Canada approved Paxlovid, Pfizer’s new oral COVID pill. What you need to know

As Canada stares down an expected jump in hospitalizations, Paxlovid could play "an important role" in the fight against COVID-19, according to health officials.

Canada has approved the first oral COVID-19 treatment that can be taken at home: an antiviral drug from Pfizer called Paxlovid.

The approval comes as Canada grapples with an Omicron-fueled surge of COVID-19 cases, with over 360,000 cases of the variant confirmed across the country so far, though that’s considered to be an underestimate.

As Canada stares down an expected jump in hospitalizations, the newly-approved pills could play “an important role” in the fight against the disease, said Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Teresa Tam.

“It will…potentially blunt the severity of the illness, which is the key goal.”

In clinical trial data submitted to Health Canada, the drug was found to reduce risk of hospitalization and death by 89 per cent, according to Dr. Supriya Sharma, the chief medical adviser.

Here’s what you need to know about the new medication.

To access this treatment, you have to be 18 or older and have tested positive for COVID-19. However, that’s easier said than done in some provinces these days, as testing capacity has been reduced due to Omicron.

Because the COVID-19 infection “must be confirmed” to start treatment — and treatment has to start within five days of your first symptoms — Tam said that “rapid antigen tests may be used” in the cases where PCR testing can’t be done in time.