(Washington, DC, Friday, January 31, 2025) – US adults with at least one high-risk factor for COVID-19 and influenza (flu) have a greater chance of developing severe illness from these viruses. Chronic health issues can put people at increased risk for serious complications. Other common risk factors include being overweight or obese or immunocompromised.

Clinical trials have shown oral antivirals reduce the risk of hospitalization by 60% for flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), antivirals reduce the risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19 by more than 50% and the risk of death by 75%. Oral antivirals for COVID-19 and flu are available with a prescription, and they are most effective when started as soon as possible after being infected — within 5 days after the first symptoms of COVID-19 begin and within 2 days after flu symptoms begin. Unfortunately, antiviral treatments are widely underused.

William Schaffner, spokesperson for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), explains the importance of treatments for COVID-19 and flu.

SOUNDBITE 1:

MOST PEOPLE IN THE US LIKELY HAVE AT LEAST ONE HIGH-RISK FACTOR FOR COVID-19 AND FLU, BUT MANY DON’T KNOW THEY HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF DEVELOPING SEVERE ILLNESS IF THEY ARE INFECTED. PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC HEALTH ISSUES, SUCH AS DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, AND HEART AND LUNG DISEASE ARE AT INCREASED RISK FOR SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS. OTHER COMMON RISK FACTORS INCLUDE BEING OVERWEIGHT, OBESE, OR IMMUNOCOMPROMISED.

SOUNDBITE 2:

ALTHOUGH COVID-19 AND FLU ANTIVIRAL TREATMENTS ARE EFFECTIVE IN REDUCING THE RISK OF HOSPITALIZATION AND DEATH, THEY ARE WIDELY UNDERUSED. ANTIVIRALS ARE AVAILABLE WITH A PRESCRIPTION AND ARE DESIGNED TO BE GIVEN EARLY ON TO PREVENT SYMPTOMS FROM BECOMING MORE SEVERE.

For more information, please visit cveep.org/treatments and www.nfid.org.