Boston doctor explains how White House’s COVID-19 test-to-treat program works
Updated: 6:16 PM EST Mar 8, 2022
ERIKA: PHARMACIES IN THE U..S ARE NOW PLACING THEIR ORDERS FOR ANTI-VIRAL MEDICATIONS THROUGH THE WHITE HOUSE’S NEW TEST-TO-TREAT PROGRAM. HERE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS IS DR. HELEN BOUCHER, THE INTERIM DEAN OF TUFTMES DICAL SCHOOL AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. THANKS FOR BEING HERE. BEN: TEST-TO-TREAT IS A MAJOR PART OF PRESIDENT BIDEN’S NATIONAL COVID PROGRAM. HOW IS IT SUPPOSED TO WORK? >> THE IDEA IS THAT THIS IS A WAY FOR PATIENTS TO GET TREATED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE WHEN THEY GET COVID SO AT THE TIME THEY’RE TESTED THEY COULD GET TREATMENT AT FOR EXALEMP A RETAIL PHARMACY BY CAREGIVERHO W COULD PROVIDE THAT MEDICINE. ERIKA: LET’S TALK ABOUT THESE TWO ANTI-COVID PILLS. THE FIRST IS PAXLOVID, FROM PFIZ.ER THE OTHER IS MOLNUPIRAVIR, FROM MERCK. HOW WOULD YOU DECIDE WHICH ONE TO GIVE TO A PATIE?NT WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? >> BOTH MEDICINES ARE EFFECTIVE, AND THE DATA FOR ONE IS MORE PRESCRIBED IN TERMS OF EFFICACY T IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE DOCTOR KNOWS THE PATNTIEND A REVIEWS THEIR OTHER MEDICATIONS TO MAKE SURE THERE IS NO HARM OM UNG PAXLOVID. IMPORTANT FOR A PHYSICIAN OR CAREGIVER TO BE INVOLVED IN MAKING THE DECISION OF WHICH PILL IS BEST FOR YOU. BEN: YOU MENTIONED A PHYSICIAN OR DR. NEEDING TO KNOW ABOUT OTRHE MEDICATIONS. UNDER THIS PROGRAM A PHARMACIST CAN MAKE THE DECISION ABOUT TREATMENT. DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THAT? >> IT’S A LITTLE TRICKY, AND IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE CAREGIVER, WHETHER IT’S A PHARMACIST, NSEUR PRACTITIONER OR PHYSICIAN TO KNOWHE T PATIENT, OTHER MEDICATIONS AND KNOW THESE PARTICULAR MEDICATIONS BECAUSE COVID IS MUCH MORE COMMON IN SOMETHING LIKE STREP THROATHT AN IS TYPICALLY TREATED THESE OUTPATIENT PHARMACIST. RECAS TREATED FORLL THESE PATIENTS THAT NEED THIS TREATMENT. ERIKA: SABRINA WRITES TO US, I’D LIKE TO KNOW WHICH COUNTRSIE HAVE THE FEWEST PEOPLE VACCINATED. >> THIS IS A SAD STORY, MUCH OF THE WORLD DOESN’T HAVENO EUGH ACCEDED — VACCINATED INDIVIDUALS. AFGHANISTAN, HAITI, MANY AREAS HAVE MUCH LESS VACCINATIONS. FOCUSING OGEN TTGIN VACCINATIONS IN THOSE COUNTRIES IS A MAJOR EFFORT AND SOMETHING WE ALL NEED TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
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Boston doctor explains how White House’s COVID-19 test-to-treat program works
Updated: 6:16 PM EST Mar 8, 2022
Pharmacies are now placing their orders for antiviral medications through the new national program, which is a major part of President Biden’s plan to fight COVID-19.
Pharmacies are now placing their orders for antiviral medications through the new national program, which is a major part of President Biden’s plan to fight COVID-19.
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