Medicines are available for eligible people to treat and prevent COVID-19
People with a high risk of getting very sick with COVID-19 can get medicine to help them stay well. There are medicines to:
- treat COVID-19 symptoms if you get infected
- reduce your chances of getting COVID-19
COVID-19 medicines do not replace vaccination.
Only people most likely to need hospital care can get COVID-19 medicines. This includes people who:
- are aged 70 and over
- are aged 50 and over with certain health conditions (or 30 if they're Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander)
- have a weakened immune system, disability or are born with heart disease.
Most other people can manage COVID-19 safely at home without these medicines.
Find out if you are eligible for COVID-19 medicines
Answer some simple questions to learn if you might be able to access medicine to treat COVID-19.
How to get COVID-19 medicine
- Get tested as soon as you notice symptoms to confirm you have COVID-19. Our testing webpage can help you decide what type of test to get.
- Report your positive RAT result online or call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. Need an interpreter? Press 0 when you call.
- Find out if you can get COVID-19 medicine using this tool or by calling the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.
- See a GP to talk about COVID-19 medicine. If you can't get an appointment with a GP or a GP Respiratory , contact the Victorian Virtual Emergency .
- A GP will prescribe you COVID-19 medicine if you are eligible. For most COVID-19 medicine to work best, you must take it within 5 days of getting sick. You should take the medication even if your symptoms are mild. Find out where to get oral antiviral medicine.
You can see a GP before you get COVID-19 to discuss if COVID-19 medicine is right for you. Having a plan for what to do if you get COVID-19 will mean that you can start taking medicine as soon as possible.
Medicines to treat COVID-19
Medicines are available to treat COVID-19. Some of these medicines are called ‘oral treatments’ or 'antivirals'. They stop people from getting so sick that they need to go to hospital.
COVID-19 Medicines do not replace vaccination. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from COVID-19.
You need to start taking oral antiviral COVID-19 medicine within 5 days of getting sick. This is why it is important to get tested for COVID-19 as soon as you notice any symptoms. You should take the medicine even if your symptoms are mild.
Most other people can manage COVID-19 safely at home without medication. The managing COVID-19 at home web page includes advice about over-the-counter medicines you can take to manage your symptoms.
A GP or a GP Respiratory can assess if you need these medicines and prescribe them for you or refer you to a hospital. If you are unable to get an appointment at a GP or GP Respiratory Clinic, contact the Victorian Virtual Emergency .
Some medicines available to treat COVID-19 are:
- Oral antiviral tablets (Paxlovid™ and Lagevrio™)
- Antiviral infusion (remdesivir)
- Corticosteroid puffers (Pulmicort™ and Alvesco™)
Some of these medicines are only available at hospitals. A GP will refer you to a hospital if you need these. You may also get referrals and support through the COVID Positive Pathways Program.
You should only take medicine that has been prescribed for you. Medicines to treat COVID-19 can have dangerous side effects if taken with some other medicines or supplements. See a GP to talk about what COVID-19 medicine is right for you. It is not safe to share your medicine with others or take medicine that has been prescribed for someone else.
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Only people most likely to need hospital care can get subsidised medicines to treat COVID-19. This includes people who are:
- 70 years of age or older
- 50 years of age or older, with two risk factors for severe disease
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and are 30 years of age or older, with one risk factor for severe disease
- have a weakened immune system and are 18 years of age or older
- have ever been admitted to hospital because of a COVID-19 infection and are 18 years of age or older.
It is not safe for people who are pregnant and young children to take oral antiviral medicine. They may be eligible for other medicines to treat COVID-19 if they have a weakened immune system or risk factors for developing severe disease. A GP or a GP Respiratory can assess if you need these medicines.
If you are not eligible for medicine to treat COVID-19
Most people can manage COVID-19 safely at home without COVID-19 medicine. The managing COVID-19 at home web page has advice about over-the-counter medicines you can take to manage your symptoms.
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You may be eligible for oral antiviral medicines if you have two of these risk factors for severe disease:
- Disability with multiple comorbidities and/or frailty
- Neurological conditions - including stroke, dementia and demyelinating conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis,
- Lung conditions or issues with your breathing- including COPD, asthma (requiring preventer puffers), bronchiectasis, or caused by neurological or musculoskeletal disease
- Heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies
- Obesity (BMI greater than 30)
- Diabetes type I or II, that you take medication for
- Kidney failure (eGFR less than 60mL/min)
- Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
- Live in residential aged care
- You live in a small rural town or remote area with reduced access to high level healthcare
You may also be eligible for oral antiviral medines if you have ever been admitted to hospital because of a COVID-19 infection.
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You may be eligible for oral antiviral medicines if you have a weakened immune system.
People with a weakened immune system include people with:
- blood cancer
- had an organ transplant and are taking medicine to lower your immune system
- had a stem cell transplant within the last 2 years
- an immunodeficiency (conditions that weaken the immune system)
- a blood disorder such as thalassemia or sickle cell disease
- had a rituximab, ocrelizumab or obinutuzumab infusion (medicine delivered into the vein) or ofatumumab injection within the last 12 months
- taken medications which lower your immune system such as chemotherapy or corticosteroids within the last 3 months
- Down syndrome
- cerebral palsy
- congenital heart disease
- a disability with multiple other health conditions and/or frailty
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Many pharmacies are keeping oral antiviral medicines (Paxlovid™ and Lagevrio™) in stock. If you need help finding a pharmacy that stocks oral antiviral medicines (Paxlovid™ and Lagevrio™), you can:
- ask the GP who gave you the prescription if they know a pharmacy that is stocking the medicine you need
- call your local pharmacy to see if they have the medicine you need
- search for a pharmacy stocking these medicines near you on Find a
- find out if you are near a Supercare . They stock oral antiviral medicine
- If you live in a rural or regional area, you can find a pharmacy that stocks these medicines through your Victorian Primary Health Network (PHN). Use the PHN locator to find which PHN you live in. Find oral antiviral medicine in the:
- Western PHN region
- PHN region
- PHN region
If a pharmacy does not have the medicine you need in stock, they can order it for you and it normally arrives the next business day.
Medicine to prevent COVID-19
Medicine to help prevent COVID-19 is available for people who have a:
- weakened immune system, or
- severe allergy which means they are unable to get vaccinated.
This medicine does not replace vaccination for people who can be vaccinated. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself from becoming sick with COVID-19.
A medicine called Evusheld™ is available to help protect very at-risk people from COVID-19. Evusheld™ is a combination of two antibodies called tixagevimab and cilgavimab. These antibodies act like the antibodies that your own immune system makes to fight infection. They may give 6 months of protection against getting COVID-19.
It is important to take additional measures to protect yourself after you have Evusheld™. Second doses at approximately 6 months may be recommended for some very at-risk people.
Evusheld™ is not available at all pharmacies. Evusheld™ is available for you for free at a participating pharmacy. See participating pharmacies below for a location near you.
Further information on Evusheld™ can be found on this fact sheet:
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You may be eligible for Evusheld™ if you are 12 years or older and have:
- had a heart or lung transplant
- had a STEM Cell, kidney, pancreas/islet cell or liver transplant in the last 2 years
- had a transplant and are taking medicines that significantly weaken your immune system or have complications such as graft versus host disease or rejection
- a primary immunodeficiency syndrome
- blood disorders such as myeloma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) or myelodysplastic syndrome
- blood cancer you are receiving treatment for
- HIV
- been told by a doctor you can not get a COVID-19 vaccination due to a severe allergy
- had CAR-T cell therapy in the last 12 months
- had a rituximab infusion (medicine delivered into the vein) within the last 12 months
- taken medications which lower your immune system such as chemotherapy or corticosteroids within the last 3 months
- taken medicines which significantly weaken your immune system in the last 12 months. For example, some medicines used to treat blood cancers, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
If you think you meet the eligibility criteria, you should contact a GP or specialist while you are well to determine whether you should receive Evusheld™.
A GP or specialist will be able to confirm if you meet the eligibility criteria and give you a prescription and access form if Evusheld™ is right for you.
If you had EvusheldTM earlier this year, you may be eligible for a second dose at approximately 6 months after your first.
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Pharmacies that stock Evusheld™
Pharmacies in Victoria that stock Evusheld™ (CSV) -
Evusheld™ can be collected from one of the pharmacies below for free with a prescription and access form from your GP or specialist.
All of the pharmacies below also have nurses available between 6pm to 10pm who can give you your Evusheld™ injection after you collect it from the pharmacist. You can also take the medicine back to your doctor’s clinic to receive your injection.
Suburb Pharmacy Contact details Nurse available for Evusheld™ injection Ascot Vale Ascot Vale Pharmacy 67-69 Union Road, 3032
Yes Balwyn Balwyn Day and Night Pharmacy 310-314 Whitehorse Road, 3103
Yes Coburg Coburg Pharmacy 4 Less 1 Louisa Street, 3058
Yes Craigieburn Chemist Discount Centre 2A/340 Craigieburn Road, 3064
Yes Cranbourne North Cranbourne North Chemist Warehouse 180S William Thwaites Boulevard, 3977
Yes Hoppers Crossing Hoppers Crossing Chemist Warehouse Shop 24-25, 428 Old Geelong Rd, 3029
Yes Keilor East Keilor East Chemist Warehouse, 3033 Lot 3 Milleara Road, 3033
Yes Keysborough Parkmore Pharmacy 4 Less Shop J01, 317 Cheltenham, 3131
Yes Melbourne HealthSmart Pharmacy Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre 311 Grattan Street, 3000
Yes Melton Melton Chemist Warehouse Unit 4 Melton Gateway, 66-84 High Street 3337
Yes Reservoir Reservoir Pharmacy 4 Less Summerhill Shopping Centre, 13/850 Plenty Road, 3073
Yes Ringwood Ringwood Chemist Warehouse 131-133 Maroondah Highway, 3134
Yes Wantirna South Pharmacy@Knox Shop 2081 Westfield Knox, 425 Burwood Highway 3152
Yes Yarraville Carnovale Pharmacy 149 Somerville Road, Yarraville 3013
Yes -
Evusheld™ can be collected from one of the pharmacies below for free with a prescription and access form from your GP or specialist.
The pharmacies that are not located in hospitals below also have nurses available between 6pm to 10pm who can give you your Evusheld™ injection after you collect it from the pharmacist. You can also take the medicine back to your doctor’s clinic to receive your injection.
If the pharmacy you are going to is in a hospital, call before you go so the medication is ready for you to collect.
Suburb Pharmacy Contact details Nurse available for Evusheld™ injection Albury Albury Wodonga Health 201 Borella Road, 2640
No Ararat Ararat Base Hospital Lot 5B Girdlestone Street, 3377
No Bairnsdale Bairnsdale Regional Health Service 122 Day Street, 3875
No Ballarat UFS Dispensaries 717 Sturt Street, 3350
Yes Bendigo Bendigo UFS Pharmacy Corner View and Barnard Streets, 3530
Yes Curlewis Curlewis Pharmacy 4 Less 10-11/90 Centennial Boulevard, 3222
Yes Echuca Echuca Regional Hospital 226 Service Street, 3564
No Hamilton Hamilton Base Hospital 20 Foster Street, 3300
No Horsham Wimmera Healthcare Group 83 Baillie Street, 3400
No Kyneton Kyneton Base Hospital 7-25 Caroline Chisholm Drive, 3444
No Mildura Mildura Chemist Warehouse 114A-118 Langtree Avenue, 3500
Yes Portland Portland District Health 141-151 Bentinck Street, 3305
No Sale Central Gippsland Health 155 Guthridge Parade, 3850
No Shepparton Shepparton Chemist Warehouse 425 Wyndham Street, 3630
Yes Swan Hill Swan Hill District Health 48 Splatt Street, 3585
No Traralgon Traralgon Chemist Warehouse 92 Franklin Street, 3844
Yes Warragul West Gippsland Healthcare 41 Landsborough Street, 3820
No Warnambool South West Healthcare 25 Ryot Street, 3280
No Wonthaggi Bass Coast Health 235 Graham Street, 3995
No
Clinician resources
View clinician for advice for healthcare workers on medications for patients with COVID-19.
Reviewed 12 January 2023