• ReallyActuallyFrankenstein@lemmynsfw.com
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      4 months ago

      Paxlovid isn’t just for hospitals, and for a time it was available for free with any insurance and the barest “medical need.” I got COVID in 2023 and got Paxlovid just by asking the doctor nicely.

      (And despite that, my symptoms were awful and it took two months to fully recover. )

      • HubertManne@moist.catsweat.com
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        4 months ago

        still I bet he was diagnosed and given it faster. When it comes to viruses the sooner you stunt the growth curve the more effective it is.

    • Zaktor@sopuli.xyz
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      4 months ago

      My experience has been that the antivirals are pretty easy to get just for a regular case. If you catch it, don’t assume you can’t get them. But do contact your doctor early, as there is a time window. Better to get on them early when you’re not feeling that badly than wait until you think you’re sick enough to justify it.

    • Ranvier@sopuli.xyz
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      4 months ago

      You don’t need to be hospitalized to get all the antivirals. In fact, that’s the whole thing paxlovid is supposed to prevent. Anyone with risk factors can take paxlovid, and it’s very effective at preventing severe covid. It should be started as soon as possible, not waiting until someone’s already hospitalized. Even in unvaccinated people, if taken early in the course, is 90% effective at preventing severe disease.

      Remdesivir is the one that’s generally only for hospitalized patients, though even that can be used pre hospital too.

      Anyways point is, if you get covid, and have risk factors for severe covid, call your doctor or urgent care to get paxlovid to take if you can, especially if you’re unvaccinated.

      And yeah between getting diagnosed quickly, getting paxlovid I’m sure, and being immunized, Biden will very likely be fine.

      Edit: yes he started paxlovid https://www.npr.org/2024/07/17/nx-s1-5043814/biden-covid