The Maryland Department of Health last week announced that it is currently administering the first round of two newly-approved COVID-19 antiviral medicines.
The health department is working with care facilities, local health clinics, physicians, and pharmacies across the state to distribute the medicines, Paxlovid and molnupiravir.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the pills for emergency use at the end of last month.
Pfizer’s Paxlovid was authorized on Dec. 22 and molnupiravir, made by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, was approved the next day.
The oral antiviral pills are intended to help keep high-risk patients from getting sick enough to require hospitalization.
The initial supply is limited.
Maryland has received approximately 4,500 courses of treatment from the federal government.
“These two oral COVID-19 treatments are new tools to help us fight this disease and potentially save lives,” said MDH Secretary Dennis R. Schrader in a statement.
“Getting vaccinated, getting a booster shot, and getting tested remain our best defense against COVID-19,” he said, “If any Marylander tests positive for COVID-19, they should speak right away with their health care provider to see if Paxlovid, or Molnupiravir are right for them.”
Maryland’s initial allocations of the medications began arriving in pharmacies on Dec. 30.
The state has selected certain pharmacies to ensure equitable access of the limited supplies, and physicians statewide can prescribe the medication and direct patients to participating pharmacies.
Both prescription-only medicines are taken twice a day for five days, and the treatments need to be started within five days of the onset of symptoms.
While the initial supply may not be enough to significantly reduce levels of hospitalization, the federal government anticipates larger allocations of doses nationwide this month.
