Medicines for COVID-19
Oral medicines for COVID-19 (including antivirals) are now available for people at high risk of developing severe illness. These medicines can reduce the need for you to go to hospital.
You may benefit from these medicines if you are:
- 70 years of age or older
- 50 years of age or older, with one other risk factor for severe disease
- you identify as a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin, are 30 years of age or older with two other risk factors for severe disease
- 18 years or older and immunocompromised.
Risk factors for severe disease include:
- diabetes
- being overweight
- serious heart disease
- chronic respiratory disease
- chronic kidney disease
- a number of other serious health problems.
Get ready now
Plan ahead and talk with your medical team now about what to do if you catch COVID-19. This can be your:
- general practitioner (GP)
- nurse practitioner
- treating specialist.
Treatment needs to start within five days of testing positive to COVID-19 or developing symptoms. You will need:
- a positive RAT or PCR test result for medical team to consider you for COVID-19 medicines (including antivirals)
- a prescription from your medical team to give to your pharmacy to fill
- to find a pharmacy that has COVID-19 medication.
Call your pharmacy before visiting to ensure they have COVID-19 medication in stock.
These treatments are not a substitute for vaccination. We know that vaccination, especially getting boosted, is still your best protection against severe COVID-19.
After testing positive to COVID-19
If you believe you are eligible for COVID-19 medicines, don’t delay. Learn about the important steps to protect yourself and others.