Within the US, about 350 folks die of Covid-19 every day. That determine is way decrease than on the peak, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a disturbingly excessive loss of life toll on condition that new Covid infections have fallen sharply in latest months.
Final December, the FDA approved using Paxlovid, which was proven to be 90% efficient in treating Covid. Since that point, I’ve learn quite a few articles suggesting that many Covid victims usually are not being given this extremely efficient remedy.
I do know of a 97-year outdated man who was hospitalized instantly after contracting Covid, after which placed on oxygen. He was not given Paxlovid till 6 days later, when he requested for it. In one other case, a Covid sufferer I do know requested her physician about Paxlovid, and the physician responded that she’d by no means heard of the drug.
These instances appear to verify what I’ve been studying within the media. I’m puzzled as to what’s happening right here. We now have this paternalistic well being care system the place persons are not speculated to make their very own choices; reasonably they’re speculated to depend on “specialists” for recommendation and prescriptions. So why are the specialists failing us?
PS. For what it’s price, Paxlovid is the simplest drug I’ve ever taken. I virtually at all times take at the least 7 to 10 days to get well from an sickness with a fever, generally a month. (I’ve a weak immune system.) After taking Paxlovid, I recovered in about 12 hours. Sure, there’s no proof of trigger and impact in my case. However recall that the Paxlovid scientific research additionally confirmed a excessive fee of effectiveness.
In my case, I bought the prescription after a few 15 second session with an individual I’d by no means met over a telemedicine zoom assembly. Couldn’t a pharmacist do this? Apparently not:
Even in case you qualify, somebody will nonetheless must prescribe the drug, which implies the pharmacy you get examined at might want to have a clinic, like CVS’ MinuteClinic, the place an expert can display, diagnose and prescribe. Solely 10% of CVS drugstores and even fewer Walgreens have clinicians on website.
I perceive that pharmacists may make just a few extra errors of their 15 seconds of questioning than the telemedicine operator I spoke with. However 350 persons are dying every single day. Is the FDA this on a price/profit foundation?
PPS. We may additionally save many lives if extra folks bought Covid vaccine boosters. I additionally know of particular instances the place the medical institution dropped the ball on this problem.
