Requested actions
- Be aware, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory about COVID-19 rebound after Paxlovid treatment. Continue to offer Paxlovid for early-stage treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in people at high risk of severe disease.
- Be aware, providers have reported COVID-19 rebound—recurring symptoms or a new positive test after a negative test—2–8 days after initial recovery. A brief return of symptoms may be part of SARS-CoV-2 infection in some people, regardless of treatment or vaccination status. Case reports suggest patients with COVID-19 rebound who were treated with Paxlovid have mild illness.
- Do not offer retreatment. Evidence does not indicate additional treatment is needed.
- Tell patients with COVID-19 rebound to isolate per CDC guidance and take additional precautions to prevent transmission.
- Tell patients to stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccine and seek Evusheld therapy if immunocompromised.
- Continue to prescribe Paxlovid to people who meet treatment criteria.
Contacting the Health Department
360-778-6100 Main Call Line – available M-F 8:30am to 4:30pm
360-715-2588 Afterhours Answering Service – available after 4:30pm and weekends
360-778-6150 Communicable Disease Report Line – 24 hours a day 7 days a week
360-778-6103 Confidential Communicable Disease Fax – 24 hours a day 7 days a week
1500 N State Street, Bellingham WA 98225
Additional information
- CDC health advisory about COVID-19 rebounding after Paxlovid treatment.
- Paxlovid patient eligibility screening checklist, Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- Paxlovid fact sheet for healthcare providers, FDA.
- Paxlovid fact sheet for patients, FDA.
- Interim guidance for use of Paxlovid, Washington State Department of Health (DOH).
- Paxlovid drug interactions, Infectious Diseases Society of America.
- COVID-19 drug interactions, University of Liverpool.
- COVID-19 therapeutics locator for providers, Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Therapeutics for providers page, DOH.
- COVID-19 therapeutics resources, HHS.
- COVID-19 treatment guidelines, National Institutes of Health.