While vaccines remain the best protection against severe illness from COVID-19 and have helped reduce the number of infections and deaths from the virus, the recent uptick in cases and concerns about an increase this fall highlight the fact that COVID-19 is not gone, and millions of Americans continue to face a higher risk of severe illness from the virus.

In addition to being up to date on vaccinations, antivirals are an important and effective tool to reduce the severity of symptoms and the risk of hospitalization for those at greatest risk of serious illness. Yet, despite the positive strides made since the start of the pandemic to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and the availability of treatment options, public awareness and timely access to antiviral treatments remain a challenge for many, particularly among some of the most vulnerable populations.

The COVID-19 Education and Equity Project and our partners hosted an engaging discussion focused on raising awareness about antiviral treatments as a critical tool in the battle against COVID-19. A panel of experts provided their perspectives on practical efforts underway to help improve equity and access, shed light on common risk factors, and discuss ways to empower communities to be aware, make a plan, and take action to protect themselves against COVID-19.

Speakers included: 

• Moderator: Dr. Ashley Ritter, ARPN, PhD, Founding Member and CEO, Those Nerdy Girls
• Dr. Arti Barnes, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Illinois Department of Health
• Dr. Eliza Chin, MD, MPH, Executive Director, American Medical Women’s Association
• Dr. Yanira Cruz, MPH, DrPH, President & CEO, National Hispanic Council on Aging

Watch the discussion below.