Slovakia received over 2500 packs of the antiviral medicine Lagevrio with the active substance molnupiravir. The medicine was donated by the Federal Republic of Germany to the Slovak Republic.
Lagevrio is primarily intended for patients who are expected to undergo a more severe COVID-19 disease. As a result of the upcoming summer wave of pandemics, consumption and drug availability have increased in several European countries. Last week in Slovakia was only available through 1500 packs of the drug. Based on long-term cooperation in the fight against COVID-19 In response to the worsening epidemiological situation, Germany sent 2510 packages to Slovakia. The product has been released for distribution and can be re-ordered in a standard way since Monday. In addition to Lagevrio, the Ministry of Health is working to set up the distribution and way of the patient for the administration of Paxlovid. On the basis of the completed procurement process and the signed contract with the manufacturer, Slovakia will be supplied with 25 000 packs of medicine in July and August 2022.
Lagevrio may be prescribed by both general and specialised physicians if COVID-19 disease is confirmed by PCR test (RT-PCR, LAMP). It is intended for patients at increased risk of severe illness within five days of onset of syndrome.
Risk groups include patients over 60 years of age, patients with chronic cardiovascular disease in the heart failure stage, diabetes with advanced chronic complications, neurological diseases, chronic lung disease or arterial hypertension. The same indication criteria will apply to Paxlovid.
At the same time, another antiviral medicine - Veclury containing the active substance remdezivir is available to patients. It can be used as an intravenous infusion in adult patients who are at increased risk for severe COVID-19 disease. However, the Ministry of Health again calls for the most effective way to minimise risks related to COVID-19 is vaccination.