COVID-19 Antiviral Oral Therapeutics

Posted on: May 9, 2022 - 1:09pm
COVID-19 oral therapeutics

Two COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments currently have an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Paxlovid and Lagevrio (molnupiravir). These medications are taken as pills, as directed by a healthcare professional. Early outpatient treatment for eligible patients can reduce hospitalization and death from COVID-19.

Oral antivirals can help fight the COVID-19 virus by blocking it from entering the body’s healthy cells, boosting the immune system, or reducing the amount of active virus in the body. An oral antiviral may be able to help decrease symptoms, the seriousness of the illness, and help patients recover faster.

Who Can Receive COVID-19 Oral Antivirals? 

COVID-19 therapeutics can be used to treat non-hospitalized patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have mild to moderate symptoms. Therapeutics supply has increased, and oral antivirals are available for any patient who might benefit. Adults ages 18 years and older may be eligible for Lagevrio (molnupiravir). Adults and children ages 12 years and older (weighing at least 88 pounds) may be eligible for Paxlovid. An oral antiviral must be started within 5 days of symptom onset. Timely diagnosis and connecting with a medical practitioner are key elements to being eligible to receive oral antivirals.

Where Can Patients Receive COVID-19 Oral Antivirals?

Oral antivirals require a prescription. Oral antivirals are available at most retail pharmacy locations (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Rite Aid, Stop & Shop, Shop Rite, and Price Chopper) in Connecticut with additional sites onboarding weekly. People may be tested and treated by their health care provider, who can appropriately prescribe these oral antivirals. Patients can then fill these prescriptions at pharmacies that have the medication in stock. Other locations, such as acute care hospitals, some federally qualified health centers, and pharmacies serving long term care facilities also have supplies of oral antivirals.

COVID-19 Therapeutics Locator: https://covid-19-therapeutics-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com
COVID-19 Test to Treat Locator: https://covid-19-test-to-treat-locator-dhhs.hub.arcgis.com

Is there cost associated with COVID-19 therapeutics?

Oral antivirals for COVID-19 have been purchased by the United States government and are available free of charge during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Individuals may be charged for other services provided at Test to Treat locations, such as medical assessment by a qualified healthcare professional or an administrative fee.

For more information, please call the Test to Treat call center at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489), which provides information in more than 150 languages. For the Disability Information and Access Line, please call 1-888-677-1199.