Baricitinib the new drug to keep Covid-19 under control

Baricitinib the new drug to keep Covid-19 under control

Health ministry using new drug combination to prevent patients from developing pneumonia, says minister.

While much of the buzz has been about Ivermectin, Dr Adham Baba said the ministry was using the new combination called Baricitinib to prevent severe cases.
SHAH ALAM:
The health ministry is using Baricitinib, a new drug combination to prevent Covid-19 patients from transitioning to a more severe category, says minister Dr Adham Baba.

While there has been much buzz about another drug, Ivermectin, Adham said the ministry was using the new combination on Covid-19 patients at a rate of between two and four milligrammes to prevent the risk of developing pneumonia.

He said information on the improvement or the transition of patients from category one to more severe health conditions (category three to category five) was dynamic, therefore the ministry would continue to monitor patient information via the MySejahtera mobile application.

Adham also urged patients to continue making self-assessment through the mobile application especially those who are undergoing home quarantine.

He was speaking to reporters during a press conference after the handing over of the final batch of the Sinovac vaccines by Pharmaniaga Bhd Group managing director Zulkarnain Md Eusope to the ministry today.

Present to witness the handover was Deputy Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

On vaccination for adolescents in the country, he said the government would wait for further clinical data from Pfizer International on the matter, adding currently it would focus on completing the national Covid-19 immunisation programme for the adult population first.

Adham said the ministry was also considering giving vaccines to support groups at schools including bus drivers, school security guards and food suppliers in efforts to protect students from Covid-19 infection.

Stay current - Follow FMT on WhatsApp, Google news and Telegram

Subscribe to our newsletter and get news delivered to your mailbox.