In Austria, access to Covid 19 medication is to be made significantly easier. Since September 1, another Covid 19 drug has been available with Lagevrio (molnupiravir) – in addition to Paxlovid. If the tablets are taken quickly after a positive test, they are said to reduce the risk of a severe course of the disease by up to 90 percent. The medicines can be prescribed by resident doctors and picked up in pharmacies.
Treatment with these drugs is intended for high-risk patients. These include, for example, old age, chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity or diseases and the use of medications that affect the immune system. Anyone who belongs to a risk group should contact their doctor immediately if the test result is positive (antigen or PCR test). To date, around 240,000 of the two drugs mentioned have been delivered to Austria. So far, 29,000 treatments have already been carried out. There has been a significant increase in the past two months.
As mild a course as possible
“We doctors have an additional treatment option – of course after careful examination of possible side effects and interactions – so that patients who test positive have the mildest possible course of the disease,” says Johannes Steinhart, President of the Austrian Medical Association. “In addition to vaccination and hygiene measures, Covid-19 medication will help us get through the fall well. We’ve been working on ensuring low-threshold access since July,” says Health Minister Johannes Rauch (Greens).
Source: Nachrichten
