Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill Paxlovid to be available in Alberta in limited capacity Monday

Pfizer’s Paxlovid COVID-19 antiviral pill will be available to a very select number of individuals in Alberta starting Monday. The announcement came Tuesday as hospitalizations from COVID-19 continued to rise. (See full COVID-19 data below).

Health Minister Jason Copping said a first shipment of 3,200 courses of the at-home prescription treatment will be available to eligible individuals on Jan. 31.

Paxlovid can be given to adults 18 and older who are positive for COVID-19 and are experiencing mild or moderate illness, and who are at high risk of becoming more seriously ill. Health Canada approved the drug last week.

Because of the limited supply, and the side effects it can cause, only some groups of people will be eligible to receive the treatment. The health minister said those who need it most will be given first access.

The criteria for those who could be eligible are as follows:

• Immunocompromised people 18 and older regardless of their vaccine status who have received transplants, are cancer patients and have received chemotherapy or another immunosuppressive treatment in the past two years, or have an inflammatory condition they’re being treated for such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or inflammatory bowel disease
• Unvaccinated and over the age 65
• Albertans 18 and older who have a preexisting health condition such as diabetes, obesity, chronic kidney disease, obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure

The pill will only be prescribed to those who meet the criteria and have a confirmed positive case of COVID-19 from a PCR test. Individuals must also be within five days of the onset of their first symptoms.

Those eligible will be directed to contact HealthLink when they receive their positive result for an evaluation. People are asked not to call a pharmacy or doctor’s office, as they will not be able to get the pill that way.

The drug will be available to people by prescription after an assessment by a clinician.

Alberta’s chief medical officer of health stressed Paxlovid is not a replacement for vaccination and encouraged people to step up to be vaccinated.

“As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” Hinshaw said.

“While Paxlovid is a new secondary option to prevent mild or moderate cases of COVID-19 to progressing to severe disease, it bears repeating that it is not a substitute for vaccination. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent severe cases of COVID-19 and reduce the risks that come with getting infected.”

Copping also noted that Alberta received an additional shipment of the Pfizer vaccine this week, with 500,000 doses. He said some people were waiting to get their booster shot until they could receive a Pfizer dose.

“It’s here. Please book your appointment today.”

The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 increased again Tuesday, to 1,377 patients. That’s a 30 per cent increase over last week, according to the health minister.

Of those in hospital, 111 people are receiving treatment in intensive care units.

“Our hospitals are under strain, especially in the larger urban centres,” Copping said. “The system is under strain, that’s no question. But we can manage it.

“But make no mistake, the coming weeks are going to be the toughest yet for many Albertans and for the people working in core in-patient units in our hospitals.”

Last week, the province announced plans to open two Pandemic Response Units — one in Edmonton and one in Calgary. Alberta Health Services said staff at the PRU at the Kaye Edmonton Clinic are currently going through orientation. The plan is to begin admitting patients this Thursday.

These units are being used as overflow capacity to care for patients with COVID-19 who are almost ready to be released from hospital, but may need additional monitoring.

Thirteen additional deaths were reported to Alberta Health in the last 24 hours, bringing the province’s death toll to 3,483.

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Alberta recorded 2,722 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 Tuesday from about 6,700 test. The positivity rate sits at 42.8 per cent.

Lab-confirmed active cases dropped slightly from Monday to 51,157. Due to limited access to PCR testing, health officials have said the number of new daily cases and active cases in the community are actually much higher.