Adventist Health Tillamook Allotted Oral Antiviral COVID-19 Treatment Medication

Updated February 17, 2022. Expanded access of oral antiviral COVID-19 treatment medication is now available for patients that are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or immunocompromised plus have high-risk factors of developing severe COVID detailed below. Please see your primary care provider or urgent care near you to ask about this medication.

Adventist Health Tillamook has been allotted a limited supply of Emergency Use Authorized treatment medication by the Federal Drug Administration for high-risk patients who test positive for COVID-19. These oral antiviral medications, manufactured by Pfizer under the name PAXLOVID, and manufactured by MERCK under the name Molnupiravir, are only prescribed to patients after seeing a primary care provider who can authorize the medication’s use.

John Bohlman, MD, and Medical Officer at Adventist Health Tillamook states, “These emergency use medications are most effective for patients who are five or fewer days feeling ill, and are designated high-risk.” The CDC has categorized patients as high-risk for COVID by not being vaccinated, or only partially vaccinated, immunocompromised, and/or having risk factors for developing severe COVID such as being over the age of 65 or having chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, pregnancy, immune suppression, sickle cell, or neurodevelopmental disorder. Dr. Bohlman continues, “Some patients might not be able to receive this treatment due to drug interactions or reproductive concerns. It is important that all patients see a primary care physician if they’re feeling ill to be tested and receive instructions for care, which may include this new emergency use antiviral medication.”