What Clinicians Need to Know About COVID-19 Oral Antivirals

The U.S. CDC's Emergency Preparedness and Response team today presented: 'What Clinicians Need to Know About the New Oral Antiviral Medications for COVID-19.'

The Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity digital meeting on January 12, 2022, reviewed emergency use authorizations for the new oral antiviral medications molnupiravir and Pfizer Inc.'s Paxlovid™, therapeutic efforts to decrease hospitalizations and prevent severe COVID-19 and death.

During today's digital meeting, presenters from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health described recent treatment guidelines, patient prioritization, and resources for healthcare providers.

Subject matter experts reviewed when to prescribe antiviral medications, including patient assessment, a risk-benefit discussion to address patient questions or concerns, and prioritizing patients if medications are in short supply.

On January 11, 2022, the U.S. government distributed 99,960​ Paxlovid and 399,920​ Molnupiravir doses to states, territories, and agencies.