If you have COVID infection and think you are at a risk from disease progression to hospitalization, you can now be offered COVID treatments with medications like Paxlovid (a prescription antiviral pill that can be taken at home) orRemdesivir (an intravenous infusion given once daily over 3 days in a clinic or hospital setting). According to Dr Navpreet Grewal, “Paxlovid is preferred, but there are many prescription drugs that cannot be mixed with it so you may be offered Remdesivir instead.”
These treatments must be started within 5-7 days of developing symptoms and can only be prescribed by a health care provider (doctor or pharmacist or nurse practitioner). Dr Grewal is emergency room physician, practicing in Vancouver Coastal and Fraser Health Authorities. She is among the co-founders of the BC South Asian Covid Task Force. She answers some of the frequently asked questions about antiviral pills and early COVID treatment.
How will I know if I am eligible for these treatments?
1) You must have mild or moderate symptoms that started in the past 5 days (you can’t already be sick enough to be admitted to hospital)
2) you must have a confirmed positive rapid antigen test (you can do this test at home) or PCR test.
3) you must fit into one of the following categories of people who are at higher risk for becoming very sick from Covid infection:
A. You are any of the following:
Immunocompromised (for example, some organ transplants, bone marrow transplant, cancer treatment, HIV, on kidney dialysis, on immunosuppressive treatment like high-dose steroids, biologics, and other immune-suppressing agents)
Clinically Extremely Vulnerable (this is a long list, and you will have already been contacted by letter from Ministry of Health stating that you fit this category, and would have already been eligible for an extra dose of vaccine)
Age 70 or older with 3 or more chronic conditions, such as obesity, heart failure, diabetes, emphysema, asthma, kidney disease, previous stroke.
B. You have had 1 or 2 doses of vaccine (no booster) and are either:
-age 50-69 with 3 or more chronic conditions
-age 70 or older with 1 or more chronic conditions
C. You are unvaccinated and are either:
-age 50 or older
-have 3 or more chronic conditions
How can I request these medications if I think I am eligible?
1. If you have a family doctor, speak to them or your specialist as soon as possible after you develop symptoms of covid infection
2. Request treatment through Service BC by filling in an online self-assessment or calling 1-888-268-4319 (between 7:30am to 8pm) so they can have a physician call you back to assess whether you can get this treatment
What if I am not eligible for this treatment?
Remember to continue to self-isolate:
1. for 5 days (or longer, until symptoms improve and fever is no longer present), if you have had 2 or more doses of vaccine
2. for 10 days (or longer, until symptoms improve and you no longer have a fever), if you have had 0 or 1 dose of vaccine and are age 18 yrs or older
3. For 5 days (or longer, until symptoms improve and fever is no longer present), if you have had 0 or 1 dose of vaccine and are under age 18
You can still manage your symptoms at home most of the time: drink fluids, rest, take acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Seek medical attention if your symptoms get worse.
