Michele writes:
Hi Dr. Griffin,
I hope you’re enjoying your time in Uganda, and thank you for TWIV. My daughter and I are both big fans!
My question is this. Last week, I asked my internist, who is an infectious disease doctor in Westchester County, if he could write me a prescription for Paxlovid that I could fill and take with me when I travel to the Caribbean for a few days later this month. I am a 63 year old woman with mild kidney disease who is fully vaccinated and boosted. I’ve been very careful and have not had COVID. He said Paxlovid was FDA authorized for emergency use only, and he would have to lie to prescribe it to me for travel and refused to do so. I have been hearing from other people that their doctors readily prescribe them Paxlovid when they are traveling internationally. Do you know if this is permitted? He also said 50 to 60 percent of the people he prescribes it to get rebound from it. Is it possible his anecdotal numbers are more accurate than the current research suggests? And lastly, he said, what he tells all of his patients about COVID is that if your symptoms are improving by day 4, there is no need to take it. Does an improvement in symptoms on Day 4 mean that you’re definitely out of the woods?
Thank you!!
Michele
Chris writes:
Greetings,
Thank you SO much for all that ALL of you at TWIV have done to keep us informed and safe during this Covid nightmare. In the past, I have heard that if you test negative for Covid (using a home rapid kit) you essentially have a ‘free pass’ for the day; meaning, you are not likely contagious that day. I have been involved in multiple occasions where a person has obvious symptoms (coughing and sniffles, or feeling horrible) and they test negative for several days, and then finally test positive. Is it safe to presume that someone with mild symptoms (still feeling OK to socialize) and tests negative THAT day is likely not spreading the virus THAT day, even if they test positive the following day? I know this is tricky but I am wanting to live by the ‘test negative and you are OK for that day’ guideline. In multiple exposures I have had with this exact situation (negative test with symptoms, soon followed by a positive test) I have never gotten Covid (thankfully). I think this is a very important point in helping us to move forward in as safe a way as possible (never 100% guarantee). Thanks much!! Chris
Bill writes:
I am a recently retired, Johns Hopkins trained surgeon, and I find your poking fun at surgeons is funny, and, unfortunately true. When I trained in the 70’s-80’s, we were proud of the fact that Hopkins trained surgeons were “internists who operate”. When I was in practice, I would get referrals from family practice physicians for internal medicine consults.
Thank you for your podcasts.
In one week I prescribed paxlovid 3 times for friends- their doctor didn’t believe in the medicine unless you were in the hospital?
Bill Hardman, M.D.
Will writes:
Dear TWIV
First of all a huge thank you for your weekly broadcast on the current pandemic and viruses, together with reports on the latest research.
Even though I’m in China I have a question relevant to everybody.
Are there known possible sequelae for those who’ve only experienced Asymptomatic Covid? I know there’s abundant evidence of some quite serious possible consequences for some who’ve only had mild infections.
I’m asking because a well known Chinese expert Zhong Nanshan is being quoted as saying there are “none”. Even though I’m a complete layperson I just doubt that an expert would actually say that. Sure, sequelae might be rare compared to those who had serious infections, but to say none is beyond believable.
Thank you
Blessings
Will
CHINA
Hunan Province
