Ontario pharmacists will be allowed to prescribe the antiviral drug Paxlovid as a treatment for COVID-19 beginning next week, according to Ontario Health Minister Sylvia Jones..“This expansion of pharmacists’ scope of practice is just one more way our government is making it easier for Ontarians to access health care right in their own communities," said Jones at a Thursday press conference. .Paxlovid is an antiviral medication, meant to be taken orally within five days of the onset of symptoms. It is recommended for those at higher risk of COVID-19 complications, including people over 60 and the immunocompromised..About 4,000 pharmacists across the province are already dispensing the drug. Since the prescription program will work on an opt-in basis, it is unclear how many pharmacies will choose to take part..Any Ontarian who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 or a positive test for the virus will be eligible for Paxlovid. People who are 60 years of age or older or 18 years of age and immunocompromised will be eligible..The announcement comes as Ontario hospitals continue to feel the pressure from the flu, RSV, and COVID-19. According to Ontario's Acute Care Enhanced Surveillance database, the number of Ontarians going to emergency departments with respiratory complaints is above pre-pandemic seasonal averages..Some pediatric hospitals have even been forced to stop surgeries and other procedures in order to maintain patient capacity for those seeking care for respiratory symptoms..Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore said the provincial government was thinking about allowing Paxlovid prescriptions as a way to keep people out of the hospitals, especially those in rural access who have limited access to their primary care physicians..Moore said giving pharmacists the ability to prescribe Paxlovid, "will expand access and offer increased protection to the most vulnerable and mitigate pressures on the province’s hospital capacity.” .“I continue to strongly recommend that everyone across the province stays up to date on their vaccinations, as it is the most effective way we can protect ourselves and our loved ones from the most serious effects of COVID-19," he said..While Paxlovid has been found to cut the risk of death from COVID-19 in older patients, there have been many cases of the disease returning shortly following treatment. These instances of "COVID-19 rebound," where infections come back after people complete their five-day course of the drug, appear to be more common that doctors suspected..Several high-profile figures, such as US President Joe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, US Chief Medical Advisor Anthony Fauci, and comedian Stephen Colbert have experienced COVID-19 rebound. One recent study estimated 5% of people who take the drug will experience a return in their symptoms after.
