By Deidre McPhillips, CNN
Covid-19 hospitalizations are on the rise in the United States, with more than 34,000 new admissions last week, but millions of vaccines and doses of antiviral treatments that could help prevent severe outcomes from the virus remain unused.
Research has found that many who could benefit most from the Covid-19 medication Paxlovid — including the elderly and Black and Hispanic people, groups that have disproportionately had the most severe illness — are less likely to take it.
As the supply of Paxlovid has grown, efforts have been made to improve timely, equitable access to the treatment.
“The driving distance to the nearest site or the geographic accessibility of the places where Paxlovid is being offered doesn’t seem to be the primary driver of why these populations are not getting the treatments they need,” said Dr. Rohan Khazanchi, a resident at Harvard Medical School and health equity consultant for the New York City health department.
Transportation is one significant barrier to health care access for many people, experts say, but creating equitable outcomes will involve a much more comprehensive approach.
Major chains offer prescription delivery
In response to the White House’s call for pharmacies to help make this winter a healthier one for Americans, Walgreens launched a program Thursday in partnership with DoorDash and Uber Health that offers free home delivery of Paxlovid for those with a…
