Posted on May 12, 2022
3 ways to get COVID pills, if you've just tested positive
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2022/05/11/ [login to see] /3-ways-to-get-covid-pills-if-youve-just-tested-positive
If you've just tested positive for COVID-19, and you have common risk factors for serious illness, there are now ample treatments available – generally at little or no cost – that could help you avoid the worst and recover more quickly from a mild or moderate case of COVID.
Paxlovid, a five-day course of pills from Pfizer, is at the top of the list of recommended treatments. Studies from the drugmaker showed that – in unvaccinated people at risk of serious COVID medical risk factors – Paxlovid was nearly 90% effective at cutting the risks of getting hospitalized or dying because of COVID.
People who are vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID could still benefit from the drug, says Dr. Priya Nori, an infectious disease physician at Montefiore Health System in Bronx, New York, and a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Taking Paxlovid could "help you get back on your feet faster, feel better faster, and be potentially less infectious faster," Nori says.
The Biden administration has been talking up the treatment. "We want all individuals to know about this effective medication, and to have a conversation with their health care provider about if they are eligible, and whether they should be making a plan" for accessing the drug if they do test positive, says Dr. Meg Sullivan, chief medical officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the Department of Health and Human Services.
If you've just tested positive for COVID-19, and you have common risk factors for serious illness, there are now ample treatments available – generally at little or no cost – that could help you avoid the worst and recover more quickly from a mild or moderate case of COVID.
Paxlovid, a five-day course of pills from Pfizer, is at the top of the list of recommended treatments. Studies from the drugmaker showed that – in unvaccinated people at risk of serious COVID medical risk factors – Paxlovid was nearly 90% effective at cutting the risks of getting hospitalized or dying because of COVID.
People who are vaccinated or who have recovered from COVID could still benefit from the drug, says Dr. Priya Nori, an infectious disease physician at Montefiore Health System in Bronx, New York, and a professor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Taking Paxlovid could "help you get back on your feet faster, feel better faster, and be potentially less infectious faster," Nori says.
The Biden administration has been talking up the treatment. "We want all individuals to know about this effective medication, and to have a conversation with their health care provider about if they are eligible, and whether they should be making a plan" for accessing the drug if they do test positive, says Dr. Meg Sullivan, chief medical officer for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the Department of Health and Human Services.
3 ways to get COVID pills, if you've just tested positive
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
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PharmaceuticalsUS Department of Health and Human Services
Medical Health Drugs PharmaceuticalsUS Department of Health and Human Services
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."Try online urgent care
For those who prefer telehealth visits – and may not be able to get an appointment quickly through their primary health care provider – virtual healthcare platforms such as Plushcare, eMed and Truepill offer online visits to test, assess and prescribe COVID medications. The appointments are available at all hours, and may come with some out-of-pocket costs. A prescription can be sent to a nearby pharmacy, or filled and shipped to you, depending on what the service offers.
"The pro of this approach is that it's designed just for this purpose – of testing and treating for COVID," says Montefiore's Nori. "You'll efficiently get the service you need." The cons, she says, are that they don't know your full situation, such as your home context and your medical history. "They're relying on you to convey all your medications, herbal remedies," she says, but it can provide you with timely access to treatment."...
..."Try online urgent care
For those who prefer telehealth visits – and may not be able to get an appointment quickly through their primary health care provider – virtual healthcare platforms such as Plushcare, eMed and Truepill offer online visits to test, assess and prescribe COVID medications. The appointments are available at all hours, and may come with some out-of-pocket costs. A prescription can be sent to a nearby pharmacy, or filled and shipped to you, depending on what the service offers.
"The pro of this approach is that it's designed just for this purpose – of testing and treating for COVID," says Montefiore's Nori. "You'll efficiently get the service you need." The cons, she says, are that they don't know your full situation, such as your home context and your medical history. "They're relying on you to convey all your medications, herbal remedies," she says, but it can provide you with timely access to treatment."...
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