And is why I am doing everything possible to avoid getting it.
As am I but avoiding getting it becomes more difficult when covid restrictions are all removed as it looks as if they may be in UK before the end of this month.
Which brings us to antivirals and other medication for covid referred to by Dr Shepherd in the statement a couple of posts back.
"Information on Antivirals for Covid19
You might have ME/CFS and be unvaccinated due to a medical exemption or by choice and wonder if you will be prescribed antivirals should you catch Covid-19." (quoted from MEA statement above)
I already have a priority PCR test (sent unsolicited) to be taken if I have covid symptoms so I am interested in the treatments that might be offered. There are two available currently on the NHS to be decided between following a conversation with a specialist doctor.
One is an antiviral, Molnupiravir which is taken in tablet form, and the other, a monoclonal antibody, Sotrovimab which is taken as an infusion in a health facility. I immediately turned to reading about side effects. Until the covid vaccines I had no history of side effects to medication apart from one antibiotic over 50 years ago, but my severe adverse reactions to both covid vaccines has made me very nervous.
Sotrovimab lists possible angioedema and anaphylaxis ( it contains histidine), and other less severe allergic reactions.
Molnupiravir lists nausea, diarroeha, dizziness, headache, possible rashes.
I couldn't find any efficacy information for either on the NHS site.
From memory I seem to remember earlier data showing paxlovid (a
pfizer treatment) not yet listed as available) as being particularly efficacious and molnupiravir as much less so. I don't think sotrovimab will be an option for me since I reacted to AZ1 with angioedema recurring over several months, " almost anaphylaxis" being the medical description.
I hope there will be more options soon. Having only recently put a toe into going out, it is beginning to feel very unsafe again.