Why Pfizer's not worried about resistance to its new antiviral

Hello,

Welcome to Insider Healthcare. I'm healthcare editor Leah Rosenbaum, and today in healthcare news:

• A top Pfizer scientist isn't worried about drug resistance to the company's new COVID-19 pill;
• Amazon is considering offering prescription drugs in new stores to boost foot traffic;
• See pictures of some of the first kids that have gotten a low-dose COVID-19 vaccine.

If you're new to this newsletter, sign up here. Comments, tips? Email me at lrosenbaum@insider.com or tweet @leah_rosenbaum. Let's get to it...

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Mikael Dolsten, Pfizer's chief scientific officer

Pfizer

Resistance is one of the biggest threats to new COVID-19 treatments. Here's why Pfizer's top scientist, Mikael Dolsten, isn't worried it will weaken the pharma giant's new pill.

• Pfizer's COVID-19 pill dramatically reduced the risk of hospitalization or death in a new study.
• A key question for all antiviral drugs is whether the virus can build resistance to treatment.
• Pfizer's top scientist told Insider why he was confident that wouldn't be an issue anytime soon.

Check it out>>

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A customer scans her phone as she enters Amazon's new Amazon Fresh store in Ealing, west London, on March 4, 2021.

NIKLAS HALLE'N/AFP via Getty Images

Amazon considers offering prescription drugs and lottery tickets in its cashierless grocery stores to boost traffic

• Amazon is considering offering prescription medications and lottery tickets at its cashierless grocery stores, Insider has learned.
• The two new product categories could drive more foot traffic and sales to its physical stores.
• But Amazon may have to first deal with heavy regulatory and compliance issues.

See the exclusive now>>

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Benjamin Hayes, age 5, at Children's National Hospital in Washington, DC.

Children’s National Hospital

See some of the first 5- to 11-year-old kids get their COVID-19 vaccines

• The CDC signed off on a low dose of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine for young kids.
• Five- to 11-year-olds can now get vaccinated through their pediatricians.
• Vaccinations kicked off in Washington, DC, where some young kids got their first shots as soon as the authorization went through.

Read more>>

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More stories we're reading:

• A Newsmax personality who falsely said COVID-19 vaccines contained a satanic-sounding tracking 'marker' has been taken off the air (Insider)
• The CEO of Pfizer says a combination of pills and vaccines will be needed to stop the pandemic (CNBC)
• The air in New Delhi, the world's most polluted capital, got even worse after people ignored a ban to fill the air with Diwali fireworks (Insider)
• The US has canceled a deal with the vaccine maker that tainted millions of doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine (Washington Post)

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-Leah

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