The Government Pharmaceutical Organization (GPO) plans to distribute 45,000 courses of the Paxlovid antiviral medication combo it received yesterday from Pfizer (Thailand) to help treat Covid-19 patients during the Songkran festival.
Department of Medical Services (DMS) director-general Somsak Akksilp said yesterday that one set of Paxlovid consists of two Nirmatrelvir pills and one Ritonavir tablet. Each set must be taken two times a day for five days.
Some patients such as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, those who use some kind of combined oral contraceptive and those with liver or kidney problems should not take the drugs, Dr Somsak said.
Having received the drugs, he said the GPO will distribute the medication to provincial hospitals and inspectors, while Public Health Ministry inspectors-general will designate amounts to be allocated to local clinics.
The drugs will only be used for Covid-19 patients with mild and moderate symptoms.
GPO director Witoon Danwiboon said Paxlovid will be distributed to provinces during the Songkran festival.
Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said yesterday during a ceremony to receive the medicine from Pfizer (Thailand) that the drugs would help contain Omicron's spread.
Despite Omicron being less severe than other Covid strains, daily fatalities are still high, especially among the elderly and those with underlying conditions.
The DMS signed a contract to purchase Paxlovid from Pfizer (Thailand) on March 24, he said.
Dr Kiattiphum Wongrajit, permanent secretary for public health, said 400 million infections and six million fatalities have been reported globally while Thailand has three million accumulated cases and 25,000 fatalities.
Paxlovid has been found to reduce hospitalisations and death by 88% when taken within five days after symptoms emerge.
Meanwhile, Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration representatives said it has yet to approve sourcing AstraZeneca's long-acting antibody combination medication called Evusheld because a study on its effects needs to be conducted first by the Public Health Ministry.