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New research released by Pfizer today reveals that only
14% of New Zealanders feel that their life is back to normal
following the COVID-19 pandemic. With the nation planning
its summer in the midst of rising case numbers, Kiwis are
being encouraged to have a COVID-19 summer checklist so they
can enjoy their anticipated holiday season with family and
friends.
Pfizer New Zealand Medical Director, Krishan
Thiru, said that with COVID-19 cases once again rising, it
is important to plan ahead as we enter our third summer, and
third holiday season, living with the virus.
“We
want to ensure Kiwis enjoy a well-deserved break this
summer. While making holiday plans, taking a few simple
steps can help reduce COVID-19 spread and the risk of
serious illness and hospitalisation, and helps maximise
quality time with friends and family.”
Thiru
recommends Kiwis have a checklist to protect themselves,
their whānau and friends in the coming weeks, in addition
to the usual public health measures:
· Stay up to
date with vaccinations and boosters.
· Pack Rapid
Antigen Tests if you’re going away.
· Have a
four-step plan if you test positive:
1. Speak to your
pharmacist or GP to check if you are eligible for antiviral
treatments.
2. Learn about antiviral treatments
available at treatpositive.co.nz
3.
Find participating pharmacies nearest to you or your
destination at healthpoint.co.nz
4.
Phone your doctor or local pharmacy straight away if you
test positive for COVID-19.
The study was undertaken
by New Zealand research firm Talbot Mills, and sponsored by
Pfizer, with more than 1,300 Kiwis to help understand the
ongoing impact of COVID-19.
The research shows New
Zealanders are still afraid of contracting COVID-19, with
more than half (59%) of respondents saying they are fearful
of catching the virus, and nearly a third (30%) reporting
they are still constraining their activities. However, this
does not need to be the case.
The availability of
antiviral treatments, such as Pfizer’s PAXLOVID®
(nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets) does seem to
help allay fears. More than half (52%) of respondents stated
they are “very” or “quite a lot” fearful of catching
the virus, indicating that having access to treatments like
PAXLOVID would make them feel more inclined to live their
life like they did pre-COVID.
PAXLOVID is fully funded
and now widely available for eligible New Zealanders at more
than 400 pharmacy locations nationwide, with free delivery
offered to patients’ homes if
required.
“Vaccination remains the first line of
defence against the virus. However, with one million New
Zealanders being eligible to treat their COVID-19 infection
with antiviral medication, we encourage Kiwis to find out if
they are eligible for treatments and how to access them as a
second line of defence before they need them,” Thiru
said.
Eligibility will depend on several factors,
including age, ethnicity, other health conditions and
vaccination status, so speak to your pharmacist or GP to
check if PAXLOVID is right for you.
For more details,
check
out Pharmac’s access criteria here and visit: http://www.treatpositive.co.nz.
To check the nearest pharmacy that stocks Paxlovid visit: healthpoint.co.nz.
Notes
for the Editor:
Pharmac’s access criteria for
COVID-19 antivirals is available at: COVID-19
antivirals: Access Criteria – Pharmac | New Zealand
Government
At a COVID-19 briefing in September,
the New Zealand Government announced it had secured 100,000
treatment courses of PAXLOVID in 2022, making it available
to around one million Kiwis. This follows the initial supply
agreement signed in December 2021, and Medsafe’s
provisional consent for the supply and use of PAXLOVID in
New Zealand in March 2022.
*About Antivirals
A
COVID-19 antiviral treatment is a medicine that works by
slowing or stopping the virus from replicating. This may
help reduce symptoms and the risk of significant health
complications.
About the Research
Pfizer engaged
with Talbot Mills to undertake research into the ongoing
impact of the pandemic on the everday lives of New
Zealanders. The research was conducted through Talbot Mills
Research online daily tracking survey.
The survey
comprised of a sample that was nationally representative of
1,333 members of the general public aged 18 years and over.
The maximum margin of error (at 95% confidence) for a random
sample of n=1333 is +/- 2.7.
About PAXLOVID®
(nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets)
PAXLOVID is
a SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) inhibitor (also known as
SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease inhibitor) therapy. It was developed
to be administered orally so that it can be prescribed early
after infection, potentially helping patients avoid severe
illness (which can lead to hospitalisation and death).
Nirmatrelvir [PF-07321332], which originated in Pfizer
laboratories, is designed to block the activity of the Mpro,
an enzyme that the coronavirus needs to replicate.
Co-administration with a low dose of ritonavir helps slow
the metabolism, or breakdown, of nirmatrelvir in order for
it to remain active in the body for longer periods of time
at higher concentrations to help combat the
virus.
Nirmatrelvir is designed to inhibit viral
replication at a stage known as proteolysis, which occurs
before viral RNA replication. In preclinical studies,
nirmatrelvir did not demonstrate evidence of mutagenic DNA
interactions.
Current variants of concern can be
resistant to treatments that work by binding to the spike
protein found on the surface of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
PAXLOVID, however, works intracellularly by binding to the
highly conserved Mpro (3CL protease) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus
to inhibit viral replication. Nirmatrelvir has shown
consistent in vitro antiviral activity against the following
variants: Alpha, Beta, Delta, Gamma, Lambda, Mu, and Omicron
BA.1,BA.2 and BA.4.
PAXLOVID is generally administered
at a dose of 300 mg (two 150 mg tablets) of nirmatrelvir
with one 100 mg tablet of ritonavir, given twice-daily for
five days. One carton contains five blister packs
of
PAXLOVID, as co-packaged nirmatrelvir tablets with
ritonavir tablets, providing all required doses for a full
five-day treatment course.
PAXLOVID® is a registered
trademark.
About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change
Patients’ LivesTM
At Pfizer, we apply science and
our global resources to bring therapies to people that
extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to
set the standard for quality, safety and value in the
discovery, development and manufacture of health care
products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every
day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging
markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and
cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time.
Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world’s
premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we
collaborate with health care providers, governments and
local communities to support and expand access to reliable,
affordable health care around the world. For more than 170
years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely
on us. For more information, please visit: www.pfizer.co.nz
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