NYC To Offer Instant Access To Paxlovid At Mobile Testing Sites, But Messaging Around The Drug Needs To Improve

Healthcare NYC To Offer Instant Access To Paxlovid At Mobile Testing Sites, But Messaging Around The Drug Needs To Improve William A. Haseltine Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. New! Follow this author to improve your content experience.

Got it! Jul 8, 2022, 10:29am EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Free Community Covid 19 Testing on Streets during surge in cases, Forest Hills, Queens, NY. (Photo . .

. [+] by: Lindsey Nicholson/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Mayor Eric Adams has announced that New York City will be the first to dispense the antiviral drug Paxlovid, free of charge, at mobile testing units to those who test positive as part of the Test-to-Treat program. This is a sorely needed initiative that addresses some of the equity and access issues with Test-to-Treat as cases are rising once again in New York.

The participating mobile testing units managed by NYC Test & Trace Corps will now include a clinician on to provide instant access to prescriptions for no-cost, antiviral medications for eligible New Yorkers who test positive at the sites. The mobile units will partner with local pharmacies to provide immediate distribution of medication from the prescription. Paxlovid reduces the risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death but is most effective when taken at the earliest stage of infection, which is why instant access is so critical.

Currently, there are only three mobile testing units offering this service, but Adams plans to expand this service to more than 30 units through July 2022. New York Residents who don’t have a primary care doctor, cannot afford the co-pays or fees associated with a doctor’s appointment or are not able to access these mobile testing units can call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319) to be connected with a clinician. This kind of program should be replicated across the country to ensure swift access to testing and treatment.

The recent decision by the FDA to authorize pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid will also increase access across the country, especially within healthcare deserts and rural areas. While federal emergency aid for testing, vaccines, and therapeutics is stalled, these free city-run Test-to-Treat sites that dispense Paxlovid will be crucial for uninsured New Yorkers. A federal fund that made it possible for laboratories to perform tests free of charge for uninsured people across the country has not been accepting claims since March 2022.

This means that certain providers are no longer able to provide testing to everyone free of charge, regardless of their insurance status. MORE FOR YOU CDC: Salmonella Outbreak Has Left 279 Ill, 26 Hospitalized In 29 States Canadians End Up In ICU After Attending ‘Covid Party’ White House Mandates Pfizer Vaccines for Millions of Citizens . .

. Before the FDA Clinical or Safety Reviews Have Been Made Public However, even as we begin to address issues of equity and access. The drug Paxlovid still has some serious messaging and awareness issues.

A report by STAT states that many healthcare providers are conflicted on basic questions such as who they should be prescribing the drug, for what duration, and at what stage during the infection. The FDA authorization is broad and states that Paxlovid can be prescribed within five days of symptom onset to people 12 and older who have tested positive and are “ at high risk for progression to severe Covid-19 . High risk is a broad category and can include the immunocompromised to people who have asthma, obesity or diabetes to people who are over age 65.

However, there are many reports of younger people under 65 with high-risk conditions such as asthma who are being denied a prescription to Paxlovid. Healthcare providers need clearer guidelines and prescription criteria with up-to-date data to make the best decisions for their patients. Unlike vaccines, public messaging around Paxlovid is limited and many patients infected with Covid-19 are not even aware that Paxlovid exists or is a treatment option.

Many patients have only heard about Paxlovid rebound, making them hesitant about the drug. While I am not a medical doctor, and further research is needed, my interpretation of current data as a virologist suggests that Paxlovid should be prescribed for a 10-day course instead of the usual 5-day course to avoid the rebound effect. As pandemic fatigue prevents many from precautions such as mask-wearing and avoiding unventilated indoor spaces, we need to ensure that swift and equitable testing and treatment are implemented to control rising case counts.

The test to treat model is of the most positive innovations to emerge in response to the Covid pandemic and it is my hope that it will eventually be used for other infectious diseases. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn . William A.

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