'Covid Drug Could Be A Game-changer For HK'

The Hospital Authority (HA) says an oral antiviral that has just arrived in Hong Kong will be given to high-risk Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms at designated clinics, elderly care homes and public hospitals starting from Wednesday.

The authority said the Paxlovid pills, manufactured by Pfizer, must be taken by patients within five days of symptom onset and could effectively reduce viral loads, thereby cutting hospitalisation and deaths by almost 90 percent.

The Director of the HA's Infectious Disease Centre, Owen Tsang, said the drug would be given to patients aged above 70 who haven't completed their vaccination, as well as younger patients with higher risk factors such as diabetes and low immunity.

He said Paxlovid could be a game-changer especially at elderly care homes.

"It's very important because this drug can effectively decrease the risk of getting severe diseases and prevent the patients from dying so it's a very important drug that can reverse or change the scenario that we are facing now," he said.

He reminded high-risk people to see a doctor as quickly as possible if they develop symptoms from Covid.

"If those patients, especially if they have high-risk factors, they should be watchful of their own symptoms. If they are really symptomatic, it's better for them to see doctors at the designated clinics as early as possible," he said.

But he stressed that vaccination was still the key in preventing serious Covid cases and deaths.

Tsang said he could not disclose how many Paxlovid pills the HA had bought because of a confidentiality agreement with the drug company, but he said the quantity would be enough for the target patient groups.

He noted Paxlovid is not suitable for some patients, for example, people with kidney problems.

Tsang said these patients could instead be prescribed with another oral drug, Molnupiravir, which is less effective but can still reduce Covid-related hospitalisations and deaths.