COVID-19 Therapeutics
Updated: May 17, 2022
The available COVID-19 vaccines offer the best defense against COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2). For info on the COVID-19 vaccine, text your ZIP code to 438829 or visit our vaccine page.
In addition to the vaccines, some other therapeutics are available in Inyo County.
----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
ANTIVIRAL MEDICATIONS
Antiviral pills are available via prescription and have been shown to lower the risk of hospitalization and death in people who are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness. They are most effective when taken in the first five days of illness—the sooner, the better.
Paxlovid | Fact Sheet [English] & [Spanish]
Paxlovid is a take-at-home course of pills that does not prevent disease, but may reduce the risk of hospitalization and death for patients at high risk of severe illness.
Who: This therapy is intended for individuals (ages 12+) who are currently infected with COVID-19 AND who meet the current eligibility criteria.
When: This treatment is most effective when taken in the first five (5) days of illness—the sooner, the better.
Where: This treatment is available in Inyo County with a prescription from your physician; see “next steps” below.
Next steps for patients:
- If you are interested in receiving this therapy, please talk with your health care provider. If appropriate, your provider will prescribe this oral medication, which can be filled at one of several pharmacies within the community. | Current locations to fill this prescription can be found here.
- If you do not have established care with a regular doctor, there are also Test-to-Treat locations available throughout the community. Through this program, individuals can get tested, assessed by a medical provider, and (if appropriate) given prescription antiviral pills (Paxlovid or Molnupiravir) all in the same location. | Local Test-to-Treat sites are located at the OptumServe community-based testing sites in Bishop and Lone Pine.
Molnupiravir | Fact Sheet [English] & [Spanish]
Molnupiravir is a set of take-at-home pills that has received emergency use authorization for people at high risk for severe illness for whom alternative COVID-19 treatment options authorized by the FDA are not accessible or clinically appropriate.
Who: This therapy is intended for individuals (ages 18+) who are currently infected with COVID-19 AND who meet the current eligibility criteria. This medication is available to adult patients with certain health conditions that put them at risk of serious disease.
When: This treatment is most effective when taken in the first five (5) days of illness—the sooner, the better.
Where: This treatment is available in Inyo County with a prescription from your physician; see “next steps” below.
Next steps for patients:
- If you are interested in receiving this therapy, please talk with your health care provider. If appropriate, your provider will prescribe this oral medication, which can be filled at one of several pharmacies within the community. | Current locations to fill this prescription can be found here.
- If you do not have established care with a regular doctor, there are also Test-to-Treat locations available throughout the community. Through this program, individuals can get tested, assessed by a medical provider, and (if appropriate) given prescription antiviral pills (Paxlovid or Molnupiravir) all in the same location. | Local Test-to-Treat sites are located at the OptumServe community-based testing sites in Bishop and Lone Pine.
----------------------------------------------------
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY
Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight viruses. While not a cure, these therapies may be a promising COVID-19 therapy for people at increased risk, when taken within a certain window of time.
Bebtelovimab | Fact Sheet [English] & [Spanish]
Bebtelovimab is authorized for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds/40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
Who: This therapy is intended for individuals (ages 12+) who are currently infected with COVID-19 AND who meet the current eligibility criteria.
When: This treatment is available in the first seven (7) days of illness and is most effective when taken as early as possible within that window.
Where: This treatment is available in Inyo County with a referral from your physician; see “next steps” below.
Next steps for patients:If you are interested in receiving this therapy, please talk with your health care provider. If appropriate, your provider will refer you to visit our local provider where the treatment is available, NIHD - Rural Health Clinic. If you are not established with NIHD, you will be asked to use the drive-through same-day clinic at RHC to test/re-test, confirm, and prescribe the monoclonal through outpatient infusion.
If you do not have established care with a regular doctor, please contact the Inyo County Public Health Department at: PHAdmin@inyocounty.us so they may connect you with a provider that can determine if you meet current criteria for this therapy.
Sotrovimab | Fact Sheet [English] & [Spanish]
Sotrovimab is authorized for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19 in adults and pediatric patients (12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds/40 kg) with positive results of direct SARS-CoV-2 viral testing, and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
Who: This therapy is intended for individuals (ages 12+) who are currently infected with COVID-19 AND who meet the current eligibility criteria.
When: n/a
Where: This treatment IS NOT currently available in Inyo County.
Next steps for patients: n/a
----------------------------------------------------
PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS
Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medication is an alternative prevention option for immunocompromised individuals who cannot build a good immune response to COVID-19 by receiving a COVID-19 vaccination or those who have severe adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccine ingredients.
Evusheld | Fact Sheet [English] & [Spanish]
EVUSHELD is authorized for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) as an investigational medicine used in adults and adolescents (12 years of age and older who weigh at least 88 pounds/40 kg) for pre-exposure prophylaxis for prevention of COVID-19 in persons who meet the criteria below.
Who: This therapy is intended for individuals (ages 12+) who are not currently infected with COVID-19 and who have not had recent close contact with someone who is infected with COVID-19 AND who meet the current eligibility criteria.
When: This therapy is effective when used as protection before you are exposed to COVID-19, not as a treatment if you are sick.
Where: This treatment is available in Inyo County with a referral from your physician; see “next steps” below.
Next steps for patients: If you are interested in receiving this therapy, please talk with your health care provider. If appropriate, your provider will refer you to visit our local provider where the treatment is available, NIHD - Rural Health Clinic. If you are not established with NIHD, you will be asked to use the drive-through same-day clinic at RHC to test/re-test, confirm, and prescribe the monoclonal through outpatient infusion.
If you do not have established care with a regular doctor, please contact the Inyo County Public Health Department at: PHAdmin@inyocounty.us so they may connect you with a provider that can determine if you meet current criteria for this therapy
----------------------------------------------------
NOTE TO PROVIDERS: Health care providers are encouraged to direct eligible individuals to receive treatment. If you need help directing patients to locations, please contact: PHAdmin@inyocounty.us
----------------------------------------------------
The HHS Therapeutics Locator provides a searchable map of providers nationwide.
For the latest information on COVID-19 treatments in California, see the California Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 Treatments hub.
