DAY FORECAST. GUY. ALL RIGHT. JASON. WELL, TIS THE SEASON FOR SICKNESS, STOMACH VIRUSES, FLU AND COVID CASES POPPING UP IN YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE. BUT THOSE LOOKING FOR MEDICATION TO TREAT THE CORONAVIRUS ARE FEELING STICKER SHOCK. WVTM 13 S BRYCE JOSLIN TELLS US ABOUT ONE MAN WHO HAD TO DO WITHOUT, AND A PHARMACIST WHO EXPLAINS WHY IT’S SO EXPENSIVE. MICHAEL LAYCOCK SAYS HE COULDN’T BELIEVE THE PRICE OF HIS MOST RECENT PRESCRIPTION, BUT HE’S HOPING TO OVERCOME HIS ILLNESS WITHOUT BREAKING THE BANK. I’M FEELING SOME BETTER. IT WAS A PRETTY ROUGH WEEKEND. YOU KNOW, IT WAS. I’M NOT GOING TO LIE. IT WAS A PRETTY ROUGH WEEKEND, BUT I’M FEELING SOME BETTER NOW. AYCOCK WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID AND GOT A PRESCRIPTION FOR PAXLOVID, BUT IT WAS GOING TO COST HIM $1,400. $1,400 IS TOUGH. WE’RE GETTING CLOSE TO CHRISTMAS. I JUST CAN’T I JUST CAN’T SEE DOING THAT. AYCOCK SAID HE TRIED HIS BEST TO GET HIS HANDS ON THE PRESCRIPTION. I CALLED THE PHARMACY AGAIN ON ON SATURDAY MORNING AND ASKED THEM TO TO PLEASE CHECK INTO IT, AND THEY SAID THERE MIGHT BE AN RCS DISCOUNT PLACE, BUT BUT WHEN SHE CHECKED THAT IT WAS $1,500, THERE WAS $100 MORE. SO I DECIDED IT WAS JUST BEST FOR ME. NOT NOT TO FOOL WITH IT. PAXLOVID WAS AUTHORIZED FOR EMERGENCY USE IN 2021, WITH NEARLY 12 MILLION COURSES PRESCRIBED TO DATE. IT IS AN ANTIVIRAL AGENT THAT HELPS SHORTEN THE DURATION OF THE CORONAVIRUS VIRUS SO THAT YOU’RE NOT AS SICK AS YOU WOULD NORMALLY BE SHOULD YOU CONTRACT COVID. PHARMACIST BECKY SORRELL SAYS GRANTS HELPED COVER THE COST BEFORE. SINCE WE’VE ENDED THE FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS FOR COVID AND MEDICATIONS, PAXLOVID IS NOT FEDERALLY FUNDED ANYMORE. BUT PFIZER PHARMACEUTICALS, THE MANUFACTURER OF PAXLOVID, DOES HAVE A PROGRAM AFTER TAKING OVER-THE-COUNTER MEDICATION. AYCOCK IS COVID FREE AND THANKFUL FOR HIS HELP. YEAH, I COME BACK TO WORK TODAY, SO IT’S ALL IT’S ALL GOOD. I’M NOT SAYING I’M 100% YET, BUT IT’S CERTAINLY I’M I’M NEGATIVE AND I’M ABLE TO TO GO AN HOUR WITHOUT HACKING AND COUGHING. SO I’M GOOD. IN
‘$1,400 is tough’: COVID-19 patient overcomes illness without breaking the bank
As winter approaches, people feel sticker shock while shopping for medication. Michael Aycock says he couldn’t believe the price of his most recent prescription, but he’s hoping to overcome his illness without breaking the bank.Aycock was diagnosed with COVID-19 and got a prescription for Paxlovid, but it was going to cost him $1,400. Aycock said he tried his best to get his hands on the prescription.“I called the pharmacy again on Saturday morning and asked them to please check into it, and they said there might be a Rx discount place, but when she checked that it was $1,500, it was $100 more, so I decided it was best for me not to fool with it,” said Aycock. Paxlovid was authorized for emergency use in 2021, with nearly 12 millions courses prescribed to date. Pharmacist Becky Sorrell says grants helped cover the cost before. “Since we’ve ended the federally funded programs for COVID and medications, Paxlovid is not federally funded anymore, but Pfizer pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer, does have a program,” said Sorrell.After taking over-the-counter medication, Aycock is COVID-19-free and thankful for his health.“Yeah, I come back to work today, so it’s all good. I’m not saying I’m 100% yet, but it’s certain that I’m negative, and I’m able to go an hour without hacking and coughing, so I’m good,” said Aycock.
As winter approaches, people feel sticker shock while shopping for medication. Michael Aycock says he couldn’t believe the price of his most recent prescription, but he’s hoping to overcome his illness without breaking the bank.
Aycock was diagnosed with COVID-19 and got a prescription for Paxlovid, but it was going to cost him $1,400. Aycock said he tried his best to get his hands on the prescription.
“I called the pharmacy again on Saturday morning and asked them to please check into it, and they said there might be a Rx discount place, but when she checked that it was $1,500, it was $100 more, so I decided it was best for me not to fool with it,” said Aycock.
Paxlovid was authorized for emergency use in 2021, with nearly 12 millions courses prescribed to date. Pharmacist Becky Sorrell says grants helped cover the cost before.
“Since we’ve ended the federally funded programs for COVID and medications, Paxlovid is not federally funded anymore, but Pfizer pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer, does have a program,” said Sorrell.
After taking over-the-counter medication, Aycock is COVID-19-free and thankful for his health.
“Yeah, I come back to work today, so it’s all good. I’m not saying I’m 100% yet, but it’s certain that I’m negative, and I’m able to go an hour without hacking and coughing, so I’m good,” said Aycock.
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