The antiviral pill is available to patients older than 12 who have tested positive for COVID and are at risk for developing a severe case of the disease.
States and health providers report they've dispensed less than half their supply from the government, raising fears that the drugs may go to waste while people who could benefit get sicker.
The Biden administration's new program enables high-risk patients who test positive to get antiviral pills on the spot in some pharmacies. But many pharmacies won't be able to participate.
The antiviral pill molnupiravir was authorized and distributed by the government late last year. But it's not doctors' first choice of treatment, except for a narrow slice of patients.
NPR has obtained the government's $5.3 billion contract for the first 10 million courses of Paxlovid, an antiviral pill for COVID-19. Here's what's in it.
Paxlovid and molnupiravir have been authorized for emergency use to keep COVID-19 patients out of the hospital, but don't expect to be able to go to your usual pharmacy and get them.