MICHIGAN, USA — The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) confirmed Friday that a small amount of COVID-19 treatment pills have been distributed in Michigan.
Small supplies of both Pfizer's paxlovid and Merk's molnupiravir have been granted by the federal government. A select number of pharmacies have received the medications, particularly on the east side of the state, which the MDHHS cites as being hardest hit by COVID-19.
"The allocation is very minimal so not available for the entire state," said Lynn Sutfin with the MDHHS. "This is a scarce medical resource."
In Michigan, 7,080 courses of molnupiravir and 1,600 courses of paxlovid were allocated. Mercy Health St. Mary's Medical Director of Infection Prevention and Control Dr. Andrew Jameson says there is limited molnupiravir available in West Michigan.
This shipment is promising to Dr. Jameson, as COVID-19 cases continue to overwhelm local hospital systems and infect more and more people.
"This is one more tool in our tool box," he says.
The medication is designed to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms at home.
"What the studies show is the virus goes away faster so you wont transmit it as much, you'll feel better faster and the trials were set up to prevent hospitalizations and death," Dr. Jameson says.
The pills are not for everybody in Michigan just yet. Right now, it can only be prescribed within five days of symptoms onset to someone older than 75 and not fully vaccinated or someone at any age with a moderate to severe immunocompromise regardless of vaccination status.
“The authorization of these new medications provides another important tool to help fight the virus,” said MDHHS director Elizabeth Hertel. “Due to limited availability of these antivirals, health care providers will need to determine the best course of treatment for their patients based on eligibility criteria. We ask Michiganders to be patient as providers will prioritize people at highest risk for developing serious illness from the virus. We are committed to distributing these pills equitably across the state, and access will increase as Michigan receives more allocations from the federal government.”
MDHHS officials say a doctor's prescription is required to receive these medications.
Both pills are used to treat mild to moderate COVID in adults who are at risk for developing a severe infection. Health leaders say that if the medications are taken within five days of developing symptoms, the risk of hospitalizations and emergency room visits may be lowered.
There are some possible side effects and different interactions the pills could have with other medicine you take, so if you meet the criteria, Dr. Jameson says it's best to connect with your primary care provider sooner rather than later.
"It has to be given quickly, so people that are doing an at-home test and not talking to their doctor about it, they need to do it and then talk to their doc to get help quickly," he says. "We'll take anything else we can get for people at this time. It's needed, we'll take it and use it."
More information on these medications can be found here.
The MDHHS is continue to encourage vaccination as an effective way to reduce the spread of COVID-19. To find a vaccination clinic near you, click here.
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