WATCH: Health Canada approves Pfizer's oral COVID treatment:Pfizer’s antiviral pill approved in Canada for some COVID-19 patients Duration 3:31 Health Canada has approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, Paxlovid, which can help the most vulnerable patients from getting worse and reduce the burden on hospitals. Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos said 30,000 treatment courses have arrived in Canada already and will be distributed to the provinces and territories on a per-capita basis. The federal government is working with Pfizer to bring "additional treatment courses to Canada as quickly as possible," he said. The product, which doesn't prevent infection, has been authorized by Health Canada for use in high-risk adults with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms. Health Canada said Pfizer's pills should only be used by patients who have tested positive on a SARS-CoV-2 viral test.

Source: CBC News January 17, 2022 20:22 UTC