SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- State officials said Illinois should soon be receiving shipments of antiviral pills to help people who have COVID-19.
Illinois Department of Public Health Director Ngozi Ezike said vaccinations and boosters are still the best way to avoid hospitalization and death from COVID-19, but that later this month, drugs made by Pfizer and Merck will be available at some pharmacies in Illinois.
Both Paxlovid (Pfizer) and Molnupiravir (Merck) antivirals come in pill form and require prescriptions. They’re for people with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for becoming severely ill, including hospitalization or death. The pills should be taken as soon as possible after being diagnosed and within five days of the beginning of symptoms.
The state said Paxlovid can reduce the risk of hospitalizations by 89 percent, and Molnupiravir by about 30 percent. 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, in a statement. “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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While these antivirals are free from the federal government, they are in limited supply. The Illinois Public Health Department said the state will be getting new shipments of Paxlovid and Molnupiravir every two weeks.
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