US Announces $3.2 Billion Plan To Develop Covid Antiviral Treatments

The mega plan by United States is called the Antiviral Program for Pandemics, and its funded by the American Rescue Plan.

The administration of US President Joe Biden announced plans on Thursday to spend $3.2 billion to accelerate the development and discovery of antiviral treatments against Covid-19 and future threats. The plan is called the Antiviral Program for Pandemics and its funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion package passed by Congress in March. "Antivirals are an important complement to existing vaccines, especially for individuals with certain conditions that might put them at a greater risk, for those whom vaccines may not be as protective," Anthony Fauci, the president's chief medical advisor on the pandemic, told reporters. Antiviral medication can also act as an important line of defense against emerging variants of concern that evade the protective action of current generation vaccines, he added.