More than two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be nice to believe that we’d put the disease’s dangers to rest, but unfortunately that’s not the case. The recently identified BA.2 subvariant now accounts for more than half of new U.S. cases, and the expiration of the CARES Act means that uninsured Americans can no longer access COVID-19 testing for free.
Luckily, there is some hope on the horizon in the fight to bring COVID-19 to heel. New antiviral pills have been introduced to manage the disease’s symptoms, but there’s been some confusion about President Joe Biden’s “test to treat” initiative, which would allow COVID-positive individuals to access antivirals on the spot at various clinics, pharmacies, and other care providers. Here’s everything you need to know.
What are COVID-19 antiviral pills?
Simply put, antiviral pills are medications that help your body fight off certain illnesses. They are also preventive, helping your body avoid viral infection, and have been approved for diseases including flu, herpes, HIV, and Ebola.
How do they work?
COVID-19 antiviral pills work by blocking the activity of the SARS-CoV-2-3CL protease, an enzyme that the coronavirus needs to replicate. For COVID, antivirals are taken orally in pill form, but antivirals for some other diseases can be taken in the form of eye drops, injections, or topical ointments.
How much do antiviral pills cost?
As of now, COVID-19 antiviral pills are free of charge, but that may change as the federal government invests less money in identifying and treating COVID cases.
Who can take COVID-19 antiviral pills?
In order to be eligible for antiviral treatment, you must be 12 or older, test positive, and have symptoms that started within five days. You must also be at high risk for developing severe COVID-19 due to preexisting conditions, including—but not limited to—heart disease, cancer, obesity, or diabetes.
How effective are the pills?
According to a Pfizer trial published in December, the antiviral pill Paxlovid reduced the risk of hospitalization and death in high-risk, unvaccinated people by 88% when given within five days of symptom onset.
What is Biden’s “test-to-treat” initiative about?
On March 7, the Biden administration launched a nationwide initiative to ensure rapid, “on-the-spot” access to antiviral medication. Run by the Department of Health and Human Services, the program ensures that people who test positive for COVID-19 will be able to visit hundreds of local pharmacy-based clinics, long-term-care facilities, and federally qualified community health centers to be assessed by a qualified health care provider who can prescribe antiviral pills immediately.
How can COVID-positive individuals access antiviral pills?
Once you test positive via rapid test or PCR, you can go to any participating location and get an antiviral prescription filled on the spot.
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