New treatments available in B.C. to fight COVID

Two treatments for people who are seriously sick with COVID have been approved for use in Canada and are now available B.C.

“Some people, even with three doses of vaccine, don’t have as strong an immune response,” provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said during a news briefing yesterday, Feb. 23. “These treatments are available now for you. They’re also important for people who are not yet fully vaccinated and, especially if you’re over 60 years and you have other underlying illnesses.”

Paxlovid and Sotrovimab are the two treatments but they are quite different and come with warnings.

“These are a positive step forward but, like all medications, they’re not suitable for everyone,” Dr. Henry said.

READ MORE: Omicron infections slow to decline in Interior Health due to low vaccination rate

Paxlovid comes as a course of anti-viral pills that can be taken at home but have a number of drug interactions that need to be taken into consideration.

Sotrovimab is given through an infusion at a clinic or in a hospital.

The treatments, for now because of limited supplies, are available to people who are clinically extremely vulnerable; over the age of 60 but not fully vaccinated and have one or more chronic conditions and Indigenous people over 60 who are not fully vaccinated.

“These treatments are not a substitution for vaccines and vaccination is strongly recommended as the most effective way to prevent serious illness,” states a Ministry of Health news release.

The Ministry has developed a four-step self-assessment online tool so people can see if these treatments are right for them.

People must have symptoms and positive COVID tests to qualify for the treatments and must start the medications within five days of the onset of symptoms.

For more information and the self-assessment tool, go here.

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