COVID-19 treatment pills are in supply at Triangle hospitals, but people need to act quickly to get them

The latest COVID-19 plan from the White House is key to pivoting the U.S. from pandemic to endemic, health experts say. Currently, every major hospital system in the Triangle has enough supply of COVID-19 treatment pills.

Paxlovid, Pfizer’s COVID treatment pill, tops the list of outpatient treatments for people with risk factors like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and obesity.

“We are able to see the efficacy we might see with monoclonal antibodies, but we are able to send them to a pharmacy, and they can take their treatment at home and we don’t have to use our hospital resources," said Jeanette Bouchard, an infectious disease pharmacy specialist with WakeMed.

Bouchard said WakeMed has 40 courses of Paxlovid that have not yet been used.

"We've been able to stockpile because we don't have patients we are necessarily using it for at this point ... it definitely is impressive from the COVID realm that we have been able to have the supply even as soon as now," said Bouchard.

"If you need it, we do have enough available to provide it," she said.

"There is a significant decrease in cases in the community and increasing access to supplies," said Gene Rhea, the associate chief pharmacy office at Duke University Hospital.

Duke Health has 175 courses and UNC Health has 280 courses — which might seem low but could last more than a month as demand drops.

Paxlovid is two medications taken together. Individuals will take three pills two times a day for five days — totaling 30 pills for the regimen.

"Paxlovid is preferred when it comes to outpatient treatment for patients with mild to moderate COVID," said Bouchard.

But, health experts say the medication isn't for everyone since it could cause complications with a large number of commonly prescribed drugs.

Another issue is Paxlovid must be prescribed within five days of when symptoms start, however, the drug will soon be available over-the-counter for free at local pharmacies under the Biden Administration's latest plan.

"It's a win to have any sort of supply of a brand new medication that is not FDA approved," said Bouchard.

The goal is to get people COVID-19 pills on the spot — game changer for the uninsured.

"This can help bridge that gap for many people who don't have insurance, don't have a provider and don't know where to turn," said Dr. David Wohl, an infectious disease specialist at UNC Health.

“It will prepare us more for our next surge, probably more so than having a monoclonal antibody stock, because it’s likely to be effective against the next surge," said Bouchard.

Another option for treatment is the monoclonal antibody Sotrovimab. UNC Health says it has given 350 treatments in the last two weeks.