MOULTRIE — For the first time in its history, Medicare is providing coverage of four antiviral medications for the influenza virus.

Greg Yarbrough, a pharmacist at Westside Pharmacy, said Medicare will pay the total cost of four brands of medications to treat influenza. The brands are Symadine/Symmetrel, Tamiflu, Flumadine and Zanamivir. Three of the medications are taken orally, but Zanamivir is taken by using an inhaler.

The coverage by Medicare of the medications is in response to the flu vaccine shortage earlier in the season, Yarbrough said. These medications are not the vaccine, but they can help reduce the severity and duration of the flu.

If the medications are taken early when the flu begins, Yarbrough said the medicines can reduce its duration from seven days or more to only three to five days. They also reduce the severity of the symptoms associated with the flu.

According to a press release, the drugs are being paid for by Medicare through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The total cost of the drugs are covered for any Medicare beneficiaries, as a preventative measure for any beneficiaries exposed to the flu, and to a beneficiary in an institution where there has been a flu outbreak.

These medicines are only available by prescription, however, Yarbrough said. They will be paid for even if the Medicare beneficiary has received a flu shot but only for no more than two permitted drugs.

The medications will be paid for through May 31, according to the press release, and claims for them must be filed by Dec. 1.