Antiviral treatments are now available at Sarnia-Lambton COVID-19 Assessment Centres for people with symptoms who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19.
The Sarnia-Lambton Ontario Health Team said these treatments can help prevent serious illness if taken within five to seven days of the onset of symptoms.
Access to the antiviral treatment has been made available locally thanks to a collaboration between primary care providers, local pharmacies, Bluewater Health, Rapids Family Health Team, Central Lambton Family Health Team, North Lambton Community Health Centre, Twin Bridges Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic, and Lambton EMS Community Paramedics.
High-risk individuals experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can contact their primary care provider to get tested and assessed for treatment right away. Those without a primary care provider, can book an appointment at a local COVID-19 Assessment Centre.
In a news release Bluewater Health Chief of Staff Dr. Mike Haddad said we are excited to now offer the antiviral treatments locally in Lambton County.
"For the past few months, eligible patients had to travel to Windsor or London to access such specialized treatments," he said. "It's important we can offer these treatments closer to home when you consider the importance of patients receiving the treatments in a timely manner, especially if not feeling well due to illness."
Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Sudit Ranade said it's tough to say whether or not there will be strong demand for antiviral treatment.
"In the other pilot locations where they've launched this program, there hasn't really been a high uptake of it," said Dr. Ranade. "There are a couple of considerations. You need to seek active treatment for your symptoms, you need to go and see somebody who can verify that your symptoms are likely to be COVID, give you a test (or you bring a rapid test saying you have COVID), and basically you need to get access to that medication within five to seven days of getting symptoms."
Dr. Ranade said it's not like an over the counter medication and does require and assessment first.
"The medication in particular interacts with a lot of common medications that people take routinely," he said. "So it does require a bit of a clinical assessment to say 'what medications are you on, and is this oral antiviral treatment right for you?'"
Those considered to be at high risk include:
- Adults who are immunocompromised (have an immune system that is weakened by a health condition or medications) - Adults 70 years and older with a clinical assessment, regardless of vaccination status - Adults 60 years and older who have had fewer than three doses - Adults 18 years and older who have had less than three doses and have risk conditions - Unvaccinated pregnant individuals
A list of COVID-19 Assessment Centres can be found here:
-With files from Natalia Vega