The oral antiviral pills — Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck and Ridgeback Therapeutics’ molnupiravir — are available to eligible New Yorkers for same-day delivery. Due to limited supply, the city is prioritizing the treatments for COVID-19 patients who are at higher risk of developing severe illness, health officials said.
People who test positive should call their providers or contact the city’s COVID-19 hotline — 212-COVID19 — to see if they’re eligible for a prescription. The city has partnered with Alto Pharmacy, a telehealth pharmacy, to distribute the drugs.
“Our city’s public healthcare system is seeing a decline in COVID-19 hospital admissions, but we are still very busy treating severely ill patients,” said Mitchell Katz, MD, president of New York City Health + Hospitals. “Free, at-home delivery of these antiviral pills will keep high-risk New Yorkers out of the hospital so we can immediately free up critical resources.”
Health officials on Jan. 30 also announced COVID-19 cases in New York City have dropped by more than 80 percent since early January, and more than 75 percent of all New Yorkers have been fully vaccinated.
COVID-19 antiviral pills are in limited supply nationwide. To learn more about Paxlovid and molnupiravir, click here.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.