Health Minister John Haggie says the distribution of Paxlovid, a COVID antiviral medication, to community pharmacies has begun.

To now, limited supply meant that the treatment was only available through the regional health authorities.

Now, Haggie says, the province has secured enough supply through the federal government that the treatment can be more widely distributed.

Haggie says who is, or isn’t, eligible for the treatment is determined through a set process because the antivirals can have serious drug interactions.

He says the decision is clinical and based on Health Canada guidelines. A primary caregiver will write the prescription, and the pharmacist will do the medication review.

Haggie was responding after Jenn Deon took to social media after learning that her 100-year-old father had been declined antiviral medication after testing positive for COVID. Haggie says to the best of his knowledge the process was followed and the situation was resolved within hours.

He says people are available in the health care system to answer questions related to patient care.