Wisconsin's Vulnerable Communities Will Get COVID-19 Pills In Coming Weeks

MILWAUKEE, WI — Pills to treat mild and moderate cases of COVID-19 will arrive in Wisconsin in weeks, state health officials say.

Wisconsin health officials are waiting on the federal government to gather supplies of Pfizer's Paxlovid and Merck's molnupiravir to distribute to eligible Wisconsinites in "coming weeks," Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Deb Standridge said Thursday.

Standridge issued the statement after U.S. health regulators approved Pfizer and Merck drugs that Americans can take at home for treatment of COVID-19.

Distribution will focus to the state's vulnerable communities and communities hardest hit by the pandemic, Standridge said.

People would obtain the pills by prescription and should take them as soon as possible after being diagnosed with COVID-19 but no longer than five days after the onset of symptoms, Standridge said. The drugs aren't for people with certain0 pre-existing conditions.

Paxlovid and molnupiravir were found to reduce deaths and hospitalization rates in COVID-19 patients during clinical trials, but Standridge said they aren't a substitute for getting vaccinated against the coronavirus. Wisconsinites should get vaccinated as soon as possible and get their booster shots when they can, she added.

See Also:

• COVID-19 Booster Shots: Where To Find Them In Wisconsin
• When Will COVID-19 Pills Be Available In Wisconsin?

Pfizer's pill was approved on Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration, and The Associated Press reported it will be the first drug Americans can take home to head off the worst effects of the virus.