Many who could benefit from covid-19 treatments may not be aware they exist.
One of the treatments that is particularly effective is Paxlovid, according to Ted Long, the head of New York City's Test and Trace Corps.
For every 20 New Yorkers that we treat with Paxlovid, we prevent one from going to the hospital.
The New York Times tracker shows that there have been more coronaviruses cases in New York City in recent weeks.
Hundreds of thousands of Paxlovid pills have gone unused across the country, and the White House announced plans this week to expand access.
The city's health department did not say how many pills had been given out.
We are in a new phase of the response and we have a range of tools at our disposal.
Some experts think that a lot of people don't know about the treatments.
I'm not sure if older people, people with comorbidities or unvaccinated people know about Paxlovid.
Paxlovid, a Pfizer drug that was authorized in late December, is one of several treatments that have been proven effective against Covid-19. It is preferred by the federal government and New York City officials because of how effectively it reduced the risk of death and hospitalization from Covid-19 in high-risk, unvaccinated adults during trials.
The various Covid-19 treatments are available in New York City.
There are two types of treatments available: oral and monoclonal. Dr. Vasan said that antiviral pills work by disrupting the cycle of viruses infecting cells and then taking over those cells to replicate in the body. Monoclonal antibodies help boost a person's immune system by binding up the viruses' genes.
Paxlovid and molnupiravir are available in New York City.
Paxlovid is prescribed as three pills taken twice a day for five days, while molnupiravir is prescribed as four pills taken twice a day for five days.
Both pills can be purchased through an online pharmacy called Alto. There is a list of those nearby on the federal website.
Dr. Vasan said that most New Yorkers should expect Paxlovid.
There are two treatments for people who are allergic to vaccines or are immunosuppressed that have been authorized for use in December.
Most of the treatments are given to people who have tested positive for the coronaviruses, but also have mild to moderate symptoms, and are at increased risk of developing serious illness. vusheld is given to people before they test positive.
If you are 65 or older and have health risks such as diabetes, hypertension or heart disease, you are considered to be at high risk of developing serious illness from Covid-19. People with suppressed immune systems are considered to be at high risk.
The federal government wants providers to prioritize the treatments for people who are unvaccinated.
To receive Paxlovid, bebtelovimab, and Evusheld, you have to be older than 12 and weigh more than 40 kilograms. You have to be at least 18 to take molnupiravir.
Paxlovid may not be eligible for people with severe diseases. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should talk to your health care provider before taking Paxlovid, according to the F.D.A. fact sheet.
It is important for patients to talk with their providers about the medications they are taking, as they could negatively interact with the treatments, said Dr. Andrew Wallach, the ambulatory care chief medical officer at New York City Health and Hospitals.
If you test positive, you should inform your doctor or call the city's Covid hotline, which will connect you to one of the city's doctors.
Virtual Express Care can be used to schedule a phone or video visit.
After the doctor makes a decision, it will be sent to a pharmacy or home. Same-day home delivery is possible thanks to the city's partnership with Alto Pharmacy.
If you test positive for the coronaviruses, you can receive free antiviral pills on the spot, thanks to the Biden administration's new test to treat. There are locations on the federal website.
They are free for everyone in New York.
If taken soon after the start of symptoms, the oral treatments can reduce hospitalization and death from Covid-19.
In a Pfizer trial published in December, Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk, unvaccinated people by 88 percent when taken within five days of symptoms.
The risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk, unvaccinated people was reduced by 30 percent when taken within five days of the start of symptoms, according to an analysis published in November.
The Food and Drug Administration said that Bebtelovimab should not be a preferred treatment because it has not been tested to see if it can stave off severe disease.
It was found that Evusheld was effective at preventing Covid in a clinical trial.
Dr. Wallach said Paxlovid is well-tolerated. There are side effects that have been seen in small numbers in clinical trials.
Some people may experience a rash after being injected with bebtelovimab.
It is hard to say. The health department was unable to provide data because it didn't have visibility into the entire universe of pharmacies that distribute many of the treatments.
There is an immunization registry that tracks vaccinations, but there isn't one for prescription medication.
He said that it is a problem that they don't have their finger on the pulse of.
Dr. Nash was worried that the inequalities seen during each phase of the Pandemic would play out again with the treatments.
If you don't plan for the underlying inequalities in access to health care, then you have done a poor job of taking care.
The treatments are available at community health centers. The health department is trying to expand access to brick-and-mortar pharmacies. State officials decide how to distribute treatments.
One of the places that offers Paxlovid and molnupiravir is the Pharmacy in Queens.
The first 20 doses of each medication were received earlier this month. Dr. David Kandov said only five people had asked for the treatments so far.
The network to which Dr. Kandov belongs had been trying to get access to the medications since December, when they were first authorized.
He blamed the health department for cutting us out.
As availability increased, the distribution strategy evolved, according to Mr. Gallahue.
The city is offering a delivery model that ensures rapid access to any New York address, which started at a time when supplies were insufficient to stock brick and mortar pharmacy throughout the city.
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