Wednesday, January 12, 2022
In late December 2021, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for Pfizer’s PaxlovidTM and Merck’s Molnupiravir for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus disease (COVID-19) for certain patients who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
These oral antiviral therapeutic treatments are available by a doctor’s prescription only. The FDA recommends initiating them as soon as possible after diagnosis of COVID-19 and within five days of symptom onset.
If prescribed, both drugs are covered by your pharmacy benefit through Express Scripts:
- Fill the prescription at a participating pharmacy
- Call your pharmacy to ensure they have availability before you arrive
- During the period of "emergency use" as determined by the federal government these medications will have a $0 member copay.
For more information about the Lehigh University employee prescription drug benefit, visit the HR website.