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Walmart to offer COVID-19 antiviral prescriptions

Selected pharmacy locations to provide Pfizer’s Paxlovid, Merck’s Molnupiravir

Russell Redman

January 3, 2022

3 Min Read
Walmart COVID antiviral prescriptions-curbside pickup.png
Since Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are prescribed to people with COVID-19, the drugs will be available at Walmart and Sam’s Club only via curbside pickup or drive-through pharmacy windows.Walmart

At selected pharmacy locations, Walmart is set to receive and dispense two COVID-19 antiviral medications authorized by Food and Drug Administration just before the holiday break.

Walmart said Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck’s Molnupiravir, both oral medicines, will be available at some Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies this week as supplies allow. Customers must have a prescription from a health care provider to receive the medications, the Bentonville, Ark.-based retailer noted.

Since Paxlovid and Molnupiravir are prescribed to people with COVID-19, the drugs will be available at Walmart and Sam’s Club only via curbside pickup or drive-through pharmacy windows, according to Walmart. Customers and health professionals can go to walmart.com/covidmedication and use the store locator tool to find their nearest store or club carrying this medication to send the electronic prescription.

Walmart COVID antiviral prescriptions-pickup.png

Walmart noted that customers must have a prescription from a health care provider to receive the antiviral medicines.

Walmart said it worked closely with the federal government and state health departments to choose locations where states determined that the antiviral treatments were needed most. Though current supply restricts the medications’ availability to a limited number of states, more Walmart and Sam’s Club pharmacies are expected to provide the medicines as more doses are produced, the company added. Both antivirals are available at no cost to eligible patients with a valid prescription.

Related:Federal appeals court reinstates Biden’s employer vaccine mandates

“We are committed to working with our state and federal partners to provide access to new treatment options like authorized COVID-19 antiviral medications, as they become available,” Kevin Host, senior vice president of pharmacy for Walmart, said in a statement. “This medication offers customers the option to recover at home and helps reduce the burden on our hospitals and communities. As we have since the beginning of the pandemic, we’re proud to support our communities through everyday essentials, healthy food, vaccines, medication and other health care needs as we all work together to weather the pandemic.”

With the fast-spreading Omicron variant of COVID-19 hoisting infection counts nationwide, the FDA granted emergency use authorization (EUA) to Pfizer’s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets) on Dec. 22 and to Merck’s Molnupiravir (Molnupiravir capsules) on Dec. 23. Both are for the treatment of mild-to-moderate coronavirus infection in people testing positive for COVID-19 and who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death.

“This authorization provides a new tool to combat COVID-19 at a crucial time in the pandemic as new variants emerge and promises to make antiviral treatment more accessible to patients who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19,” Patrizia Cavazzoni, director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, stated when announcing the EUA for Paxlovid.

Related:UFCW calls on grocery retail CEOs to boost COVID-19 safety

Molnupiravir can be prescribed only to adults, while Paxlovid is authorized for use by adults and children ages 12 and older weighing at least 88 pounds. The FDA noted that both antivirals are treatments for COVID-19 intended to reduce the risk of hospitalization and aren’t a substitute for COVID-19 vaccinations.

“As new variants of the virus continue to emerge, it is crucial to expand the country’s arsenal of COVID-19 therapies using emergency use authorization, while continuing to generate additional data on their safety and effectiveness,” Cavazzoni said in reporting the EUA for Molnupiravir.

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About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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