What is Corona virus

Logo for WebMD

Logo for WebMD

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS

FIND A DOCTOR

FIND A DENTIST

CONNECT TO CARE

FIND  DRUG PRICES

HEALTH A-Z

DRUGS & SUPPLEMENTS

LIVING HEALTHY

FAMILY & PREGNANCY

NEWS & EXPERTS

MOBILE  AND MORE

Lung Disease & Respiratory Health Coronavirus News

NEWS BRIEF

NYC Offering Free COVID-19 Antiviral Pills to Residents

By Ralph Ellis

photo of virus 3d render yellow

Feb. 1, 2022 -- New York City is now sending free COVID-19 antiviral pills to residents who have tested positive, show mild to moderate symptoms, and have a doctor’s prescription, Mayor Eric Adams said Sunday.

Residents can receive same-day deliveries of the Pfizer product or the Merck product while supplies last, Adams said at a news conference at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx, according to ABC News.

The FDA authorized both drugs in December 2021. Pfizer’s drug is authorized for anyone age 12 and older. Merck’s medication is only for people 18 and up. Alto Pharmacy, a telehealth pharmacy that works with the city's health department, will make the deliveries, ABC News said.

"Oral antiviral pills…taken for five days helps stop the virus from reproducing, which reduces the amount of virus in the body, and prevents symptoms from getting worse," New York City Health Commissioner Dave  MD, said at the news conference.

 public attitudes to death and grieving, and access to end-of-life care have become "unbalanced".

Although many people face an over-medicalized death, others are more likely to remain  dying of preventable conditions, and without access to basic pain relief, according to the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death.

It argues that: "Health care is now the context in which many encounter death and as families and communities have been pushed to the margins, their familiarity and

 in supporting death, dying, and grieving has diminished."

As a result: "Futile or potentially inappropriate treatment can continue into the last hours of life," with the roles of families and communities "replaced by professionals and protocols".

COVID Pandemic Exposed Us to 'The Ultimate Medicalized Death'

The COVID-19 pandemic focused public attention on death, with daily news reports of people dying on ventilators, looked after by masked and gowned staff, and only able to communicate with family through screens in what was "the ultimate medicalized  life expectancy has risen steadily from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.4 years in 2019. But increasing longevity has led to more people living those additional years in poor health, with years lived with disability increasing from 8.6 years in 2000 to 10 years in 2019.

Prior to 1950, deaths were predominantly a result of acute disease or injury, with low involvement from doctors or technology, but today, most deaths are from chronic disease, with a high level of involvement from doctors and technologyLogo for WebMD

Logo for WebM

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOM

FIND A DENTIST

CONNECT TO CAR

FIND LOWEST DRUG PRICE

DRUGS & SUPPLEMENT

LIVING HEALTH

FAMILY & PREGNANCY

NEWS & EXPERT

A to Z Guides  N

HEALTH NEW

'Fundamental Rethink' Is Needed About Death and Dying: Commissio

By Peter Russel

photo of group of candles burning

Feb. 1, 2022 -- Experts have called for a fundamental re-assessment of dying in a world where public attitudes to death and grieving, and access to end-of-life healthcare have become "unbalanced"

Although many people face an over-medicalized death, others are more likely to remain  dying of preventable conditions, and without access to basic pain relief, according to the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death

It argues that: "Health care is now the context in which many encounter death and as families and communities have been pushed to the margins, their familiarity a

confidence in supporting death, dying, and grieving has diminished

As a result:Futile or potentially inappropriate treatment can continue into the last hours of life with the roles of families and communities "replaced by professionals and protocols

COVID Pandemic Exposed Us to 'The Ultimate Medicalized Death

The COVID-19 pandemic focused public attention on death, with daily news reports of people dying on ventilators looked after by masked and gowned staff, and only able to communicate with family through screens in what was "the ultimate medicalized death

Libby MD, a palliative medicine consultant and co-chair of the commission, said: "How people die has changed dramatically over the past 60 years, from a family event with occasional medical support, to a medical event with limited family support." In the U.K., only 1 in 5 people who require end of life care are at home, while around half are in hospital

Yet even in high-income countries, many people have died at home with minimal support, and hundreds of thousands of people in poorer countries have died with no care from health professionals, the report say

The Price of Living Longer: More Chronic Diseases

Global life expectancy has risen steadily from 66.8 years in 2000 to 73.4 years in 2019. But increasing longevity has led to more people living those additional years in poor health, with years lived with disability increasing from 8.6 years in 2000 to 10 years in 201

Prior to 1950, deaths were predominantly a result of acute disease or injury, with low involvement from doctors or technology, but today, most deaths are from chronic disease, with a high level of involvement from doctors and technology

Medical advances have bolstered a view that death can be defeated, or at least put off almost indefinite

"Dying people are whisked away to hospitals or hospices, and whereas two generations ago most children would have seen a dead body, people may now be in their 40s or 50s without ever seeing a dead person the report says. "The language, knowledge, and confidence to support and manage dying are being lost, further fuelling a dependence on health-care services

It highlights a "striking inconsistency with the progressive medicalization of death and dying" that "has not led to a parallel increase in relief of symptoms such as pa

with low-cost, evidence-based methods, nor has it led to universal access to palliative care services at the end of life.