“I really think that these tablets helped us a lot, because we didn’t have them [any symptoms] then, ”McWilliam said.
The call to expand access to medicines for COVID-19 follows the Victorian government’s announcement that it will reduce its mass testing and vaccination sites by a week, as GPs and pharmacies offer more than 70 percent of vaccines and rapid antigen testing are widely used. .
“I really think these tablets helped us a lot.”
Jeanette McWilliam
However, emergency rooms across the country are still struggling to cope with the influx of patients with COVID-19 and the flu, prompting the federal government to push for greater adoption of antiviral drugs for relieve pressure on the system.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler wants eligible people who test positive for COVID-19 to receive a text message from the Department of Health with information about available antiviral drugs.
Butler said the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) will continue to monitor eligibility criteria for access to drugs, which are currently available to people over the age of 18 who are immunocompromised and at risk of developing serious illness or high-risk adults. over 65 years.
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“The PBAC may recommend changes to eligibility criteria as needed, taking into account new evidence on the efficacy and safety of these antivirals in other patient groups, as well as the evolving epidemiology of COVID-19,” said Butler.
“Any extension of eligibility will be considered by the PBAC at its next meeting, in early July, which will take into account the potential benefits and harms of these drugs.”
Robert Booy, a pediatrician with infectious diseases at the University of Sydney, said expanding access to safe and effective antiviral medicines to help keep people out of the hospital was a “worthwhile proposal”.
“These people will reduce their viral load, so the amount of virus in their body is reduced with the antiviral. This may, is not proven, but this may have an impact on reducing transmission.”
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University of Queensland infectious disease doctor Paul Griffin said he did not think expanding eligibility would deplete the country’s antiviral supply. “I think we’re a long way from that right now,” he said.
Infectious disease expert at the National University of Australia, Peter Collignon, said a cost-benefit analysis should be done to avoid unnecessary costs, while the risks of side effects should be taken into account. and drug interactions for some patients.
“There are probably a lot more people who will benefit from antivirals, especially those over the age of 65 who don’t know it and don’t seek medical advice fast enough.”
Victorian Council Chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Anita Muñoz, said she also supported expanding the criteria to more vulnerable people, as long as the network is not expanded too much and does not overwhelm GPs. who are already facing unprecedented demand.
“We want high-risk people to use the drugs,” he said. “What we don’t want is to frustrate both GPs and patients by making low-risk patients look for appointments, just to tell them they’re not the target group.”
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