Beijing Doles Out Pfizer’s Paxlovid to Community Centers to Take Pressure Off Hospitals

Beijing is distributing Pfizer Inc.’s Paxlovid to community health centers in an effort to tackle a shortage of the antiviral Covid pill and take some of the pressure off the already stretched health care system, albeit under close supervision to prevent abuse by those dispensing the life-saving medicine.

A notice recently circulated widely online, but originally intended for medical personnel, claimed distribution would begin soon and that community doctors would be trained on Monday how to instruct Covid patients to take the antiviral drug. A doctor from a community health center in Chaoyang district confirmed to Caixin the notice was authentic.