KUALA LUMPUR – As of May 9, a total of 173 Covid-19 patients who were treated with the antiviral drug Paxlovid have fully recovered with no side effects, said Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
He said the drug had been used since April 15 to treat Covid-19 patients at 512 Covid-19 Assessment Centres (CAC) at health clinics and 78 government hospitals.
“To date, the priority of Paxlovid treatment is for the high-risk group of Covid-19 patients experiencing mild to moderate symptoms,” he said in a statement today.
He added that Covid-19 patients who will be prioritised include those who are aged 18 and above, patients in Categories 2 and 3, those who do not require oxygen therapy as well as those in high-risk groups who experience severe Covid-19 infections, such as diabetic patients; patients with high blood pressure, kidney problems and asthma; as well as chronic lung, heart and cancer patients.
Khairy said patients in the high-risk group can go to CACs at selected health clinics and government hospitals for suitability assessments before they can begin Paxlovid treatment.
“This medication should be started immediately within five days of the onset of symptoms for optimal effectiveness, to reduce the risk of more severe infection complications,” said the minister.
Meanwhile, he said those aged 60 and above can receive a second Covid-19 vaccine booster dose voluntarily, four to six months after their first booster jab.
The same applies to those aged between 18 and 59 with clinical risk of severe disease (such as chronic heart, lung, kidney and liver disease) after discussions with a registered medical practitioner, he said.
“The ministry would also like to inform that the intake of this second booster dose vaccine is voluntary,” he said.
Teenagers aged between 12 and 17 with clinical risk of severe disease could also be offered a first booster dose four to six months after receiving their primary dose, following consultation with a registered medical practitioner. – Bernama, May 12, 2022
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