BILLIONThe COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve as the virus mutates into more contagious forms. Despite the new wave and continuing federal efforts to address COVID-19, pandemic response is shifting to local levels. We also need to recognize that healthcare providers are and will increasingly play an important role in the control and treatment of COVID-19, similar to how they manage diseases like influenza. .
Tools to fight COVID-19 are freely available to healthcare providers, including test, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies and antiviral drugs. The CDC, The White House, FDAstate and local health departmentsmediaand more health Organization provided much education to practitioners through webinars and print materials on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. However, despite the many tools and guidelines available to combat COVID-19, many healthcare providers do not prescribe effective antiviral COVID-19 therapy. Many healthcare providers do not provide protective monoclonal antibodies to immunocompromised patients. Many healthcare providers are not registered as providers of the COVID-19 vaccine. It is recognized that the medical community has suffered a lot during this pandemic. It is also recognized that they can continue to upgrade.
COVID-19 is still a serious and highly contagious disease. Since this pandemic started, we have seen wave on new COVID-19 cases globally and in the US We are seeing new waves of infections due to Ba4 and Ba5 Omicron variants evolved from recent B2 variants. These newer variants even more contagious than before. 100,000 new confirmed COVID-19 cases per dayabout 4000 new people are hospitalized every day and about 300 new COVID-19 deaths.
Because of widely used home test, it is likely that the number of new COVID-19 infections per day is several times more than what is reported. These numbers are lower than those seen during flu outbreaks and would have been much higher had it not been for public health measures and public acceptance of a COVID-19 vaccine. The joint contribution of the medical community is needed in these difficult times to tackle and prevent this level of illness.
Vaccine. Even with the different variants, the COVID-19 vaccine is the best way to prevent severe illness. Pre-infected with COVID-19 may not protect you from current variations, on the contrary Vaccines are less effective risk of serious illness caused by them.
Almost 600,000,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine has been launched in the US More 250 million individuals in our country (67%) have received at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and more than 150 million people have received booster shots. These vaccines have excellent safety recordwith benefits outweighing any rare serious risks at any age.
In America, everyone who six months or older COVID-19 vaccine is now available. COVID-19 is much more severe in older people than it is in children. But more 1,200 children under the age of 18 have died, including 300 individuals under 5 years old, died of COVID-19. About 40–60% of severe COVID-19 cases occurs in children without an underlying medical condition. Because not all kids and adults who live in areas where health care providers or have access to health care, local health departments also play an essential role in immunization efforts .
There is ample evidence that enhanced COVID-19 vaccination increases protection against severe COVID-19. Two months agoCDC recommended booster shots for people 50 years of age and older and people with underlying medical conditions. While there may be a new COVID-19 vaccine in the fall specifically designed to protect against Omicron and its variants, you should still get a shot if you haven’t already had a booster shot.
For the unvaccinated, including millions of children under age 5, talk to your pediatric provider about the COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccine recommended by American Academy of Pediatrics for all age groups.
To facilitate vaccination, physicians and other members of the health care community COVID-19 vaccine should be provided and become a supplier of the COVID-19 vaccine. If not, they may Contact their local health department to apply.
Evesheld. If you are immunocompromised, which can happen if you are being treated for inflammatory conditions, cancer, or underlying medical conditions, your risk of severe COVID-19 is significantly increased. About 7,000,000 people in the United States are immunocompromised. These individuals are advised to be vaccinated and have a booster shot of COVID-19. However, some individuals will not be fully protected from COVID-19 even after vaccination.
Fortunately, there is a drug called evusheld, contain antibodies reduce the risk of severe COVID-19 about 80%. Evusheld is FDA/EUA approved for individuals 12 years of age and older. This medication is given by injection and provides protection for up to six months. Evesheld continues to remain effective against current new Omicron variants.
In 2021, the federal government purchased 1,700,000 doses of Evosheld that were distributed across the country. Although there are a considerable number of people who are candidates for this drug, the majority of these Dosage was used. The reason behind health care providers not prescribing this drug is not completely knownbecause there was federal, state and access to medical society to make providers aware and available drugs.
Bebtelovimab. Bebtelovimab is a monoclonal antibody approved by the FDA/EUA for the treatment of COVID-19 in people 12 years of age and older with COVID-19, who are at significant risk for severe COVID-19. During this pandemic, different monoclonal antibodies have been used. Bebtelovimab is currently the only tool effective against current Omicron variants. This medication is given by intravenous infusion or intramuscular injection.
The US government bought 600,000 won dose of this medicine. Because additional funding for the federal COVID-19 response has not approved by Congress, it is not clear that the United States will purchase more monoclonal antibodies. But they should be commercially available. Due to the high cost of monoclonal antibodies and the fact that they cannot be taken orally, experts consider them a second choice for oral antiviral drugs for people with COVID-19.
Antiviral drugs against COVID-19: Paxlovid and Molnupiravir. Antiviral drugs slow the virus to replicate and are intended for individuals who have been recently diagnosed with COVID-19 and reduce the severity of illness. Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are pills, and Remdesivir given through IV. Paxlovid is a combination of two antiviral drugs. Molnupiravir It is the only drug approved for adults.
Anti-COVID drug Paxlovid should prescribed within five days of symptom onset onset for people 12 years of age and older who test positive for COVID-19 and are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19, including those over 65 years of age or with an underlying medical condition.
Both drugs have been shown to be effective against COVID-19, but Paxlovid is more effective. There are a few the drug needs to be stopped when taking Paxlovid, and the dosage needs to be adjusted if someone has kidney problems. These drugs include cholesterol-lowering statins that can be safely stopped during treatment with Paxlovid and for two days afterward. Concerns about drug-drug interactions are less with Molnupiravir.
The federal government bought 10,000,000 treatments by Paxlovid and 3,000,000 courses of Molnupiravir. These drugs are available at more than 40,000 pharmacies across the United States and can be prescribed by a healthcare provider at no cost to you. Very recently Pharmacist authorized by FDA to prescribe Paxlovid.
Although there has been an increase in the use of these drugs over the past few months, they are still under-prescribed. Of the millions of doses that have been purchased, less than half have been specified. Although there is a lot of information about these drugs, it has recently been suggested that The medical community asks for more clarity and information about this drug, which will hopefully be made available by the federal government.
There is a talk about a condition called “Paxlovid-recovery,” with COVID-19 symptoms reappeared within a week of finishing a course of Paxlovid treatment. Because of this reported phenomenon, doctors may steer clear of this drug when they can benefit from it. However, recent studies show that this is unpopular, and if it occurs, it usually does not require additional treatment.
In parts of the United States, these drugs are prescribed in experimental sites for treatment or by telemedicine when an individual has a positive home test for COVID-19. If you test positive for COVID-19 at home, contact your primary care provider, they can call you for a free prescription. Your local health department may also have links to telemedicine or testing programs for treatment evaluation.
We are 2.5 years into the COVID-19 pandemic that continues to evolve. Just as the virus is changing, so is the healthcare and public health response. The tools to prevent and treat COVID-19 are in the hands of healthcare providers. If you do not have a health care provider, contact your local health department or your local federally qualified medical center for care. Healthcare provider engagement is an essential and essential part of today’s pandemic response, and let’s hope that this participation continues to expand.
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