First shipment of Covid-19 pills has arrived

 

The first shipment of 48,000 boxes of Covid-19 pills which have arrived in Malaysia. (Twitter pic)

PETALING JAYA: The first shipment of an antiviral pill to treat Covid-19 has arrived, the health ministry announced today.

A total of 48,000 boxes of Pfizer’s Paxlovid pills were delivered to Pharmaniaga Logistic Sdn Bhd, said health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

“Paxlovid is yet another weapon against Covid-19. However it is no substitute for Covid-19 vaccines or preventive measures to avoid an infection,” he said.

The pills are recommended for Covid-19 patients aged 18 and above, who are not in the high-risk category and who do not require oxygen therapy.

Noor Hisham said that for optimum efficacy, the pills should be taken right after a patient has been tested positive, or within five days after displaying symptoms.

According to the US Food and Drugs Administration, Paxlovid is administered as three tablets (two pink tablets of nirmatrelvir and one white tablet of ritonavir).

They are to be taken together orally (to be swallowed) twice a day for five days, for a total of 30 tablets. Paxlovid is not authorised for use for longer than five consecutive days.

Some of the possible side effects of the drug include joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, high blood pressure, and a change in the sense of taste. - FMT