New treatment could help reduce COVID-19 hospitalizations

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – Omicron variants of the coronavirus are putting researchers and doctors to the test.

A new treatment is on the horizon for people whose bodies are not responding to the vaccine.

Doctor Costi Sifri of UVA Health says the vaccines have been very safe and effective in preventing COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations and deaths.

Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows a new way to fight the virus.

“This therapeutic lambda interferon had the ability to prevent severe COVID consequences from ER visits and hospitalizations by approximately 50%,” Dr. Sifri said Friday, February 10.

Dr. Sifri says this is important for people who are resistant to vaccines or those who have drug interactions with Paxlovid. He says there are no monoclonal antibody treatments that work on current omicron variants.

“We all recognize that children are at much less risk of serious consequences from COVID than older people, especially people who have pre-existing medical conditions or other conditions that would put them at high risk of infection from COVID. COVID,” Sifri said.

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