I-DROP takes effect Saturday, just in time for the release of the oral SARS-CoV-2 antiviral Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir/Ritonavir). Paxlovid will be the first medication taken at home to treat COVID-19. It’s packaged in a 5 day blister pack and initial supply will be very limited. Pfizer is releasing 65,000 treatment courses nationwide this week, and projected to ship 200,000 courses nationwide in January. Illinois will receive a mere 2,040 courses with the initial release. Paxlovid is a critically valuable commodity.
Almost all patients receiving a course of Paxlovid will complete the treatment but, for a variety of reasons, some may not. Because of I-DROP, unused Paxlovid tablets do not have to be discarded. A package of Paxlovid with some of the tablets popped out of the blisters and some of the tablets still in the blisters can be returned to the pharmacy to be inspected and re-dispensed to other COVID-19 patients. This would not be legal without I-DROP. Illinois is fortunate to have I-DROP as an additional tool in the fight against COVID-19.