COVID-19 treatments

About COVID-19 treatments

Medications are available to some people who test positive for COVID-19. These medications are referred to as antiviral medicines, or simply ‘antivirals.’ Antiviral medicines must be prescribed by a medical doctor or a nurse practitioner.

Antiviral medicines do not replace the need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself, against severe COVID-19 infection.

Not everyone with COVID-19 will need or is eligible for antiviral medication. These medications are of most benefit to people who are at higher risk of severe illness.

Who is eligible for antiviral medicines?

Senior Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments if you are:

• 70 years and older, regardless of risk factors and with or without symptoms
• 50 to 69 years with ONE additional risk factor
• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people, 30 years or older and with ONE additional risk factor.

Risk factors for these groups include:

• living in residential aged care
• living with disability with multiple conditions and/or frailty (but not limited to living in supported accommodation)
• neurological conditions like stroke or dementia and demyelinating conditions e.g., multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• chronic respiratory conditions including COPD, moderate or severe asthma
• obesity or diabetes (type I or II requiring medication)
• heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies
• kidney failure or cirrhosis
• living remotely with reduced access to higher level healthcare
• past COVID-19 infection resulting in hospitalisation

People aged 18 years and older

If you test positive for COVID-19 and are moderately to severely immunocompromised, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments.

Conditions include:

• blood cancer or some red blood cell disorders (thalassemia, sickle cell disease)
• transplant recipient
• primary or acquired (HIV) immunodeficiency
• chemotherapy or whole-body radiotherapy in the last 3 months
• high dose corticosteroids or pulse corticosteroid therapy in the last 3 months
• immunosuppressive treatments in the last 3 months
• taking rituximab in the last 12 months
• cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome
• congenital heart disease
• living with disability with multiple conditions and/or frailty.

Even if you have a higher chance of severe illness from COVID-19, antiviral medicines may not be right for you. 

Your doctor will assess whether antiviral medicines are needed and safe for you to take. They will also consider other medical conditions you may have, and any other medications you are taking.

Antiviral medication used to treat flu is different to the medication that is used to treat COVID-19. Find out if you are eligible for antiviral medication to treat flu.

How to access antivirals

You can only access antiviral medication if are eligible and you test positive to COVID-19. A GP or your health care provider will provide you with a script to get antiviral medication from a pharmacy. 

If you believe you are at higher risk and eligible for antivirals, you should:

• make a plan before you get sick with your GP or health care provider about how you will get tested and then access antivirals if you test positive. You need to begin taking antivirals for COVID-19 within five days of symptoms starting.
• if you get any symptoms, contact your regular GP or health care provider as soon as possible and get tested. People at higher risk of severe disease are recommended to get a PCR test, but both a positive PCR or RAT can be used to access antivirals.
• If you do test positive, let your GP or health care provider know straight away.
• If you do not have a regular doctor or they are not available, you can phone the Care@home team on 1800 973 363 to discuss your care options. Alternatively, you can contact an afterhours doctors service.