Vermont

Only one site offers test-to-treat in Vermont, but antivirals are still available. Here’s how to get them

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2022

In his State of the Union deal with in January, President Joe Biden promised a brand new technique for defeating Covid-19. One key factor was a brand new “test-to-treat” program, the place Individuals might take an antigen check and instantly obtain antiviral remedy in the event that they certified for it.

However Vermont pharmacies quickly realized that none of them had the infrastructure wanted to take part in this system, which required in-pharmacy clinics. One month later, physician’s places of work, too, have principally failed to hitch this system.

Just one clinic within the state — Richford Well being Middle — is a test-to-treat participant, in line with the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies.

Nevertheless, getting antiviral therapy in Vermont remains to be an choice for high-risk people. Analysis reveals that antiviral remedy can decrease the chance of hospitalization and demise, notably if taken early in the midst of the illness.

Listed below are extra particulars about getting antiviral therapy.

What antiviral drugs are on the market?

Antiviral therapies work by concentrating on viral exercise throughout the physique, in line with the Nationwide Institutes of Well being. They work finest when taken early within the illness as a result of they restrict viral replication, which occurs early in the midst of the illness.

One antiviral remedy for Covid, remdesivir, has been absolutely accredited by the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration, however it’s administered solely by injection, usually in hospitals or scientific settings.

Two oral drugs — Paxlovid and molnupiravir — have Emergency Use Authorizations from the FDA, and each can be found in Vermont. The U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies reported it distributed 220 models of Paxlovid and 72 models of molnupiravir to Vermont within the week ending April 17.

Of the 2 drugs, Paxlovid is taken into account the more practical, with an estimated 88% discount in hospitalization and demise for sufferers who take it, in line with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Molnupiravir reduces extreme outcomes by about 30%.

One other therapy choice is monoclonal antibodies, which goal particular spike proteins on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a result of their effectiveness relies on the viral pressure, proper now solely bebtelovimab is distributed to Vermont. The well being providers company reported it gave Vermont 140 doses of it final week.

Major care suppliers are sometimes the individuals who resolve which medicine to prescribe, or whether or not to direct somebody to the hospital for therapy, stated Georgia Maheras, vice chairman of coverage on the Bi-State Major Care Affiliation. Which drug you get could rely in your demographics or the most recent analysis.

“It looks like daily there’s new details about these therapeutics. It is a fairly fluid situation,” she stated.

I examined optimistic for Covid. How do I get antiviral remedy?

One of the best ways to search out out if you happen to qualify for antiviral therapy is to name your well being care supplier, Maheras stated. “They learn about all the opposite issues which might be happening in your physique,” she stated.

You too can discover out if you happen to’re in a high-risk class for Covid by going to the CDC web site. Everybody over age 65 is taken into account high-risk, together with individuals who have power medical circumstances corresponding to most cancers, diabetes, lung illness or kidney illness. People who smoke and people who find themselves chubby are additionally at increased danger of Covid problems.

When you’ve realized that you simply qualify and obtain a prescription for antiviral medicine, the following step is discovering a pharmacy that carries the drug. That may be sophisticated, Maheras stated.

“It isn’t like there’s tens of 1000’s of those therapeutics simply pouring into the state,” she stated. “A problem that we’re all managing by is making an attempt to verify it will get to different components of the state when there’s not an overabundance of provide.”

The U.S. well being company web site has a listing of locations that carry antiviral capsules.

In keeping with Vermont Division of Well being spokesperson Katie Warchut, the state works to verify “choose Kinney Drug areas, hospital emergency departments and some impartial pharmacies have a provide of antivirals readily available. Another areas, like CVS, obtain a separate federal provide,” she stated through e-mail.

What if I don’t have a physician? Or insurance coverage?

Maheras stated that even if you happen to don’t have a go-to main care supplier corresponding to a household doctor, you could possibly get therapy by a few totally different locations.

You possibly can name considered one of Vermont’s 9 free and referral clinics, which offer free providers to Vermonters who need assistance acquiring well being care. The state additionally has federally certified well being facilities that present main care providers on a sliding-scale fee system. The well being division recommends calling 2-1-1 for extra info.

Pressing care clinics in your neighborhood may also be an choice, Maheras stated. You too can go to the emergency division of your native hospital, however she stated that ought to be a final resort except you’ve gotten signs that want fast therapy, corresponding to issue respiratory or a excessive fever.

Antiviral therapy ought to be free even in case you are uninsured, Maheras stated. Though Congress allowed funding free of charge Covid therapy to run out final month, different assets have gone on to suppliers or to the state.

“There’s a number of totally different layers that present some stage … of assurance that the person shouldn’t be the one bearing the burden,” she stated. “Finally that may very well be problematic, however within the second, I believe people mustn’t let monetary issues be a barrier to getting this particular care.”

Nonetheless, she really helpful making it “very clear” to clarify that you simply’re somebody with insurance coverage.

She admitted it could be tough for one specific inhabitants to acquire this remedy: People who find themselves homebound or have one other incapacity that makes it tough for them to succeed in a pharmacy in individual.

“I might hope that whoever you speak to … can be capable of present info round that, ‘oh, , a courier can ship it’ or we are able to determine (the right way to) faucet into the transit system, or no matter these particular options are,” she stated.

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Vermont

The legislative session may be over, but Vermont’s political season is just starting to heat up

Published

5 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

The legislative session may be over, but Vermont’s political season is just starting to heat up

MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – One week after adjourning, Vermont lawmakers are reflecting on the whirlwind session, and strategizing on how to counter Governor Phil Scott’s expected vetoes in the coming days.

The marathon legislative session that ended last week was defined by education spending, property taxes, and ongoing flood recovery efforts. “Lots of tough issues to tackle. Usually, we have two or three. This was five or six,” said House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington.

Lawmakers are sending a flurry of bills to the governor, including measures on flood safety and resiliency, Act 250 reform, and preventing the sale of Vermonters’ sensitive data online.

Senate Majority Leader Alison Clarkson, D-Windsor County, says despite challenges facing a citizen’s legislature getting bigger and more expensive, it was a productive session. “We only have four-and-a-half months to do our work. We got a lot done in four-and-a-half months,” she said.

Lawmakers are also advancing the biggest issue of the session — a bill setting the statewide average property tax rate at 13.8 percent. “Our bill really strikes a balance in ensuring we can do everything we can to have the strongest education system for our kids while also protecting property taxpayers,” Krowinski said.

Governor Scott has pledged to veto it. “They can dig in and whip votes and as they’ve shown us in the past. They don’t need us, they can override vetoes pretty handily,” he said. But he says there could also be room for compromise over the next month.

Meanwhile, Scott has telegraphed possible vetoes for about half a dozen bills including the Renewable Energy Standard; Act 250 reforms; data privacy; and safe injection sites. Lawmakers will return to the Statehouse on June 17th for their veto session

The end of the session has been marked by the retirement of key lawmakers and political announcements preceding the campaign season. In a surprise announcement Friday, Senator Jane Kitchel, D-Caledonia County, was the latest in a string of veteran lawmakers who announced she will be retiring.

Attention is also turning to the governor’s race. Former Gov. Howard Dean on Monday is expected to announce whether he will challenge Phil Scott.

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Vermont

Vermont H.S. scores for Friday, May 17: See how your favorite team fared

Published

12 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

Vermont H.S. scores for Friday, May 17: See how your favorite team fared

The 2024 Vermont high school spring season has begun. See below for scores, schedules and game details (statistical leaders, game notes) from baseball, softball, lacrosse, track and field, tennis and Ultimate.

To report scores: Coaches or team representatives are asked to report results ASAP after games by emailing sports@burlingtonfreepress.com. Please submit with a name/contact number.

►Contact Alex Abrami at aabrami@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @aabrami5

PREVIOUS COVERAGE

End of an era: Colchester girls soccer coach Jeff Paul steps away after 2023 title, 23 seasons

Track and field stars: Who shined, set meet records at the 51st Burlington Invitational meet?

FRIDAY’S H.S. GAMES

Girls lacrosse

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Mount Mansfield at South Burlington

Burlington at U-32

Harwood at Rice

Mount Abraham/Vergennes at Colchester

Middlebury at Champlain Valley

BFA-St. Albans at Essex, 7 p.m.

Boys lacrosse

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Rice at Stowe

Essex at BFA-St. Albans

South Burlington at Mount Mansfield

Champlain Valley at Middlebury

Softball

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Harwood at Lamoille

Enosburg at Rice

Harwood at Milton

Oxbow at Bellows Falls

U-32 at Spaulding

Baseball

Games at 4:30 p.m. unless noted

Hazen at BFA-Fairfax

Richford at Blue Mountain

Mount Mansfield at Burlington

Harwood at Milton

Girls tennis

Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

North Country at U-32

Stowe at Essex

South Burlington at Burlington

Stowe at Essex

Harwood at Middlebury

Rice at Mount Mansfield

Colchester at Champlain Valley, 4:30 p.m.

Boys tennis

Matches at 3:30 p.m. unless noted

St. Johnsbury at U-32

South Burlington at Burlington

Mount Mansfield at Rice

Champlain Valley at Colchester

Boys Ultimate

Games at 4 p.m. unless noted

Rice at Milton

Essex at St. Johnsbury

Colchester at Burlington, 4:30 p.m.

SATURDAY’S H.S. GAMES

Girls lacrosse

Games at 11 a.m. unless noted

BFA-St. Albans at Middlebury

Milton at Spaulding

Lamoille at Stowe

Brattleboro at St. Johnsbury

Stratton Mountain at Green Mountain Valley

Boys lacrosse

Colchester at Mount Abraham/Vergennes, 10 a.m.

Montpelier at Burlington, 11 a.m.

Brattleboro at St. Johnsbury, 12:30 p.m.

Green Mountain Valley at Stratton Mountain, 2 p.m.

Spaulding at Milton, 6 p.m.

Softball

Games at 11 a.m. unless noted

Mount Abraham at Vergennes, 10:30 a.m.

Richford at Twinfield/Danville/Cabot, 10:30 a.m.

Paine Mountain at Burlington/Winooski

Randolph at Lake Region

Missisquoi at St. Johnsbury

Middlebury at Milton

South Burlington at BFA-St. Albans

Essex at Champlain Valley

Burr and Burton at Harwood

Mount Mansfield at Rutland

Lyndon at North Country

Baseball

Games at 11 a.m. unless noted

Mount Abraham at Vergennes, 10 a.m.

Rice at St. Johnsbury

U-32 at Spaulding

Montpelier at Harwood

MIddlebury at Milton

South Burlington at BFA-St. Albans

Burlington at Colchester

Randolph at Lake Region

Essex at Champlain Valley

Hazen at Lamoille

Mount Mansfield at Rutland

Lyndon at North Country

Girls tennis

Matches at 11 a.m. unless noted

Stowe at Champlain Valley

Montpelier at Mount Mansfield

Boys tennis

South Burlington at Stowe, 10 a.m.

Boys Ultimate

Games at 11 a.m. unless noted

Track and field

BFA/South Burlington Relays

(Subject to change)

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Vermont

Vermont Green coming to WYCI!

Published

19 hours ago

May 17, 2024

Press Room

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont Green is coming to WYCI!

The club and station announced a partnership on Thursday which will see six VGFC games broadcast on WYCI this coming season, including both the annual Juba Star friendly and the inuagural Maple Cup against CS-Saint Laurent of Quebec’s Ligue Un.

Here’s the full schedule:

Six men’s games to air on WYCI this Summer(VGFC/WYCI)

“To have some of these games be 2,500 people, sold out, and then also knowing there’s thousands of people watching digitally on the streams is incredible,” said club co-founder Patrick Infurna. “And now to know that with partnering with WYCI that these games will be on local television, it’s just another game changer. It’s a level up for the club, and it’s expanding the access to the game in the way that we’re trying to do this. It’s really cool.

You can find WYCI on the following television providers:

Comcast: SD channel 19; HD channel 712
Burlington Telecom: SD channel 84; HD channel 284
Spectrum: SD channel 12, 14, 16, 22; HD channel 706 or 1230
Metro-Cast: SD channel 17
DirecTV: channel 40
DISH: channel 34
Over the air in HD on channel 40.1 in Saranac Lake, NY, and 26.1 in Claremont, NH