Positive priority PCR for antivirals - do I call 111?

[RudieCantSail]

I lost my sense of taste on Thursday, DH also tested positive on LTF (mine was negative).
I took the priority PCR I'd been issued which came back positive yesterday morning. A follow up email said I'd get a phone call within 24 hours to discuss if antivirals would be suitable for me, but if I don't hear, to phone GP or 111 if out of hours.

24 hours is nearly up, but apart from no taste and being a bit tired and achy, I don't feel too ill. Just not sure whether I should call 111.

I thought they weren’t doing anti virals any more. These are being phased out

These antivirals have only been offered to CEV people with covid in the last few months ( from November, I think). Why would they be phased out so quickly?

I don’t know why they are phasing them out but there face been posts from cev people on here saying they are no longer eligible. I had also heard this in the community at my gp.

@GrannyBloomers

I don’t know why they are phasing them out but there face been posts from cev people on here saying they are no longer eligible. I had also heard this in the community at my gp.

Not all CEV people are eligible.

The critically vulnerable (3 primary jabs group) are all potentially eligible, as are people with certain other conditions - see Appendix 1 of this doc

www.england.nhs.uk/coronavirus/documents/c1603-interim-clinical-commissioning-policy-antivirals-or-neutralising-monoclonal-antibodies-for-non-hospitalised-patients-with-covid-19-version-5/#appendix_1

and the groups don't match exactly to the initial CEV, and definitely not to the last (expanded) shielding group.

Also not everyone on the potentially eligible list will get the treatments - there are some drug interactions which prevent the use of these new drugs completely, others which are very much on expert risk/benefit basis

Also, you only get them if you're in the system fast enough to start treatment in 5 days from onset

@nether

Sorry I wasn't clear. There are people like me who were told they were eligible and received the priority PCR etc. Now when they phone up they are being told that the rules have changed recently and there are no anti-virals even though they were eligible before.

I accessed anti virals this week so they are definitely still being prescribed for some. Tested positive last Friday, sent my priority PCR and contacted my GP and they were prescribed on Saturday. I was offered an infusion or tablets.

Mu colleague was given the antivirals last week. I spent a day giving the antibody infusions and took drug histories and the antibody didn’t interact with any of the medicines reported to me. I spoke to one of my patients who received it afterwards and he said he felt amazing for two weeks after having it and could tell it was working 12 hours later. It’s great to finally have treatments that are working against this virus (after working on trials of drugs that didn’t.)

I contacted my GP and they contacted the local hospital on day 2 I feel remarkably ok. The hospital are going to send the anti virals round later as my husband is also positive. I am now wondering whether I will be ok feels more like a heavy head cold.

@Wordlewobble

Sorry to hijack this. Just checked my priority PCR test kit and lots of items missing including packaging to send it off!!!?!

I phoned 119 was on hold for over 50
minutes only to get a ratty robot following a script with menopausal or pmt symptoms!!! I might as well have asked our dog what to do about missing items in the PCR test kit!! She said she would post one out to me which will take two to three days to arrive!! I explained that I would need to start taking antivirals within 5 days of symptoms which started today. Apparently I can’t book a test at a drive in place as they won’t know and I should wait for this kit? Do you think that is right?

I booked a pcr test at a drive in last week online. It asked me at the time of booking would I be eligible for anti virals and I clicked yes as I had had a letter telling me I was.

The next morning I had my results (positive) and a separate text asking me if I wanted advice in on anti virals. I replied to the text and within 2 hours someone called me and I had the tablets delivered by post the next day. It was super efficient.

Alternatively look up the panoramic anti viral drug trials, I know of people who have received them that way.

I’m in Wales though which may make a difference. Nothing about priority groups for new treatments on the test booking page for England.

I was rejected for antivirals (essentially asymptomatic, tested because DH positive). I contacted Panoramic and was unfortunately randomly assigned to the control group. Luckily, on Day 8, I seem to have only exhaustion and a random collection of mild symptoms

Those of you who have had covid and are/were deemed to be CEV how poorly have you been were you on day 1 and and day 2 please? I feel surprisingly lucky to have access to the anti virals but as I feel so well (and it seems more like a heavy head cold so far) I wonder whether I should take them or whether as it seems so mild I could maybe manage without them. I have had 4 vaccines.

I am CEV, having had a kidney transplant. I have had 3 primary vaccinations plus a booster in February 2022. I had covid a couple of weeks ago and my only symptom was a runny nose on days 1-4, then no symptoms for the rest of the time I tested positive ( days 1-12). I was offered the antiviral infusion, but I felt my symptoms were too mild to require it, so didn't take up the offer.