New York state and more than 1,200 pharmacies are providing antiviral medication for H1N1 flu for $5 or less, instead of $100, for people who are uninsured or underinsured, officials announced Monday.
Even the $5 fee will be waived for those who can't afford it. The antivirals, called oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), are prescription drugs that can help prevent and treat flu, reducing the risk of serious complications and death. The drugs are prioritized to people with more severe flu illness, such as people hospitalized with flu, and to people at increased risk of influenza-related complications. The treatment is most effective when begun within 48 hours of the start of flu symptoms.
The state Department of Health is distributing about 125,000 of the five-day treatment courses of antivirals from the state emergency stockpile this week to participating pharmacies, Gov. David A. Paterson said Monday. The state in May distributed a much smaller amount to county health departments for use by hospitals and other health care providers.
Those for whom healthcare providers might prescribe antiviral medications are: pregnant women; women who have given birth in the past two weeks; children younger than 5 and especially children younger than 2; people 65 years and older; people with respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic lung disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; people with other underlying health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, blood disorders, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders or neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis); people with weakened immune systems (including those with HIV/AIDS); and people under 19 who are on long-term aspirin therapy.
Even the $5 fee will be waived for those who can't afford it. The antivirals, called oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), are prescription drugs that can help prevent and treat flu, reducing the risk of serious complications and death. The drugs are prioritized to people with more severe flu illness, such as people hospitalized with flu, and to people at increased risk of influenza-related complications. The treatment is most effective when begun within 48 hours of the start of flu symptoms.
The state Department of Health is distributing about 125,000 of the five-day treatment courses of antivirals from the state emergency stockpile this week to participating pharmacies, Gov. David A. Paterson said Monday. The state in May distributed a much smaller amount to county health departments for use by hospitals and other health care providers.
Those for whom healthcare providers might prescribe antiviral medications are: pregnant women; women who have given birth in the past two weeks; children younger than 5 and especially children younger than 2; people 65 years and older; people with respiratory conditions, including asthma, chronic lung disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; people with other underlying health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, blood disorders, kidney disorders, liver disorders, neurological disorders or neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis); people with weakened immune systems (including those with HIV/AIDS); and people under 19 who are on long-term aspirin therapy.
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