Illinois Department of Public Health
Announces COVID-19 Antivirals Available in the Coming Weeks
Antivirals will be by prescription only
and can help prevent severe illness
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[March 19, 2022]
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH)
is announcing two new COVID-19 oral antivirals, Paxlovid (Pfizer)
and Molnupiravir (Merck), will be available in Illinois later this
month.
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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 beginning of symptoms.
Paxlovid is expected to reduce the risk of hospitalizations by 89%
and Molnupiravir by about 30%. 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 COVID-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 emergency 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 authorized for use in patients who are pregnant
or younger than 18 years of age because it may affect bone and
cartilage growth. Molnupiravir is intended to be used when other
FDA-authorized treatments for COVID-19 are not accessible or are not
clinically appropriate. Providers must ensure that patients
understand the safety risks of these therapeutics before prescribing
them.
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In addition to the oral antivirals, people can still
receive monoclonal antibody treatment (mAb) to help prevent COVID-19
from progressing to a point where a person needs to be hospitalized.
Unlike the new oral antivirals, mAb are administered 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. Illinois will receive a
renewed allocation 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 providing antivirals on the IDPH
website as soon as participating pharmacies are finalized. More
information on COVID-19 Treatment can be found at https://dph.illinois.gov/covid19/community-guidance/covid19-treatment.html.
[Illinois Office of Communication and
Information] |