“GROUND-BREAKING” new Covid-19 treatments are to be made available by NHS Scotland in the next few weeks.
Two types of antiviral treatments will be offered to high-risk individuals with the early stages of coronavirus in early January.
One of these is an intravenous injection known as a monoclonal antibody treatment, which is administered in day clinics in hospital.
A pill called molnupiravir will also be made available for adults who are at the highest risk from Covid-19.
Chief medical officer Gregor Smith said the new treatments are “ground-breaking”, but should not be seen as an alternative to vaccination.
READ MORE: Scotland 'considering' cutting self-isolation period as announced in England
He said: “Adults and children aged 12 or over who are thought to be at high risk and with a clinical condition that has been prioritised for treatment will be able to be assessed by a clinician in their own health board to see if the new coronavirus therapies are suitable and provide further information on how to access the medicines, if eligible.
“We will also be writing to individuals who may be eligible to access these new treatments in early January to provide them with further information and home PCR test kits.
“If recommended for treatment, individuals may be invited to attend a day clinic at a hospital to receive a monoclonal antibody which is normally given by intravenous infusion.
“Alternatively, the assessing clinician may recommend an antiviral treatment to be taken orally.”
Details on who is eligible for the new treatments are on the NHS Inform website.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel