FDA Approved Antiviral Pills Arrive In Oklahoma

With a record weekend of COVID-19 cases across Oklahoma, the state health department is working to get more antiviral pills to treat the virus.

"Our best bet is to just get it out there as much as possible," said Keith Reed, Interim Commissioner of Health.

Reed said the state has now gone through one allocation each, of both Pfizer's Paxlovid pill and Merck's Molnupiravir; 2 drugs approved by the FDA a couple of weeks ago.

"The Pfizer is the one that has a much higher efficacy than the Merck pill,” said Reed. “That particular one, we got a little more than 600 for the entire state. For the Merck pill we got about 2800 for the entire state so we were able to spread that one out a little bit further."

Reed said while the pills will help, it still is not enough statewide.

"Our providers around the state are frustrated, because they don't have what they need to fight COVID and we absolutely understand that,” said Reed. “And we acknowledge their frustration on that. I would just like to assure them that we are trying hard to fight for more supply for Oklahomans so we can get it to them."

Reed said they're also working around the clock to get more monoclonal antibodies, including ones that help against Omicron. He said all of the treatment options are important so providers have options.

"We talk about the monoclonal antibodies, we talk about the antiviral pills,” said Reed. “Those are treatment options. Best medicine is prevention. So that's why we do want to make sure we direct everyone back to vaccination, we are seeing more breakthrough infections. But those breakthroughs aren't as severe."

The state health department said they just received about 940 more of the Pfizer pills and 3800 of the Merck pills.

These are in 2 week allocations. They won't get more until the end of the month.