What is Paxlovid?
Paxlovid is an anti-viral medication that stops the COVID-19 virus from multiplying. It is approved for adults who have tested positive with mild to moderate COVID-19 and who are at a higher risk of hospitalization or death. Paxlovid needs to be taken within 5 days after developing COVID-19 symptoms.
What is Veklury/Remdesivir?
Veklury/Remdesivir is an antiviral medication used to treat severe illness, including those who are hospitalized or immunocompromised.
What is Evusheld?
Evusheld is a monoclonal antibody treatment approved for adults and children to increase antibodies to the COVID-19 virus. It is given to those who are not currently infected with COVID-19 but have limited COVID-19 vaccine protection (immunocompromised) or are unable to receive the vaccine.
What is the bivalent vaccine?
The new fall bivalent vaccine is an updated vaccine with added ingredients to specially target the current circulating COVID-19 virus strains. These strains include the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and the Omicorn (BA.1) variant. The bivalent vaccine will allow for stronger and longer lasting protection and will create a broader immune response against the COVID-19 variants.
How can I continue protecting myself against COVID-19?
Although many provincial mandates have been lifted, it is still important to protect yourself and your family against COVID-19. Ensuring your COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are up to date is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself against severe illness, complications, hospitalization and death.
Other steps you can take to protect yourself include:
- Stay up to date on local and provincial COVID-19 regulations and recommendations
- Avoid higher risk settings including large crowds and poorly ventilated public spaces
- Consider wearing a mask when higher risk settings cannot be avoided
- Do not delay in seeking medical care if you develop COVID-19 symptoms
If I have had Covid-19 before, do I still need to protect myself?
Even if you have had COVID-19 in the past, you are still susceptible to developing COVID-19 again. Reinfection with COVID-19 means you were infected, recovered, and then later became infected again. Although most people develop protection after infection, reinfections do occur, especially as new strains of the virus emerge. It’s important to continue to protect yourself and your family even if you have already had COVID-19 in the past.