Paxlovid’s Promise Falls Flat (Not Worth the Price Tag?)
By
Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Posted April 7, 2025
It looks like Big Pharma has done it again.
Remember when Paxlovid was rolled out with great fanfare—promising it would be a game-changer for COVID-19 patients?
Pfizer executives certainly hoped you were paying attention—especially while they were charging a whopping $1,650 per treatment.
But a new study suggests this expensive medication might not be worth the price tag or the hype—at least not for everyone.
In research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) this year, scientists used Canadian data to see what really happens when people take Paxlovid.
Turns out, Paxlovid may not deliver much benefit—especially for vaccinated older adults.
I have to admit, I’m not exactly shocked. After all, Big Pharma meds that don’t live up to their marketing claims are a dime a dozen—and the $1,650 price tag makes this case particularly disturbing.
The Canadian health policy in 2022 only allowed Paxlovid prescriptions for symptomatic people aged 70 and older (unless they had specific risk factors).
It was meant to reserve the drug for those who needed it most. But it also created a natural experiment, allowing scientists to compare people in this age group who took Paxlovid to those who didn’t.
And guess what? The results were dramatically different from what the drug company’s studies concluded when they first rolled out this cash cow in 2022.
At best, Paxlovid’s potential impact on hospitalization in vaccinated seniors is four times weaker than reported in Pfizer’s 2022 clinical trial.
Even the study’s co-author, Peter Wu, said he was surprised, “If you are vaccinated without additional risk factors, I wouldn’t prescribe Paxlovid, and I probably wouldn’t take it if I was a patient.”
More research is needed before we can draw hard conclusions, of course. But there’s certainly plenty to question here. Especially since Pfizer’s own study published in April 2024 also suggests Paxlovid may not be beneficial for people who have been fully vaccinated.
Of course, the mainstream medical establishment will likely be slow to change their prescribing habits. After all, there’s big money to be made in pushing expensive antivirals, and pharmaceutical reps are masters at convincing doctors that their products are essential.
But I have a better idea. Instead of rushing to take an expensive antiviral with questionable benefits, why not take natural steps to avoid catching COVID or the flu in the first place?
Following are my tried-and-true tricks to reduce your risk for viral infections:
- Shore up your immune system by boosting your vitamin D levels. Spend more time in the sun and consider a 1,000-2,000 IU supplement daily, especially during winter.
- Get plenty of good quality rest, stay hydrated, and wash your hands frequently.
- And finally, consider elderberry, echinacea, astragalus, and oregano oil supplements, which have been used in traditional medicine for centuries to support the immune system.
There’s a lot you can do to avoid getting sick. But remember, COVID is a serious infection. So, if you think you may have it, talk with your doctor and follow their advice.
[SIGNOFF]
P.S. The “Cellular Wildfire” fueling long-COVID has been revealed.
Source:
Mafi JN, Vangala S, Kapral MK, et al. Hospitalizations and Mortality Among Older Adults With and Without Restricted Access to Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir. JAMA. 2025;333(13):1172–1175. doi:10.1001/jama.2024.28099
Written By Dr. Scott Olson, ND
Nearly 25 years ago, failed mainstream medical treatments left Dr. Olson in constant pain – and his health in ruins. And that’s when he did something REVOLUTIONARY. He began his career in medicine – and dedicated his life to uncovering the true, underlying causes of disease.
Through his innovative medical practices in Tennessee and Colorado, Dr. Olson has helped cure countless seniors from across America of arthritis… heart disease… diabetes… and even cancer. All without risky prescription drugs or painful surgeries.
View More Free Articles
A New Reason to Ditch Processed Junk
If you’ve ever walked the inside aisles of your local grocery store and thought, “This is all just junk,” your instincts were spot on. A new study published in the journal Thorax just added another red flag to the list of dangers linked to ultra-processed food—a 41 percent higher risk of lung cancer. That’s right....
When Being Winded on Stairs Is Serious (And When It Isn’t)
I had an athlete visit me recently because he experienced shortness of breath while climbing stairs. He is in great shape, so he was worried about what it might mean. “Doc,” he said, “I run five miles three times a week. Why am I huffing and puffing after two flights of stairs?” His concern is...
Study EXPOSES Hidden Danger Lurking in Your Car
We think of our homes and cars as safe havens. But according to a startling new study, they may be flooding your lungs with microscopic plastic particles—every single day. Researchers in France recently found that adults inhale an average of 68,000 microplastic particles daily from indoor air alone. To put that in perspective, that’s about...
Mailbag: Is Modern Food Making You Snore?
“What can cause snoring, and is there a way to correct this issue?” —Seeking Silence Hi Seeking, Snoring happens when the soft tissues in your throat relax and vibrate as air passes through during sleep. While several factors can cause snoring—from sleep position to nasal congestion—I want to share one trigger that might surprise you....
Simple Food Swap SLASHES Dementia Risk 28%
Let’s be honest… who would jump at the chance to cut their dementia risk by 28 percent. And no, you don’t need to run marathons, survive on broccoli, or learn to play the zither (whatever that is) to make it happen. All it takes is one easy swap—something that’s probably already in your refrigerator. Researchers...
This SMART Floss Exposes Hidden Health Danger
Scientists have created dental floss that doesn’t just clean between your teeth—it also tracks your stress while you’re flossing. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “Great—now even flossing is going to stress me out by telling me how stressed I am.” But this fascinating new tool from Tufts University could be a game-changer for understanding...
Is This "Safe" Sweetener Damaging Your Brain?
The headlines are alarming… “Popular Sugar Substitute Linked to Brain Cell Damage” and “Erythritol Could Damage Critical Brain Barrier” are just two of the dozens I’ve spotted recently. But before you toss every sugar-free product in your pantry, let’s take a closer look at what this study actually shows—and what it doesn’t. The latest research...
This Summer Threat Could SPIKE Your Blood Sugar
Picture this… It’s another scorching hot summer day. You crank up the air conditioning while watching the weather forecast, which predicts yet another “record-breaking” heat wave. It’s starting to feel like just another miserably uncomfortable summer. But what you might not realize is that—if you have diabetes—those rising temps could do far more damage to...
Move Over Yogurt—5 Foods That Pack MORE Probiotics
Let’s talk about your gut. The microbiome is the collection of trillions of bacteria and other tiny organisms that live in and on your body—especially in your gut—and help keep you healthy. I’ve written often about how vital it is to maintain a healthy microbiome. And you might have dutifully added yogurt to your shopping...
Is Your Heart Older Than YOU?
Maybe you feel young for your age. Good energy, decent sleep, eating your veggies. But what if I told you your heart might be a decade older than the rest of you? That’s exactly what researchers at Northwestern University found in a new study published in JAMA Cardiology. The average American woman’s heart is about...