Mayor Isko Moreno and Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna discuss ways to purchase anti-COVID medicines which they give for free to Manileños and non-Manileños. Photo by Jerry S. Tan
2,500 Bexovid Covid-meds free for all – Moreno
THE 2,500 boxes of Bexovid which was earlier procured by Aksyon Demokratiko presidential bet Mayor Isko Moreno, have arrived in Manila and are now ready for free distribution to those who are infected with COVID-19 aged 12 or older even from far-flung provinces.
The said batch of medicines is the latest addition to the city government’s stock of anti-viral pills for fighting COVID-19 and which Moreno had ordered to be given free of charge to anyone needing it, Manileños or not.
Moreno said that the purchase of the said drugs was suggested by his doctor-partner, Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna and running mate Willie Ong, adding it will be helpful for those with mild to moderate COVID-19 cases, even minors.
“Ang nasabing gamot po ay may 90% efficacy in preventing hospitalization and death in high-risk patients. Ang intake po nito ay two tablets of Nirmatrelvir and one tablet of Ritonavir, twice a day for 5 days,” Moreno said.
He added: “Kapit lang po mga minamahal kong kababayan. Sama-sama po tayo dito sa laban na ito. May gobyerno po kayong masasandalan sa lahat ng oras. Walang bibitaw.”
It will be recalled that in January of this year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted a compassionate special permit (CSP) for Bexovid, which is the first generic version of Pfizer’s Paxlovid, the first oral treatment for COVID-19 which was first authorized for use in the United States.
In doing so, the FDA stated that Bexovid could help reduce risks of hospitalization and deaths by 88 to 89% when taken within 3 to 5 days from the onset of symptoms of COVID-19.
