The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday authorized state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill to eligible patients.
The drug, Paxlovid, has been used in the United States to help prevent severe COVID-19 illnesses.
However, only a little more than half of the nearly 4 million courses distributed to pharmacies by the government have been administered so far.
Paxlovid, which is an antiviral drug, has been available for free in the United States since December. It is effective for at-risk people who are newly infected with the virus.
“Since Paxlovid must be taken within five days after symptoms begin, authorizing state-licensed pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid could expand access to timely treatment for some patients,” Patrizia Cavazzoni, director for the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, said in a statement.
People who have tested positive for COVID-19 should bring their health records to their pharmacist. The pharmacist should check the records for any possible kidney or liver problems, the agency said.
“When testing positive for COVID-19, patients should first consider seeking care from their regular health care provider or locating a Test-to-Treat site in their area,” the FDA said.
The American Medical Association (AMA) said in a statement that prescribing decisions should be made by a doctor wherever possible.
“It (Paxlovid) is not for everyone and prescribing it requires knowledge of a patient’s medical history, as well as clinical monitoring for side effects and follow-up care to determine whether a patient is improving,” said AMA President Jack Resneck.