Study: Paxlovid decreases risk of ‘long covid’

(CNN, KYMA/KECY) - People who are vaccinated or who take Paxlovid during a Covid-19 infection have a lower risk of developing the 'long covid' condition.

That's according to new research published Thursday in Jama Internal Medicine.

The CDC defines long covid as new, returning or ongoing health issues more than four weeks after an initial covid infection.

Paxlovid is an oral anti-viral medication used to treat covid according to the research, the drug was linked with a 26% lower risk of long covid and a 47% lower risk of death.

The CDC says one in five Covid-19 survivors ages 18 to 64 and one in four survivors 65 or older have an ongoing health issue that might be attributable to Covid-19 infection.

Experts hope the research encourages further studies on prevention and management of long covid as there is currently no specific treatment for the condition.