Staunton Star - Times - Published in the Interest of the Staunton Community for Over 143 Years

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is an- nouncing two new COVID-19 oral antivirals, Paxlovid (Pfizer) and Molnupiravir (Merck), will be available in Illinois later this month. The antivirals are for those with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for becoming severely ill, including hospitalization or death. Both antivirals will be available by prescription only and should be taken as soon as possible after being diagnosed and within five days of the be- ginning of symptoms. Paxlovid is expected to reduce the risk of hospitalizations by 89 percent and Molnupiravir by about 30 percent. Molnupiravir is meant for use when other treatment options are not available.

“These new oral antivirals add new tools to our toolbox to keep people with COV- ID-19 out of the hospital,” said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “While vaccination, including boosters, is still the best way to avoid infection and prevent severe illness from COVID-19, these new antivirals given emer- gency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration can help treat those who get infected and have a higher risk of becoming severely ill.”

Molnupiravir is not autho- rized for use in patients who

are pregnant or younger than 18 years of age because it may affect bone and cartilage growth. Molnupiravir is in- tended to be used when other FDA-authorized treatments for COVID-19 are not accessible or are not clinically appropri- ate. Providers must ensure that patients understand the safety risks of these therapeutics be- fore prescribing them.

In addition to the oral anti- virals, people can still receive monoclonal antibody treatment (mAb) to help prevent CO- VID-19 from progressing to a point where a person needs to be hospitalized. Unlike the new oral antivirals, mAb are admin- istered intravenously (infusion) or through several shots. Both require a prescription.

IDPH is currently working with pharmacies around the state to offer the antivirals. While these antivirals are free from the federal government, they are in limited supply. Il- linois will receive a renewed al- location of antivirals every two weeks. Walgreens and Walmart stores are federal pharmacy partners and some of their stores will carry the antivirals, as will other pharmacies. IDPH will provide a list of locations pro- viding antivirals on the IDPH website as soon as participating pharmacies are finalized.