COVID-19 remedies are easy to find in Georgia, but are reasonably used

Expansions may be made just in time for the expected increase in cases here.Friday, President Joe Biden’s administration New model released Showing another wave of infection is expected nationally in the fall and winter, caused by the constantly evolving subvarieties of Omicron. However, the next outbreak can occur in the south, where summer waves are expected, similar to what was seen in 2020 and 2021.

Doctors and pharmacists have said that expanding the program can save more lives, but more people need to take the drug.

“If it was available nine months ago, my lord, half of the people who came (to my pharmacy) would probably have been treated with it,” said the pharmacist. Tifton Drug Company.. “But at this point, I don’t use it much.”

Takeaway antivirals available through Test-to-Treat can significantly slow future outbreaks, but doctors warn that they will rely on them to end the pandemic. Pills have been shown to be effective only when taken within 5 days of symptoms. This is a short window that you may pass through before you realize that you have more than an allergy or a cold. Test-to-Treat aims to streamline the acquisition of diagnosis and treatment with a single visit to the pharmacy.

Although cases of COVID are slowly increasing in Georgia, overall infection rates remain the lowest during a pandemic.Doctors and pharmacists told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that there are few people Seeking a test, The number of antiviral prescriptions is reduced.It matches State-wide dataThis shows the calmness of the test after winter.

Medical Director, Dr. Emmett Brown Georgia Family Health CenterShe said optimistic antivirals will play an important role in the future.

“Our main precautions are still vaccination programs, but in the light of these new antivirals, we have another weapon against the virus,” Brown said. “It will help us not only prevent death, but also prevent overwhelming the health system.”

I’m trying to make the next Tamiflu

Health experts warn that antiviral drugs are not a substitute for vaccination, but only to treat patients with illness after infection. Pills are still primarily prescribed to patients who are pre-existing or at high risk of hospitalization or death. And there are limits to who can safely take these antivirals.

Studies have shown that Paxlovid reduces the risk of hospitalization or death in high-risk patients by about 90%, A long list of drug interactions Prevents many patients from taking it. Merck’s Ragevrio, the brand name of Molnupiravir, Almost all medicines It is not safe for pregnant women, but its effectiveness is much lower, at about 30%.

The FDA recently announced some patients taking Paxrovid. Experience a recurrence Symptoms a few days after recovery. While they are studying cases of viral resurrection, public health officials say the drug is still effective in preventing severe illness. Paxlovid was recently prescribed by Vice President Kamala Harris. Kamala Harris tested negative for the virus less than a week after being diagnosed.

Dr. Jason Hofner, Regional Medical Director In the case of Piedmont, doctors said it took some time to educate themselves about new medicines and all the pros and cons.

“There is always some hesitation in new medicines to make sure we know in and out, risks and benefits, and for whom we prescribe it,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll be able to go past that stage and use it in the same way we use Tamiflu for the flu.”

Tamiflu, brand name Similar antivirals It has been used to fight the flu since 1999 and is the benchmark for this type of treatment. In the United States, more than 5 million times each year, Tamiflu and its generics are prescribed to treat influenza patients.

caption

Health experts warn that antiviral drugs are not a substitute for vaccination, but only to treat patients with illness after infection. Pills are still primarily prescribed to patients who are pre-existing or at high risk of hospitalization or death. (Merck & Co ., file via AP)

Credit: No credit

Credit: No credit

caption

Health experts warn that antiviral drugs are not a substitute for vaccination, but only to treat patients with illness after infection. Pills are still primarily prescribed to patients who are pre-existing or at high risk of hospitalization or death. (Merck & Co ., file via AP)

Credit: No credit

Credit: No credit

CEO, Dr. Thomas Bat North Atlanta Primary CarePaxlovid said that given all of its negative drug interactions, it has proven difficult to prescribe, especially if urgent drug approval is for high-risk patients.

“The (Test-to-Treat program) is good as long as you are an uncomplicated patient,” said Bat, who has 16 clinics throughout the Atlanta Metro. “But if you have heart disease or diabetes, you should actually talk to your doctor before taking any antivirals.”

“Begin to use more and more”

At the White House briefing on April 26, COVID-19 Response Coordinator Dr. Ashishger said he would like to make Paxrovid available anywhere in the country.

Antivirals are free and are currently available in over 20,000 pharmacies, hospitals and medical centers, with over 2,200. Test-to-Treat site In the United States — 108 of them are in Georgia. Jha they Trying to double Both the number of places where antivirals can be provided and the number of Test-to-Treat participants.

Most places in Test-to-Treat are large pharmacy chains such as CVS, Kroger, Walgreens, but there are some mom and pop stores like Bill Posey’s business in Tifton. He said South Georgia pharmacies have been in the program for about six weeks and so far only one patient is eligible to be prescribed an antiviral drug.

“We didn’t really have the opportunity to use Paxlovid. This is what we have in stock. There were no serious cases where we had to do that,” Posey said. He added that only about 7-8 people come to his store for COVID inspections every week.

Many doctors in Metro Atlanta write prescriptions for antivirals, according to Hofner, but they took longer to board than others.

“I have a doctor who is very good, very educated, boarded very early, and at this point prescribes probably 150 to 200 prescriptions for those medicines,” Hefner said. increase. “And some people just really wanted to understand that they were really safe to prescribe, and it took them a while to dig into the data.”

The Georgia case is The latest Omicron subvariant, BA.2.12.1. In the event of another outbreak, doctors said COVID antivirals would be able to maximize their value.

“Slowly but steadily, as providers receive better education, we are starting to use it more and more,” Hofner said. “… (widely available) hopes to help mitigate some of the volume spikes that occur in the next outbreak.”