Many who could benefit from #paxlovid:
(1) don't know even know what Paxlovid is -- it's a medication treatment comprised of two drugs used early during infection (within 5 days of onset of illness or by day 3 positive test) for #covid19 #antiviral treatment;
(2) are unaware that the government offers Paxlovid for #free of cost to those without insurance (at least for now)
(3) and are unaware that Paxlovid can be prescribed by #pharmacists thereby potentially eliminating travel and doctor visit costs and reducing time delays in treatment often accompanied by having to wait for medical provider appointment -- earlier treatment may potentially reduce the risk of developing more severe cases of COVID19 and maybe even long COVID by helping to clear the infection more quickly before the numbers of the virus have a chance to gain a strong foothold in the system.
Here's the disparity --Not all pharmacies offer prescribing of Paxlovid. CVS Pharmacy pharmacists do prescribe Paxlovid. There is a consulting fee of $60.00.
Thankfully, there are some local neighborhood health centers that are low or no cost and some even offer telehealth. Visit: https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/
Walgreens pharmacies do not prescribe and require a medical provider to provide the Paxlovid prescription;
(4) However, Walgreens will however help to get the prescription delivered to you when you're too sick to pick it up with its partners Door Dash and Uber in the Walgreens Paxlovid Delivery Program.
Many with timely access to a medical provider will benefit from the Walgreens Paxlovid Delivery program with DoorDash and Uber. Folks can receive the medication if they can manage to get a medical provider to prescribe the medication in the time window that they can benefit from the early antiviral treatement with Paxlovid.
So the health disparity still remains until all pharmacies prescribe and provide equal access. Those without health insurance still aren't given equal access. If one pharmacy prescribes should it not be all? So that no matter where one is located in the United States, everyone has equal access? This Paxlovid delivery program should be reproduced at every pharmacy but every pharmacy needs to prescribe the medication for it to be health equitable.
Where can you find a test to treat site? https://covid-19-test-to-treat-locator- ... rcgis.com/
So here we have so much effort to develop a medication treatment and its out of the hands of those who need it the most. To remedy disparity in health equity we need to address two key factors- provide equal access to this information and getting the medication to everyone who needs it --equal access to timely treatment. Getting the word out could be as simple as share this post with everyone you know across all social media platforms. You can print this post at share it at the store entrances and pharmacy counters and work places, schools and Universities and anywhere folks gather.
And most importantly, Getting Paxlovid to everyone who needs it --Bravo to Walgreens for their Paxlovid delivery program with DoorDash and Uber -- If we can get Walgreens pharamacists to prescribe then we still make a difference during this pandemic to mitigate #sarscov2 infection with early treatment and immune supportive nutritional strategies -- and that is for another post (USDA SNAP benefits should allow for purchase of supplements).
Maybe Walgreens or another #pharmacy #businessleader can throw in an immune supportive multivitamin and probiotic for good measure?
Who is eligible to take Paxlovid? Visit:
https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Therapeut ... -sheet.pdf
And there are some who may need to adjust their use of statins while being treated.
What about rebound COVID19? Aren't there are some folk who develop rebound COVID19; we suspect that these folk may not get full therapeutic benefit of the two medication antiviral because of pharmacogenetic reasons. Further studies are needed in the pharmacogenetics and the metabolism of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir the two drugs in this antiviral medication treatment.
Of interest: clinical trial for long COVID using Paxlovid (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05576662).
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-a ... imitations
https://www.cvs.com/content/covid-antiv ... %20qualify.
Thanks to Kevin M. Ban, MD for sharing the Linkedin post by Rick Gates of Walgreens Pharmacy announcing the Paxlovid Delivery Program.
Follow us on Linkedin: LONG COVID ASSOCIATION INC https://www.linkedin.com/company/long-c ... sociation/