2023-12-18 11:29:32
A total of 52,338 people insured by the ÖGK health insurance fund were on sick leave with Covid-19 in the previous week (week 50). That’s just over 25 percent more than the 41,690 cases the week before. Meanwhile, the first tranche of 7,200 packs of the reorder of the Covid drug Paxlovid was fully delivered to the 23 locations of the Austrian full-service pharmaceutical wholesaler (Phago). Pharmacies are allowed to order up to three items per order.
Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens) announced on Wednesday that a total of 18,000 packs of Paxlovid would be reordered. After the delivery of a first tranche, there should be a final relief in the tight availability by (today’s) Monday at the latest. “All Phago wholesalers have now received a tranche,” said the Association of Full Pharmaceutical Wholesalers when asked by APA. The 7,200 pieces are “processed and delivered” from the 23 warehouses.
What the Phago wholesalers are already noticing: “The demand is enormous,” it was emphasized. The federal government has therefore been asked to release the next tranche of the repeat order from the manufacturer Pfizer. From a return campaign by pharmacies and hospitals, around 4,000 packs, almost exclusively from hospitals, had already been distributed to pharmacies the previous week.
Each pharmacy can order up to three packs of Paxlovid at the same time, the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists told the APA on Monday. If two units have been dispensed, reorders can be made so that no more than three packs are stored in a pharmacy. The tablets are intended for people at risk and, if taken soon after the onset of symptoms, protect against a severe course of Covid.
In addition to the Corona sick leave, the number of people reported unable to work with flu-like infections rose from 90,405 to 102,274 in the previous week. According to these data, there were 888 “real” flu cases, i.e. influenza (week 49: 568). In total, more than 155,000 people with respiratory infections were unable to work. “The current wave of colds has Austria firmly under control,” emphasized ÖGK chief physician Andreas Krauter.
“The numbers for all three diseases – the real flu, flu-like infections and Covid are constantly increasing. That’s why it’s important to protect yourself and those around you, especially in the run-up to Christmas,” Krauter was quoted as saying in a broadcast by the ÖGK. “When in crowds, I recommend wearing a mask and washing and disinfecting your hands frequently and if you have not yet been vaccinated against influenza or Covid, now is the time.”
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