EVERETT — When Mark Hegeberg caught COVID-19 this week, a health care provider prescribed Paxlovid. Hegeberg went to select up the medicine, however it was out of inventory at his typical Ceremony Support in Mill Creek.
He referred to as round to dozens of native pharmacies.
“It’s bought out in every single place,” Hegeberg, 67, wrote in an e-mail Monday.
Medical doctors typically prescribe the Pfizer-made antiviral tablet to deal with reasonable to extreme COVID circumstances. It’s a mixture of nirmatrelvir and ritonavir — nirmatrelvir stops the virus from spreading, whereas ritonavir retains nirmatrelvir energetic within the physique lengthy sufficient for it to work.
On the peak of the pandemic, the federal Meals and Drug Administration expedited Paxlovid entry earlier than finishing the same old strategy of FDA approval, citing emergency circumstances. From winter 2021 to 2023, the federal authorities labored with native well being departments, pharmacies and care suppliers to distribute Paxlovid free of charge.
However final 12 months, the federal authorities permitted Paxlovid for industrial use and determined to take a again seat on distribution efforts. Amid the transition, native pharmacies have struggled to maintain up with demand.
The medicine beforehand coming in cratefuls is now trickling in by one or two packages at a time, stated one retailer supervisor who works at a Ceremony Support-owned Bartell Medication in Everett. The supervisor requested for anonymity since Ceremony Support’s coverage prohibits some staff from chatting with media.
And with out the free distribution program, the medicine has a virtually $1,400 price ticket with out insurance coverage. Hegeberg, who has insurance coverage, stated he paid a $75 copay to get his dose.
These with authorities insurance coverage, or who’re uninsured, should still qualify free of charge Paxlovid till Dec. 31. However worth doesn’t matter if sufferers can’t get the medicine.
Sufferers might use a nationwide COVID-19 medicine locator, nevertheless the location lists pharmacies that provide Paxlovid whether or not or not it’s in inventory. Inside 5 miles of Everett, the supervisor’s Bartell Medication location is considered one of six pharmacies listed.
However the Everett pharmacy is at the moment out of inventory, the supervisor stated. Every week, pharmacists there must redirect or flip away 5 to seven sufferers with Paxlovid prescriptions.
“We attempt to put in orders day by day,” the supervisor stated. “After the medicine is available in, it goes in like 5 minutes.”
Whereas the Paxlovid scarcity shouldn’t be distinctive to Ceremony Support, the corporate’s monetary troubles might be exacerbating its supply-chain points, the supervisor stated. Final fall, Ceremony Support filed for chapter and started closing a number of places nationwide.
Ceremony Support didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
If pharmacies in Snohomish County are out of inventory, it’s doubtless as a result of the federal authorities ended its Paxlovid program, confirmed John Doyle, a spokesperson for the state Division of Well being.
As well as, after the FDA permitted Paxlovid for industrial sale, it required all pharmacies to eliminate or return all doses labeled “emergency use” no matter expiration date. It’s unclear how a lot of Snohomish County’s provide had this label.
“The federal government simply determined COVID shouldn’t be that huge of a deal now,” the Bartell supervisor stated. “It’s on an as-needed foundation.”
COVID-19 stays beneath the county’s transmission alert threshold for emergency room visits. (Offered by the Snohomish County Well being Division)
Snohomish County noticed a slight uptick in reported COVID circumstances in June, however general caseloads stay low. COVID-related emergency division visits make up 1.8% of all native visits, beneath the county’s 3% ‘transmission alert’ threshold.
However with out entry to Paxlovid, sufferers might be sicker for longer. Transmission might improve, stated Kari Bray, a spokesperson for the Snohomish County Well being Division, particularly as individuals journey and attend extra gatherings over the summer season.
Residents ought to keep updated on their COVID vaccinations, Bray suggested, and keep residence in the event that they’re feeling in poor health.
By Monday night time, Hegeberg snagged the final out there dose from Bellgrove pharmacy in Woodinville after a tip from a member of the family. This week marked his third time contracting COVID, and his first time utilizing Paxlovid.
“After the primary day, it’s been clean crusing,” he stated. “I really feel dangerous for everyone who can’t discover it.”
Sydney Jackson: 425-339-3430; sydney.jackson@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @_sydneyajackson.
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COVID-19 stays beneath the county’s transmission alert threshold for emergency room visits. (Offered by the Snohomish County Well being Division)