Publix, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart are offering COVID pills in Florida. What to know

Are you looking for a COVID-19 pill?

Two antiviral pills are available in the U.S. that can help certain high- risk COVID patients combat the disease at home. The pills, which are under emergency use authorization, require a prescription.

Retail pharmacies including Publix, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart can fulfill the prescription. But availability is limited.

As of Tuesday, fewer than 20 stores in Florida are offering the medication, according to the health department’s online locator. Three of the pharmacies, all Publix stores, are in South Florida.

Here’s what to know:

COVID-19 pills: Who is eligible?

One of the pills, Paxlovid, was developed by Pfizer. The other pill, Molnupiravir, was developed by Merck and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. Both pills require a prescription.

Paxlovid, which consists of two medicines (nirmatrelvir and ritonavir), is for patients 12 and older who have mild to moderate COVID-19 but are at high risk for severe illness that can lead to hospitalization or death.

Molnupiravir is like a last resort. The pill is for patients 18 and older who have mild to moderate COVID-19, are high risk for severe illness (which can lead to hospitalization and death) and are unable to access or use other COVID-19 treatment options.

Unlike monoclonal antibody treatments, which require injections or IV infusion, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are oral medications. You swallow them like Tylenol.

The FDA says the pills should be taken by eligible patients as soon as possible once they test positive. Treatment should begin within five days of symptoms onset. However, the pills are not an alternative to COVID-19 vaccinations, the FDA says.

Paxlovid — two pink tablets of nirmatrelvir with one white tablet of ritonavir — should be taken twice a day for five days, the FDA says, and Molnupiravir — four capsules every 12 hours — should be taken for five days.

Florida monoclonal antibody sites shut down after FDA decision. What happens now?

Check with your doctor to see if you’re eligible for the pills. Make sure to tell them about allergies, illnesses and whether you’re taking any medication, including vitamins or herbal products.

Paxlovid, for example, when taken with certain medications can cause serious side effects. You should also tell your doctor if you’re breastfeeding, pregnant or planning to get pregnant. Molnupiravir, for example, is not recommended to be used during pregnancy.

Visit the FDA’s website or ask your healthcare provider to learn more about the medications.

Where can you get a COVID-19 pill in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach?

In South Florida, you can get Paxlovid and Molnupiravir by prescription at the following Publix stores:

▪ Publix at River Landing, 1420 NW North River Drive in Miami

▪ Publix at the Harbor Shops, 1940 Cordova Rd. in Fort Lauderdale

▪ Publix at Crosstown Plaza, 2895 N. Military Trail in West Palm Beach

The pills are not available at any retail pharmacy in the Florida Keys, according to the locator.

What about the rest of Florida?

Select Publix, CVS, Walmart and Wagreens pharmacies in Florida carry the pills.

Florida’s online locator shows there is at least one retail pharmacy that carries the pills in the following counties: Charlotte, Duval, Escambia, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Leon, Marion, Okaloosa, Orange, Pasco, Polk, Suwannee, Volusia. In Washington County, the pills are offered at a King’s Discount Drug in Chipley.

To find a site near you, visit floridahealthcovid19.gov.