Paxlovid is effective for treating COVID-19. Why is it underused?

Описание: (7 Feb 2024)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER:4476968

RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

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FILE: New York – 18 January 2024
1. Various of people walking outside with masks on
HEADLINE: Paxlovid underused in COVID-19 care for high-risk groups

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FILE: New York – 3 January 2024
2. Close up of a sign requiring face masks outside of a public hospital
3. Various of patients and employees entering a public hospital

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FILE: New York – 18 January 2024
4. Various of Paxlovid medication on counter at pharmacy

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Newton, Massachusetts – 1 February 2024
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5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Barnett, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (transcribed below)

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Tampa, Florida – 2 February 2024
6. Patient advocate book by phone

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FILE: New York – 18 January 2024
7. Covid rapid tests

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Newton, Massachusetts – 1 February 2024
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8. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Barnett, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (transcribed below)

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Tampa, Florida – 2 February 2024
9. Pills being poured on counter

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FILE: New York – 18 January 2024
10. Various of masks on shelves at pharmacy

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FILE: New York – 3 January 2024
11. Various of New York City residents in masks outside of a public hospital

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FILE: New York – 1 August 2022
12. IMAGE: Individual doses of the anti-viral drug Paxlovid are displayed
13. IMAGE: The anti-viral drug Paxlovid is displayed in the box New York

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Tampa, Florida – 2 February 2024
14. Door to pharmacy with sign
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15. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Kirkus, Palma Ceia Pharmacy (transcribed below)
16. Pharmacy shelves with pill bottles
17. Close up of pills being counted
18. Kirkus on the phone
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19. SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Kirkus, Palma Ceia Pharmacy (transcribed below)
20. Employee filling prescriptions
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STORYLINE:
ACROSS THE U.S., COVID-19 CONTINUES TO CAUSE THOUSANDS OF DEATHS EACH MONTH, AND HOSPITALIZES TENS OF THOUSANDS EACH WEEK.

BUT A RECENT STUDY SHOWED PAXLOVID, AN EFFECTIVE DRUG FOR TREATING THE VIRUS HAS NOT BEEN GETTING To THOSE WHO MOST NEED IT.

SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Barnett, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
"And so people at the highest risk were being hospitalized or dying. They were many times more likely to get really sick from Covid than people who are the healthiest, you know, like ten times more likely. But they actually got Paxlovid less often."

BARNETT CITED PATIENT EDUCATION, ACCESS TO COVID TESTS, AND HESITANCY AMONG PROVIDERS AS POTENTIAL REASONS FOR THE DISPARITIES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Barnett, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
"Because that's really a puzzle. You know, often, the primary care doctor, I need to talk people out of the need for antibiotics for, like, a viral infection. And now we have a viral infection that's both common and very treatable with a medication that works. And it's really hard to get it to people."

HOWEVER, THE COST OF THE MEDICATION ITSELF IS ALSO PLAYING A ROLE. PFIZER HAS SET THE LIST PRICE AT NEARLY 1400 DOLLARS A TREATMENT, AND THE U.S. GOVERNMENT RECENTLY STOPPED DIRECTLY DISTRIBUTING IT FOR FREE.

THIS HAS MADE PAXLOVID HARDER TO ACCESS, NOT ONLY FOR PATIENTS, BUT ALSO SOME PHARMACIES.

SOUNDBITE (English) Jennifer Kirkus, Palma Ceia Pharmacy








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