The Winchester District Memorial Hospital (WDMH) is launching a new study into treatment plans for immunocompromised people who contract COVID-19.
The hospital has announced that it’s recruiting patients for the trial, which will focus on Paxlovid, a treatment that was approved by Health Canada last year.
“For immunocompromised patients, the current five-day treatment protocol may not be long enough to fully clear the virus from the body,” explains Communications Lead Jane Adams. “This study will explore the efficacy and safety of various treatment lengths, to determine the most effective protocol.”
“COVID-19 continues to put immunocompromised patients at risk for severe outcomes, prolonged disease, and the generation of new variants,” adds Dr. Mary Naciuk, the doctor leading the trial. “It is important for us to discover the optimal duration of treatment with antivirals.”
Participation is open to anyone older than 12 who is immunocompromised, has COVID-19, and has at least one symptom. People taking part will be given Paxlovid for 5, 10, or 15 days, and be expected to attend at least 10 study visits, either in the hospital or at your home, over the next six months.
You can find more information on the trial on the hospital’s website.