Paxlovid Rx for COVID - 04 May 2022
Paxlovid (retonavir), an oral anti-viral medication, is available for mild to moderate COVID. There are criteria for who qualifies for treatment, and the updated information is maintained by AHS on their Paxlovid website.
People who qualify are:
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Unvaccinated or have only received one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and are:
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55 years of age or older, regardless of other health conditions
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Indigenous, and 45 years of age or older, regardless of other health conditions
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Pregnant (if potential benefits outweigh the potential risks to the fetus.)
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18 years of age or older with a co-morbidity
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diabetes (taking medication for treatment)
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obesity (BMI >30)
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chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration rate, <60 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area)
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congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association class II, III, or IV)
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chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and moderate-to-severe asthma
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Residents of long-term care, designated supportive living (DSL4, 4D), regardless of vaccination status.
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Regardless of their COVID-19 vaccine status, immunocompromised patients, including but not limited to:
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Transplant patients (solid organ or stem cell)
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Oncology patients that have received a dose of any IV or oral chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatment since December 2020
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Patients with inflammatory conditions (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease) who have received a dose of any systemic immunosuppressive treatment since December 2020.
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You must also:
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Have mild to moderate flu-like symptoms typical of COVID for no more than 5 days
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Be reliably positive on a COVID test (PCR swab test, Rapid Antigen Test)
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Have normal kidney function, no pulmonary hypertension, no TB, no allergy to retonavir
If you are sick and meet the above criteria, or if you are uncertain, please call us for a call-back. The use of Paxlovid has a short time window for effectiveness.
If you have severe symptoms of chest discomfort, shortness of breath, declining responsiveness, call 811 or 911.