U.S.HEALTH WATCH

FDA approves new COVID prevention medicine for Americans seeking…

The preventive medicine is taken before infection to reduce chances of getting COVID, not as treatment after exposure—a distinction many Americans apparently misunderstand.

On air: Hank Ledger on BBN Newsroom
Published 3:04 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN Newsroom at 3:04 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are HuffPost's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by HuffPost: “The FDA Recently Approved A COVID Prevention Medicine — Here’s How It Works”.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 3:04 PM ET on BBN Newsroom, by Hank Ledger.
Topics: FDA, Americans.
BBN covered this story before: FDA recalls baby sleep aid after investigation finds 3 toxic alcohol… (October 12).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

HuffPostThe FDA Recently Approved A COVID Prevention Medicine — Here’s How It Works

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe FDA has approved a new medicine to help prevent COVID, and Lola Cruz is at a pharmacy this afternoon to see who actually understands it.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentI'm standing inside a pharmacy where the line reaches the greeting cards, and behind me you can see people holding prescriptions like raffle tickets.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentThe approval is for prevention, meaning a medicine taken to lower your chances of getting COVID in the first place.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentI spoke with a man named Walt Brannigan, who has been waiting here for twenty minutes and says he has a theory.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentSir, how does it work?
Walt BranniganWell, it's basically a vitamin with a badge.
Walt BranniganI take my vitamins, my fish oil and my gummies all together, so I figure this just joins the team.
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentSir, the pharmacist behind me just stopped making eye contact with you.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLola, the explainer is right there in the story. Did anyone at that counter read it?
Lola Cruz · Senior Field CorrespondentOne woman did, Hank, and she's the only person here who's calm. Everyone else is reading the shelf labels out loud.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorI read the headline, and I'm calling that thorough.

▶ Watch BBN liveMore U.S. →

More Shorts

All videos →

▶ As it aired · U.S.Starfish Seafood Trio pulled from shelves over listeria concernsRead the story
Photo: Official White House Photo by Pete Souza · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons
▶ As it aired · U.S.Obama endorses El-Sayed in new Michigan Senate adRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Ohio State at Indiana: Hot Takes Rated Room TemperatureAbout this segment
▶ As it aired · U.S.Teen girls identifying as lesbian or bisexual fall from 30% to 17%…Read the story
Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
▶ As it aired · U.S.Musk Pours $276 Million Into GOP Midterm PushRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Jordan's $14M Finals Jersey: Wear It to Dinner? Hot TakesAbout this segment
▶ As it aired · U.S.Two teens arrested after carrying fake rifles to Delaware homesRead the story
Photo: Sashimi-b · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
▶ As it aired · U.S.Kelly Clarkson's feud with Brooklyn toy store Art of PlayRead the story
▶ Hot Take or Not · U.S.Rescued Lurcher Jude Learns to Play: Doctorates Can't CompeteAbout this segment
▶ As it aired · U.S.Trump tells fans he could say 'stupidest things' and they'd cheerRead the story