Need comments on this article Got a positive COVID-19 test? New… Need comments on this article Got a positive COVID-19 test? New treatments can help keep you out of the hospitalKristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press April 14, 2022https://www.freep.com/story/news/health/2022/04/14/how-get-covid-19-antiviral-pills-monoclonal-antibody-treatments-michigan/7289011001/ Coronavirus cases are on the rise again across the U.S. and in Michigan as well.The state health department’s latest coronavirus case report shows a nearly 55% rise in the seven-day average of new daily cases in the state from 713 on March 30 to 1,104 reported Wednesday. The new case totals are likely an undercount, too, because so many people are using at-home rapid antigen tests and their cases are never reported to the state health department. What should you do if you take a coronavirus test and it’s positive?More:Thousands of COVID-19 treatments sit unused in Michigan. Doctors aren’t prescribing themMore:FDA, CDC authorize 2nd COVID-19 booster shot for some Americans. Should you get it?The good news is that if you’ve been vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19, you’ve already significantly improved your chances of avoiding serious illness.But if you haven’t been vaccinated, you’re not boosted or you’re more vulnerable to the virus for other reasons such as if you’re older than age 65 or if you have underlying health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, obesity or are immunocompromised there are now several treatment options that can help you avoid the hospital. Yet a lot of doctors still may not be fully familiar with the treatments that are now available, said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the Michigan health department’s chief medical executive. She told the Free Press earlier this month that Michiganders may have to be proactive and ask their doctors about prescribing COVID-19 therapy. Here’s what’s available:Paxlovid, an antiviral COVID-19 pillMade by Pfizer, Paxlovid has been shown to reduce the hospitalization risk from COVID-19 by 89% in people who get start treatment within five days of symptom onset, according to a clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It is taken twice a day for five days and can be used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people ages 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds. More:Michigan schools get creative in spending federal COVID-19 relief fundsMore:Rep. Rashida Tlaib tests positive for COVID-19, in quarantine at homeThe drawback with Paxlovid is that it interacts with a lot of other commonly used medications and can’t be given to anyone who has severe kidney or liver disease. If you take blood thinners or heart rhythm medication like flecainide or amiodarone, you shouldn’t take Paxlovid.Cholesterol-lowering drugs also can interact with Paxlovid, so people who take those medications may need to talk to their doctors about whether they should go off their cholesterol drugs for a short time to take Paxlovid instead. Paxlovid also is a risk if you have HIV because it can make the medicines used to treat HIV less effective. While it’s clearly not for everybody, Paxlovid still can be a good option for many. To find out if you should take Paxlovid, talk to your doctor.Most Meijer pharmacies stock Paxlovid, as do some Walgreens stores and a few independent drugstores across the state. The following is a list of participating pharmacies: rx.meijer.com/covid19/therapeuticprogram. Another COVID-19 antiviral pill, molnupiravirMolnupiravir is an antiviral pill made by Merck that reduces the risk of hospitalization/death by about 30% in people who begin treatment within five days of symptom onset, according to an analysis of clinical trial data.It is taken twice a day for five days and can be used to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in people ages 18 and older. Although it isn’t as effective as Paxlovid, the advantage with molnupiravir is that there aren’t any known drug interactions like there are with Paxlovid. More:Listen to the ‘On The Line’ podcast: Chasing out Nain Rouge and the devil of COVID-19More:Getting COVID-19 vaccine isn’t easy for kids with autismPeople who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should not take molnupiravir and should use contraception during treatment and afterward. Women should continue to use contraception for at least four days after the last dose of molnupiravir. Men should continue to use contraception for at least three months after the last dose.Breastfeeding also is not recommended when taking molnupiravir or for four days after the last dose.Michigan has the biggest supply of this COVID-19 therapeutic. There were 33,000 available courses as of Friday, according to the state health department. Most Meijer pharmacies stock molnupiravir, as do some Walgreens stores and a few independent drugstores. The following is a list of participating pharmacies: rx.meijer.com/covid19/therapeuticprogram. Bebtelovimab, a monoclonal antibody therapyBebtelovimab is a monoclonal antibody treatment made by Eli Lilly. It was granted emergency use authorization by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in February to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and children ages 12 and older who weigh at least 88 pounds and who are at high risk for severe disease from the virus.Bebtelovimab is effective against the omicron variant, including the BA.2 subvariant, and is given through an injection to help bolster a person’s own immune system in fighting the virus.More:Student nurse continues path despite Covid challengesMore:Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget Mary McCormack tests positive for COVID-19It must be given seven to 10 days after the onset of symptoms and doesn’t have drug interactions like Paxlovid does. However, little is known about the use of bebtelovimab in pregnant and breastfeeding women.If your doctor decides this is the best treatment for you, you’ll need a prescription and you may need to go to a nearby hospital to get it.Evusheld can prevent COVID-19 illnessFor people ages 12 and older who are immune-compromised and whose bodies might not mount a good response to COVID-19 vaccines and for people who are allergic to components in COVID-19 vaccines, there is a preventive monoclonal antibody treatment called Evusheld. It’s made by AstraZeneca and is used before a person contracts coronavirus. It works by keeping the virus from entering the cells of the body, preventing illness. Evusheld is recommended for people undergoing chemotherapy, those who’ve had an organ transplant and are taking immunosuppressant therapy, people with advanced HIV and those on a high dose of corticosteroids. More:Art exhibit inside Sparrow Hospital shows caregivers’ reflections of COVID-19 pandemicMore:COVID-19 hospitalized him 331 days, cost him his legs, but he’s fighting his way backEvusheld was shown in clinical trials to protect 77% of this vulnerable population from developing COVID-19 for as long as six months after treatment, which consists of injections of two monoclonal antibodies, tixagevimab and cilgavimab, administered one after the other.Evusheld is not intended to be a replacement for vaccination, and should be used with caution in people who have blood clotting disorders or low blood platelet counts. Little is known about use of Evusheld in pregnant and breastfeeding women.If your doctor decides this is the best treatment for you, you’ll need a prescription and you may need to go to a nearby hospital to get it. If your doctor is not affiliated with a health system that has Evusheld, ask your provider to contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to see whether it can be provided to your provider.Write a half a page to a full page (500-100 words) commenting on the article in complete sentences.These comments must be primarily YOUR thoughts on the article, not just a summary or retelling of the story. If you just write a summary, you will get a “O.” At most one sentence or two sentences can summarize the article as an intro, but 2/3 of the essay must be your commentary.COMMENTS MUST BE TYPED (do not scan or photograph you handwritten commentsthey will not be accepted).These essays must be written clearly and must be grammatically correct or points will be deducted. USE SPELL AND GRAMMAR CHECK ON YOUR COMMENTS. This is a college course and this is a take home assignment. Take pride in your work and make sure you are handing in essays that reflect college-level work. Grammatical and spelling errors will result in point deductions.Your commentary must be on the biological aspects of the article and clearly state your opinion and back it up.Relate the article to what we have studied or will be studying in class.READ THE ARTICLE. MISREPRESENTING FACTS FROM THE ARTICLE WILL BE GROUNDS FOR DEDUCTING POINTS OR EVEN GIVING NO CREDIT FOR THAT COMMENTARY. Biology Science cell biology BIO 155
