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.
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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
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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.
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