With Paxlovid there is a drug that can reduce severe Covid 19 courses. So far, however, it has been prescribed rather hesitantly. That should change now, Health Minister Lauterbach and DIVI boss Marx agree on that.
Intensive care physicians are promoting increased administration of the corona drug Paxlovid to prevent serious Covid diseases and thus relieve the burden on clinics in Germany. "I actually believe that the stronger treatment with this drug could help fewer corona patients with a severe course to be treated in intensive care units," said Gernot, President of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI). Marx, the newspapers of the Funke media group.
Marx emphasized that study data indicated that the administration of Paxlovid, especially at the beginning of an infection, could prevent a severe course. "If treatment with the drug is indicated and the patient wants it, doctors should do it more than before," said the doctor. His hope is that this will prevent some of the serious progression of the disease.
Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach is also promoting increased use of Paxlovid to prevent severe Covid cases. General practitioners can now keep the drug in stock in their practices and give it directly to corona patients, according to Lauterbach in the “Spiegel”. The detour via pharmacies is no longer necessary.
In addition to a vaccination officer, every nursing home in Germany should also appoint a Paxlovid officer who will take care of all matters relating to the corona drug. According to Lauterbach, a supply of the drug should also be allowed to be stored there in the future so that it can be used quickly.
The drug, which is manufactured by the US pharmaceutical company Pfizer, has had conditional approval from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) since January 2022. In general, Paxlovid is recommended for patients who are not seriously ill but are at high risk of being hospitalized due to previous illnesses or other factors. The drug should be taken within five days of the onset of symptoms.
