January 12, 2022 (Tillamook, Ore.) – Adventist Health Tillamook has been allotted a limited supply of Emergency Use Authorized treatment medication by the Federal Drug Administration for high-risk patients who test positive for COVID-19. These oral antiviral medications, manufactured by Pfizer under the name PAXLOVID, and manufactured by MERCK under the name Molnupiravir, are only prescribed to patients after seeing a primary care provider who can authorize the medication’s use.
John Bohlman, MD and Medical Officer at Adventist Health Tillamook states, “These emergency use medications are most effective for patients who are 5 or fewer days feeling ill, and are designated high-risk.” The CDC has categorized patients as high-risk for COVID by not being vaccinated, or only partially vaccinated, immunocompromised, and/or have risk factors for developing severe COVID such as being over the age of 65 or have chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, hypertension, kidney disease, pregnancy, immune suppression, sickle cell, or neurodevelopmental disorder. Dr. Bohlman continues, “Some patients might not be able to receive this treatment due to drug interactions or reproductive concerns. It is important that all patients see a primary care physician if they’re feeling ill, be tested, and receive instructions for care, which may include this new emergency use antiviral medication.”
Adventist Health Tillamook is a faith-based, nonprofit healthcare organization that includes: a 25-bed
critical access medical center located in Tillamook, Oregon; the largest hospital-based ambulance service
in the State of Oregon with four stations located throughout Tillamook County; and rural health clinics and
urgent care medical offices serving the northern Oregon coast as well as the communities of Sheridan,
Vernonia, Estacada and Welches. Adventist Health Tillamook employs over 550 associates and healthcare
providers and is part of Adventist Health, a faith-based, nonprofit integrated health system serving more
than 75 communities in California, Hawaii and Oregon. For more information about Adventist Health
Tillamook please visit: https://www.adventisthealth.org/tillamook/about-us/
