients could only get it if they were hospitalized, and only if the drug was in stock.

The first hospital they visited performed a CT scan that showed his lungs were infected, but turned them down because no beds were available, said Li, who only gave his last name due to sensitivity about how authorities might view his account .