Health PEI officials are asking the islanders for patience when trying to gain access to Paxlovid – and say doctors have already prescribed more than 1,200 courses of the highly effective antiviral drug COVID-19.
Five-day oral treatment is available for those classified as high-risk, including those aged 50 and over and anyone who is immunocompromised. It should be taken within five days of the onset of symptoms.
Dr Laura O’Connor, a doctor leading COVID-19’s response to the community and the elderly, said Health PEI was doing its best to meet the demand for antiviral drugs, but added that islanders should keep in mind that Paxlovid is not for everyone.
“Even if we had 150,000 doses, we wouldn’t give them to everyone in the province,” O’Connor said, explaining that it could affect other drugs.
To manage deliveries and streamline distribution, only 10 pharmacies on the island are currently equipped to dispense Paxlovid. A small group of island doctors who have received additional training may prescribe it.
“I would ask the public to show understanding,” Dr. O’Connor said.
“We have an incredibly hard-working team of clinicians, pharmacists and doctors and their support staff who make this happen in the cracks of their day and after hours. And, you know, it’s not perfect, but I think we made a real difference. And I think we’re doing the best we can for the circumstances. “
Treatment probably led to fewer hospitalizations
After several months of clinical trials, Pfizer reported in November that Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization or death by an impressive 89 percent compared with placebo in non-hospitalized high-risk adults with COVID-19.
The drug is most effective in those with the highest risk of serious illness, whether due to age, underlying health conditions, comorbidities or those who have not been vaccinated.
O’Connor said about 50 to 60 people are prescribed Paxlovid daily. And as of Monday, only two people who started Paxlovid needed hospital care for COVID-19.
O’Connor said that without Paxlovid, the island would probably have had significantly more hospitalizations.
COVID-19 cases rose in mid to late March, but hospitalizations did not increase in the same way, she said.
Dr Laura O’Connor says Health PEI is doing its best to meet the demand for antiviral drugs. (Alana Spreg)
“So we did not see hospitalization despite the huge increase in the case. And you know, in a really scientific way, can I tell you it’s because of Paxlovid? No. But many of us in the system have a premonition that this was a big player because it has been shown to be very effective in trials, “O’Connor said.
Another barrier to Paxlovid for some is the need for a positive molecular test for COVID-19 – something that other provinces do not require.
O’Connor says this is because other provinces do not have the capacity to test PEI and have to rely mainly on rapid tests.
“We put all our eggs in the test and screening basket,” O’Connor said. “This province is full of molecular screening tools. And we have the capacity for that. So we didn’t have to go for quick tests. I think when other provinces do this, it’s not convenient because they don’t have a way to mobilize Paxlovid, because they don’t have access to these molecular tests in the same way that PEI does. ”
Extraction of teaching materials
O’Connor says work is under way to train more doctors to prescribe the drug.
And the province is working with the PEI Pharmacists’ Association to offer it more widely, something it expects in the coming weeks.
“Now we have to deal with logistics to send it to pharmacies and include it in their work process and provide more training materials to doctors,” O’Connor said.
She says supply has always been a problem, but as of Monday, the province had about 1,200 Paxlovid treatments.
Regarding the way of access to the drug in PEI, O’Connor does not envisage any changes at the moment.
“Every treatment comes down to risk-benefit,” O’Connor said. “How much will this medicine help you with any harm that might come from it? And if it doesn’t help you, why risk giving it to you?”
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