Overview
There are two COVID-19 oral treatments currently available for use in Australia:
- nirmatrelvir + ritonavir (Paxlovid®)
- molnupiravir (Lagevrio®) – for eligible people who cannot take Paxlovid®
These medications, taken as capsules or tablets, can be offered to people with risk factors for severe disease with COVID-19 infection to reduce the severity of their illness and decrease the risk of hospitalisation.
Antiviral treatment is not a substitute for COVID-19 vaccination.
COVID-19 vaccination provides the best protection against developing severe disease from COVID-19.
People at higher risk of a severe COVID-19 illness
You may be at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 if you are:
- aged 70 years or over
- aged 50 years and older and have additional risk factors
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander aged 30 years and older and have additional risk factors
- pregnant with additional risk factors, including if you are unvaccinated
- aged 18 years or older and unvaccinated or moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Additional risk factors include:
- obesity
- diabetes
- serious cardiovascular disease, including poorly controlled blood pressure
- chronic lung disease, including moderate or severe asthma requiring hospitalisation in the last 12 months
- neurological conditions, like stroke and dementia
- severe chronic liver or kidney disease
- active cancer
- severe mental health conditions
- pregnant with underlying conditions
- living with disability with multiple conditions and/or frailty.
Some people who are at risk of severe illness from COVID-19 may benefit from additional care and support, or be eligible for oral antiviral treatment. These antiviral medications are most effective when started early during your infection (ideally within 5 days).
More information is available on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.
Accessing COVID-19 treatment
If you are at higher risk of severe illness and test positive for COVID-19, you should contact your GP for a telehealth assessment early in your illness, even if you are feeling reasonably well.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and existing clients can also contact Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service.
You can also:
- call HealthDirect for advice on 1800 022 222, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
- use Find a health service to find an after-hours GP clinic open near you
- call the Canberra Afterhours Locum Medical Service (CALMS) on 1300 422 567 from 6pm on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays
- call the COVID-19 Care@Home team on 02 5124 3085. The team of nurses can provide advice on COVID-19 symptom management and assist you with engaging your usual GP or another provider.
Additional resources
For more information on people at higher risk of a severe COVID-19 illness see Risk factors for more serious illness on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.
For more information on oral treatments see Oral treatments for COVID-19 on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website,
For more information on eligibility for COVID-19 treatments see Updated eligibility for oral COVID-19 treatments on the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care website.
You can find information on oral COVID-19 treatments in over 60 languages.
