2024-01-12 16:30:00
A little more than 41,000 Quebecers have received the drug Paxlovid since the fall, which aims to reduce serious symptoms of COVID-19, but doctors and pharmacists believe it remains underused.
“It is underused, that’s clear,” says Dr. Donald Vinh, infectious disease specialist and microbiologist at the McGill University Health Center (MUHC).
This week, the national director of public health, Dr. Luc Boileau, indicated that at least three million Quebecers had contracted COVID-19 this fall.
However, according to data from the Régie de l’assurance- santé du Québec (RAMQ), a little more than 41,000 prescriptions for Paxlovid have been handed out since September. More than half come from pharmacists, authorized to do so.
From mid-December
The drug, in tablet form, was in particular demand from mid-December, with several days exceeding 100 prescriptions, particularly between Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Since September 1, 2023:
– 41,123 prescriptions for Paxlovid (by doctors, pharmacists or specialist nurse practitioners);
– Of which 27,289 came from pharmacists.
From January 4 to 10, 2024: 497 prescriptions
From December 28, 2023 to January 3, 2024: 774 prescriptions
From December 21 to 27, 2023: 680 prescriptions
From December 14 to 20, 2023: 694 prescriptions
Source: RAMQ
The president of the Quebec Association of Pharmacist Owners (AQPP), Benoit Morin, emphasizes that the eligibility criteria have recently been relaxed. The drug Paxlovid is intended for people who are severely immunosuppressed or those aged 60 and over who are at risk.
“We might do better collectively,” he said. According to him, there might be more awareness among patients, who must have a positive screening test. Treatment must also be started within five days of the onset of symptoms.
Dr. Mathieu Simon, head of the intensive care department at the University Institute of Cardiology and Pneumology of Quebec (IUCPQ), also believes that Paxlovid is not prescribed at full capacity.
“It would still be useful in many patients who are not aware of it,” he argues.
Multiple interactions
However, the drug has many interactions with other medications, making the task of verification arduous and cumbersome. If specialized clinics have done the work upstream for some patients, he says, this is not the case for all seniors.
“Access is certainly an obstacle that prevents its use,” says Dr Vinh, having seen patients being refused these tablets, in particular because they might not see a doctor quickly or a pharmacist did not feel comfortable. comfortable in the lengthy health history check.
Target clientele for treatment with Paxlovid™
An adult over 18 years of age with severe immunosuppression; A person aged 60 and over, following individual risk assessment taking into account age, immunity and the number of concomitant diseases or conditions that increase the level of risk of complications from COVID-19; An adult person under the age of 60 with at least one concurrent illness or condition that increases the level of risk of complications from COVID-19 and following assessment of individual risk taking into account age, immunity and number of comorbidities; A pregnant person, following an individual risk assessment taking into account age, immunity, gestational age and the number of concomitant diseases or conditions that increases the level of risk of complications from COVID-19; A person under the age of 18 with at least one concurrent illness or condition that increases the level of risk of complications from COVID-19, following an individual risk assessment taking into account age, immunity and number of comorbidities.
Source: Government of Quebec
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