No images? Click here MEDICAL ADVISORY: Patient Access to Outpatient Therapies for COVID-19Issued by: Azim Kasmani, MD, FRCPC, Associate Medical Officer of Health Primary care providers play a critical role in supporting patients who are at high risk for severe disease in accessing COVID-19 therapies. Antivirals (e.g. Paxlovid and Remdesivir) help treat people with mild symptoms early in the course of illness to help prevent severe outcomes, hospitalization and death. The Niagara Health Clinical Assessment Centre (CAC) is available to support community members with mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. The centre is accessible by referral only. Niagara Region Public Health encourages all family physicians to communicate proactively with patients at higher risk for severe disease regarding how to seek treatment should they become infected with COVID-19, and to refer to the CAC any eligible patients who have developed symptoms of COVID-19 within 24 hours of the patient seeking support. Who can receive COVID-19 antiviral treatment? In order for COVID-19 antivirals to be effective, they must be administered early in the course of illness. Out patients are currently eligible for Paxlovid within 5 days of symptom onset, and Remdesivir within 7 days of symptom onset. Please refer to the Ontario Science Table Recommended Drugs in Adult Patients with COVID-19 guide or the CAC Referral Form for complete eligibility criteria and a list of individual risk factors. In general, patients ages 18+ at risk of progression to severe COVID-19 should be referred to the CAC within 5-7 days of symptom onset. Eligible patients include those who are:
Patients may also be eligible based on a combination of vaccination status and individual risk factors
Children and adolescents under the age of 18 with risk factors for severe disease should contact their pediatrician to determine if treatments are available. What is the process for referring someone for antiviral treatment? Please refer to the Recommended Drugs in Adult Patients with COVID-19 guide for how to properly assess disease progress and recommend treatment. If a patient contacts you with COVID-19 symptoms, consider their eligibility for antiviral treatment using the CAC Referral Form. Patients who are mildly to moderately ill and who have had symptoms for less than 5-7 days should be assessed. Please complete the CAC Referral Form to refer the patient to the CAC at Niagara Health where the patient will be assessed, tested, and prescribed treatment if eligible.
Completed referral forms can be sent to:
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