Statement on the new COVID-19 treatment PAXLOVID

Minister of Health and Social Services Tracy-Anne McPhee and the acting Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Catherine Elliott have issued the following statement:

“The Government of Yukon is pleased that Health Canada has authorized a new drug to treat adults who have been diagnosed mild to moderate COVID-19 and are at risk of developing serious disease.

“The new oral antiviral drug PAXLOVID^TM, developed by Pfizer, is the first COVID-19 therapy that can be taken at home. The new drug is a combination of two medications that work to stop the virus from replicating and greatly reducing the likelihood of hospitalization or death in high-risk COVID-19 patients.

“We are working with the federal government to receive the Yukon’s initial allocation as soon as possible. This will be a very limited quantity of treatment courses. Additional treatment courses will be available as the supply of the medication increases in the coming weeks and months.

“While this adds a new option for health care providers treating people with COVID-19, please know that these drugs are not an alternative to vaccination. Vaccination remains the best way to prevent serious outcomes from COVID-19 and we encourage all Yukoners to roll up their sleeve and get vaccinated and get a booster."