COVID-19 Therapy

Paxlovid Oral Antiviral Tablet Available at BCH

If you are less than five days from the onset of symptoms due to COVID-19 and are at high-risk for developing severe disease, you may be eligible for an outpatient therapy for COVID-19. Boulder Community Health (BCH) offers evaluation for Paxlovid Antiviral tablets. Please see the information below to determine your eligibility.

Update: BCH no longer offering Monoclonal Antibody Infusion. Available Monoclonal antibodies to COVID-19 are no longer active to variants of COVID-19 circulating in our area. BCH has discontinued use of monoclonal antibodies, keeping in line with recommendations from the state of Colorado. Monoclonal antibody therapies were a one–time infusion previously approved by the FDA via emergency use authorization for COVID-19.

Paxlovid Antiviral Therapy

Paxlovid is another medicine for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 approved by the FDA via emergency use authorization. Paxlovid is an anti-viral pill, which means it directly targets SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Directly targeting the virus with Paxlovid has been shown to significantly decrease the chances of hospitalization in individuals at high risk for progressing to severe disease due to COVID-19. This medication has several important drug-drug interactions that need to be reviewed by a provider.

You may be eligible for Paxlovid therapy if your symptoms of COVID-19 started within the last 5 days and you have a positive COVID-19 test (either home antigen test or laboratory PCR).

People at the greatest risk for developing severe disease include those who are:

• Vaccinated and Severely Immunocompromised
• Unvaccinated and over 18 years old with a clinical risk factor for COVID progression
• Vaccinated and over 18 years old with a clinical risk factor for COVID progression
• 65 years or older, irrespective of vaccination

Patients with other medical problems may also be at risk for severe disease. Click here to see this list provided by the CDC.

Assessment for Paxlovid Therapy

An assessment is available at BCH Monday through Friday. Please follow the steps outlined below:

• You have taken a home antigen test or a laboratory PCR test that is positive for COVID-19 in the last 5 days and have symptoms of COVID-19.
• Call your BCH primary care provider (Monday – Friday) to schedule an urgent telehealth visit.
• If you have a non-BCH provider, you can call the BCH COVID-19 line at 303-415-8180. A telehealth visit may be scheduled but are only available Monday – Friday.
• A BCH Provider performing your telehealth visit will prescribe Paxlovid ONLY if indicated based on criteria and assessment of drug-drug interactions.
• Health insurance is not required for a telehealth visit. Paxlovid is prescribed free of charge from the dispensing pharmacy.

Important Limitations

• Paxlovid does NOT have FDA approval for post exposure prevention of COVID-19 acquisition nor does it have approval to be prescribed “just in case of infection.”
• BCH providers are following guidance set out by FDA EUA that only individuals at risk for progression will be prescribed Paxlovid.

For more information, please view this fact sheet from the FDA.

If you have COVID-19 and think you might be a candidate for Paxlovid antiviral pill based on the information above, please call your BCH Primary Care Doctor for a telehealth visit or if you don’t have a BCH Primary Care Doctor, call the BCH COVID-19 line at 303-415-8180 where you will be screened to see if you are a candidate for therapy.