Perspectives > > Second Opinions– My medical professional's rejection to recommend “just-in-case” Paxlovid speaks volumes
by Donald W. Simborg, MD February 15, 2024
Simborg is a retired doctor and a medical informatics specialist.
I'm an 83-year-old retired doctor. I let my medical license end over a years earlier and have actually put my healthcare into the hands of really capable individuals spent for by Medicare– similar to many people my age. Normally, I have actually enjoyed with this plan and delight in health.
From this point of view, I can observe our health care system much like any other U.S. resident. I want to share one crucial observation at this time: we are now sleep-walking our reaction to COVID. This holds true both amongst the basic citizenry, along with amongst health care experts, who appear reluctant to recommend the most efficient outpatient treatment for COVID– nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid)– even for high-risk clients like myself.
Maybe after the a number of crazy years throughout the worst of the pandemic this is reasonable. We're all tired of it– mentally speaking. It is no longer eliminating us in the huge numbers we saw formerly. It was the 3rd leading cause of death after heart illness and cancer in individuals over the age of 65 throughout the earlier years of the pandemic, and stays a severe danger to individuals of my age.
Unlike cardiovascular disease and cancer, we have a vaccine that can significantly lower the probability of death from COVID. According to the CDC, far less than half of individuals over age 65 have actually gotten the newest vaccine. Last month, on a journey to Costa Rica for trip, I saw just a bachelor on each of the 4 flights there and back using a mask. It was a flight attendant with the mask loosely slung over her mouth and chin, exposing among just 2 crucial locations for the mask: her nose. Really couple of individuals used masks in the airports and there was definitely no social distancing on the shuttle (or masks). The extremely infective JN.1 variation was peaking in the U.S. at the time. Much for awareness and issue amongst my fellow residents.
What about the medical experts, themselves? An occurrence connected to that exact same Costa Rica journey has me worried. Prior to the journey, I asked my medical care doctor for 2 “simply in case” medications to bring together with me: an antibiotic in case I contracted “tourista” and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir in case I contracted COVID. My greatest issue about the latter was the flight going there. I was bringing along COVID screening packages, however understood that if I turned favorable while in Costa Rica, it would be not likely I might get nirmatrelvir/ritonavir recommended there throughout the very first 5 days of signs.
I knew that nirmatrelvir/ritonavir is not authorized for “simply in case” travel use, even in high-risk tourists such as myself.
