Paxlovid itself is free at point-of-sale (or at least the current supply is), so there’s no monetary concern.
See “paxlovid is free”.
Admittedly, I am not super familiar with the US hospital system, but I believe Paxlovid is only available by prescription—which itself is a nontrivial cost for many.
These patients have already been tested.
Not only did they get tested but they tested positive.
They already have covid, they aren’t being asked to do something unusual and unpleasant to prevent an uncertain future harm.
They’re literally being offered a prescription by a doctor and turning it down.
Note this quote:
Paxlovid was expected to be a major tool in the fight against COVID after it reduced hospitalizations or deaths in high-risk patients by around 90% in a clinical trial.
…
“We’re just not seeing as many people coming in for testing,”
A possible reason for being cautious about prescribing Paxlovid to just anyone (regardless of underlying risk factors and severity) from a public health standpoint is the issue of rebounds. The Paxlovid might hold the infection at bay for a while, and then people could start testing positive again a few days later, so quarantine protocols become a bit more complex.
Admittedly, I am not super familiar with the US hospital system, but I believe Paxlovid is only available by prescription—which itself is a nontrivial cost for many.
Note this quote:
(Emphasis added.)
A possible reason for being cautious about prescribing Paxlovid to just anyone (regardless of underlying risk factors and severity) from a public health standpoint is the issue of rebounds. The Paxlovid might hold the infection at bay for a while, and then people could start testing positive again a few days later, so quarantine protocols become a bit more complex.
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/21/metro/puzzling-phenomenon-patients-report-rebound-covid-19-symptoms-after-taking-antiviral-paxlovid/