Oral medicines in tablet form can be prescribed by resident doctors and collected from pharmacies throughout Austria. A phone call to the family doctor is usually sufficient for this. Since September 1, another effective Covid 19 drug has been available with Lagevrio – in addition to Paxlovid – according to a broadcast on Friday.
According to the Ministry of Health, the Medical Association and the Chamber of Pharmacists are working closely together to make the Covid 19 medicines available as easily as possible. In addition to the corona vaccination and masks, the drugs are an important element of pandemic management. If they are taken quickly after a positive test, they reduce the risk of a severe course of the disease by up to 90 percent. Especially for risk groups, these drugs provide additional protection against a severe course of the disease with Covid-19 and a hospital stay.
In addition to Regkirona, Xevudy and Evusheld, which are administered directly in hospitals, two oral Covid-19 drugs are currently available in Austria. They can be prescribed by e-prescription after medical diagnosis. After a positive antigen or PCR test, a call to the family doctor is often sufficient. The medication can then be picked up directly from the pharmacy.
Current data, figures and facts about the corona virus
Still no approval for Lagevrio
Paxlovid has been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and is already being prescribed in Austria. Lagevrio has been available since Thursday. It has been recommended by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) but has not yet been approved. In Austria, it can still be administered as part of a “compassionate use program” if the patients agree, the Ministry of Health informed.
Around 240,000 of the two medicines that are available in private practice have been delivered to Austria to date. So far, 29,000 treatments have already been carried out. There has been a significant increase in the past two months. Paxlovid and Lagevrio are in stock in all Austrian pharmacies. The prescription is now possible via e-prescription. The formalities for using Lagevrio have been greatly reduced.
“Covid-19 medication will help us get through the fall well. We’ve been working since July to ensure low-threshold access,” said Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens). Together with the Chamber of Physicians and the Chamber of Pharmacists, it can be ensured that medicines are available quickly and across the board after a positive test. “In this way we create additional protection for people at risk from a serious course of illness or a hospital stay,” said the minister. There was also approval from the Chamber of Physicians and Pharmacists.
Low-threshold distribution
“Of course, after carefully examining possible side effects and interactions, we doctors have an additional treatment option so that patients who test positive have the mildest possible course of the disease,” said Johannes Steinhart, President of the Austrian Medical Association. So that the Covid-19 medication can be prescribed and administered as quickly as possible, the Medical Association has provided all resident doctors throughout Austria with comprehensive information about the advantages and the prescription.
The pharmacies, through which people at risk get access to the prescribed Covid-19 medication, have also been prepared for low-threshold distribution in the past few weeks. “We are the frontrunners in Europe in the field of Covid-19 drugs. Only we now have two Covid-19 drugs available nationwide in all Austrian pharmacies,” said Ulrike Mursch-Edlmayr, President of the Austrian Chamber of Pharmacists.
Treatment with Covid-19 medication is only intended for high-risk patients. This includes, for example, old age, chronic illnesses such as diabetes, obesity or illnesses and the use of medications that affect the immune system. Anyone who belongs to a risk group should contact their doctor immediately if they have a positive test result (antigen or PCR test).
Source: Nachrichten
