New restrictions are imposed on cruises in Puerto Rico 3:56
(CNN Spanish) -
The Puerto Rico Department of Health reported this Wednesday that pills for oral antiviral treatments against covid-19 will be available on the island next week.
Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, the pills recently approved for emergency use by the United States Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will be free to residents of Puerto Rico.
The government expects to receive 560 Paxlovid treatments from Pfizer and 500 Molnupiravir from Merck.
Antivirals will be available through 188 pharmacies, by prescription only.
“It is another great step in the fight against the coronavirus.
The arrival of antiviral pills are another alternative for patients with a positive result and at risk of developing severe disease to give them hope for health, "said Carlos Mellado, secretary of the Puerto Rico Department of Health.
To receive a prescription for the treatment from Pfizer, the patient must have tested positive for COVID-19, be considered high risk, be at least 12 years old and weigh at least 40 kilos.
However, it is not indicated for those with severe kidney or liver failure.
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While the Merck pill is authorized for use by those over the age of 18 who have tested positive for covid-19 and are at high risk of hospitalization or death.
But it is not indicated for pregnant women or nursing mothers.
Iris Cardona, chief medical officer of the Department of Health, will be in charge of coordinating the doctors on the proper, effective and safe handling of the pills, together with two infectious disease specialists, Doctors Javier Morales and Lemuel Martínez.
"It is important that people continue to abide by preventive measures against the coronavirus and that new antiviral treatments do not replace vaccination," Cardona said.
The government of Puerto Rico recently confirmed a rebound in positive covid-19 cases, while continuing to carry out a massive vaccination campaign in municipalities.
As reported by the Department of Health, as of this Wednesday some 2,461,890 eligible people over the age of five had completed the vaccination scheme, while 2,757,797 received at least one dose.
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