Ontario government distributes the Pfizer COVID-19 treatment pill ‘Paxlovid’ to select pharmacies

With hospitalizations and ICU occupancy on the rise, the Ontario government began distributing the Pfizer COVID treatment pill ‘Paxlovid’ to select pharmacies. The pill has been effective in reducing hospitalization and death for at-risk people.

The province announced that shipments of ‘Paxlovid’ to participating pharmacies has started today.

People who think they have COVID-19 should be tested by their family doctor or from the numerous testing sites across Ontario. If they’re positive and deemed at-risk a prescription can be written up and patients can pick up the drug from a pharmacy.

At-risk people who test positive for the virus have 5-days to start taking ‘Paxlovid’ before efficiency dips. Ontario’s pharmacy association has been pushing for pharmacies to be a one-stop shop for tests and treatments.

Justin Bates from the Ontario Pharmacists Association says the chief medical officer of health has the power to allow test and treat at pharmacies but thinks that may not happen in the near future.