INFORMATION FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS
Who should receive outpatient therapy for COVID-19?
Individuals should be considered for outpatient therapy for COVID-19 if they meet the criteria below:
- Are symptomatic with mild-moderate COVID-19 illness AND
- Have a positive SARS-CoV-2 viral test result, AND
- Are at high risk for progressing to severe COVID-19 and/or hospitalization
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides a list of risk factors for severe COVID-19. Some of the most important risk factors include (listed alphabetically): age (risk increases with each decade after age 50) , cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, diabetes, immunocompromising conditions or receipt of immunosuppressive medications, obesity (body mass index ≥30), pregnancy, and sickle cell disease.
For a complete list of risk factors for disease progression, including information on the relative risk of severe disease, see the CDC webpage Underlying Medical Conditions Associated with High Risk for Severe COVID-19. Of note, the likelihood of developing severe COVID-19 increases when a person has multiple comorbidities.
Decision Guide
For more information on guiding outpatient treatment decisions: COVID-19 Therapeutics Decision Aid (hhs.gov)
Oral Antiviral Medication
Oral Antiviral Medication is not authorized for treatment in patients requiring hospitalization due to severe or critical COVID-19.
Pfizer’s Paxlovid
Type: Oral antiviral
Minimum Order Requirement: 20 Courses
Target Population: COVID-19 patients 12 years of age and older with mild-moderate symptoms and are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.
- Paxlovid EUA Fact Sheet
- Paxlovid EUA Letter
- Paxlovid Medication Interaction Checker: Liverpool COVID-19 Interactions (covid19-druginteractions.org)
- Patient Eligibility Screening Checklist and Drug Interaction Toolkit
- Paxlovid Recurrence CDPH Update
- Paxlovid | HHS/ASPR
- PAXLOVID Patient Eligibility Screening Checklist Tool for Prescribers 07182022 (fda.gov)
- Frequently Asked Questions – COVID-19 Rebound After Paxlovid Treatment
Molnupiravir
Type: Oral Antiviral
Minimum Order Requirement: 15 Courses
Target Population: Adult COVID-19 patients with mild-moderate symptoms and are at high risk of developing severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Also used for those who do not fall under the FDA authorization of alternative COVID-19 treatment options.
Providers should carefully review the fact sheet for healthcare providers (available both for Paxlovid and Molnupiravir) before prescribing either medication to ensure that the patient’s condition warrants treatment, that there are no drug interactions, and that there are no contraindications to therapy.
Side by Side Therapeutic Overview