Palm Beach County Health Care District Providing Two Types Of Antiviral Pills.
BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2022 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — Certain patients experiencing the early effects of COVID-19 may now be eligible for COVID-19 antiviral medication provided by the Health Care District of Palm Beach County.
The District made the announcement Friday afternoon through this media advisory:
The Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s network of ten C. L. Brumback Primary Care Clinics has a new tool in the fight against COVID-19. Starting Monday, February 14th, clinic providers will be able to prescribe two types of Molnupiravir 2-9-22COVID-19 oral antiviral pills, Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s molnupiravir, at no cost for patients who are at the highest risk of developing severe COVID-19 illness. This includes patients as young as 12 years old with weakened immune systems, such as transplant patients, cancer patients and older adults who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are within the first five days of experiencing symptoms.
“We’re excited to provide access to these therapeutic medications for high-risk patients which, when taken within the first few days of having COVID, have proven effective at reducing hospitalization and death,” said Belma Andrić, MD, MPH, the Health Care District’s Chief Medical Officer. “We look forward to receiving additional doses soon from the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).”
The Food and Drug Administration authorized Paxlovid and molnupiravir for emergency use in December. These antiviral medications are not clinically appropriate for all patients and supply is limited. High-risk individuals can call the Brumback Clinics at 561-642-1000 to make a virtual or in-person appointment if they can show a positive COVID test result and are within five days of experiencing symptoms, or are within five days of having respiratory symptoms and need to be tested for COVID.
The Health Care District’s primary care clinics are Federally Qualified Health Centers located in areas of need. The clinics provide a medical home to all patients, including adults and children. Since late December of 2020, the Health Care District has provided over 226,000 COVID-19 vaccinations in the community.
“The Health Care District is proud to be one of only two community health centers in Palm Beach County to receive the antiviral pills that high-risk patients can take at home,” said Darcy J. Davis, the Health Care District’s Chief Executive Officer. “Still, we encourage the community to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the first step toward preventing serious illness and hospitalization.”
The Health Care District continues to offer the public free, walk-up Pfizer vaccinations and booster shots for children as young as 12 at its mobile unit in the parking lot of its Lantana clinic located at 1250 Southwinds Drive in Lantana, Florida. The hours of operation are weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is little to no wait time for first, second and third doses. A parent or guardian must be present for those who are 17 years old and younger. Those interested in receiving a booster shot should bring their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card showing it’s been at least five months since they received their second dose. A provider will add the booster dose information to the card.
