At-home treatment for COVID-19 arrives in Alberta — but there’s only enough now for 3,200 people – CBC

Only patients with a higher risk of hospitalization will qualify for Paxlovid

Feb 01, 2022

Edan Nelson, an immunocompromised Calgarian, woke up Sunday morning with a scratchy sore throat.

A rapid test showed he had COVID-19.

On Monday, he became one of the first Albertans to get a prescription for Paxlovid, a pill newly available in the province that is designed to prevent severe COVID-19 symptoms in eligible adults.

“It’s like an anxiety-relief, having this option available,” said Nelson, whose doctor told him he might be the first in the province to get the prescription.

“And it’s kind of a silver-lining moment, that I got sick the day before this all comes out and I have this option presented to me.”

The antiviral treatment — the first COVID-19 therapy that can be taken at home — is designed to help the body fight off the SARS-CoV-2 virus, reduce symptoms from an infection and shorten the period of illness.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/paxlovid-covid-treatment-alberta-1.6335637