"Request Paxlovid for its 86% risk reduction of being hospitalized or dying."
Sounds impressive but let's break it down. If 10,000 people got covid, at this point, how many are likely to be hospitalized or die?
100? 500?
Let's say it's 100. So, with Paxlovid, you reduce that number to around 60 rather than 100. But even without the drug, 9900 wouldn't be hospitalized or die. With the drug, 9940 wouldn't be hospitalized or die. Not so impressive anymore. Especially when you factor in side effects from the medicine for people who had no risk of being hospitalized or dying. You need to look beyond the 86% risk reduction number and understand the underlying numbers.
If you are old and sick, the risks make more sense.