A new COVID-19 pill produced by Pfizer has made its way to the Capital Region.
Paxlovid, an oral antiviral medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration in December, is used to treat mild-to-moderate cases of the virus in people over the age of 12, and can be taken at home to keep infected people out of the hospital.
Paxlovid has begun to hit shelves nationwide and locally.
Central Avenue Pharmacy was one of three pharmacies in Albany County to receive an allotment of 20 doses.
Supply at the location went fast, but it recently restocked.
“Other than a non-completely healthy adult, you probably qualify for it,” said Ramy Houacine, a pharmacy intern at Central Avenue Pharmacy in Albany. “The other factor is a mild-to-moderate case. And essentially, they’re just trying to prevent from it progressing to the point where you would need to be hospitalized.”
