On Jan. 10, 2023, the National Institutes of Health reported that antiviral treatments can help reduce the risk of serious illness and death from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This is particularly true for those who arenﾒt fully vaccinated.

In 2021, a clinical trial found that a combination of the antiviral drugs nirmatrelvir and ritonavir reduced the risk of severe COVID-19 by almost 90% for unvaccinated people. The combination is sold under the name Paxlovid.