From the 16th, Paxlovid Prescriptions Available for Patients Aged 12 and Over with Underlying Conditions

Oral Antiviral Stock for 560,000 People... Additional 1 Million Doses to Be Procured

On the 14th, the oral COVID-19 treatment Paxlovid was delivered to a pharmacy in Guro-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Jo In-kyung] Starting from the 16th, patients aged 12 and older with underlying conditions will also be eligible to receive prescriptions for the oral COVID-19 antiviral treatment 'Paxlovid.' The current domestic stock of oral antiviral treatments is reported to be more than twice the amount already prescribed.

On the 13th, the government discussed and decided on expanding the prescription eligibility for oral COVID-19 antiviral treatments during the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters meeting.

Currently, oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19 are prescribed only to those aged 60 and above, immunocompromised individuals, and patients aged 40 and above with underlying conditions. However, starting from the 16th, the prescription eligibility will be expanded to include patients with underlying conditions at the age approved for emergency use by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.

Previously, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety approved Pfizer's Paxlovid for emergency use in individuals aged 12 and older, and Merck & Company (MSD)'s 'Lagevrio' for those aged 18 and older.

Accordingly, from the 16th, Paxlovid can be prescribed to patients aged 12 and older with underlying conditions, and Lagevrio to those aged 18 and older with underlying conditions.

Patients aged 12 and older with underlying conditions and those aged 18 and older with underlying conditions can also receive prescriptions for Paxlovid and Lagevrio, respectively, if they are confirmed positive through professional rapid antigen tests at hospitals or clinics.

According to the Central Disease Control Headquarters, as of 6:30 PM the previous day, the cumulative usage of Paxlovid and Lagevrio in Korea is 265,560 doses, with a stock of 562,398 doses.

Among these, the cumulative usage of Paxlovid is 245,380 doses, with a stock of 481,687 doses. From 6:30 PM on the 4th to 6:30 PM the previous day, 7,203 doses of Paxlovid were prescribed to patients under home treatment and those admitted to residential treatment centers over eight days.

Lagevrio has been used cumulatively for 20,180 doses, with 80,711 doses remaining. In the recent eight days, 1,528 doses of Lagevrio were prescribed.

The Korean government has contracted to purchase a total of 1,204,000 doses of oral antiviral treatments, including 962,000 doses of Paxlovid and 242,000 doses of Lagevrio, of which 826,000 doses have been imported into the country.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.