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Antivirals and other medicines

Antivirals and other medicines are available for eligible people to treat and prevent COVID-19

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:

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.

Start COVID-19 medicine check

How to get COVID-19 medicine

  1. 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.
  2. Report your positive RAT result online or call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. Need an interpreter? Press 0 when you call.
  3. Find out if you can get COVID-19 medicine using this tool or by calling the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.
  4. See a GP to talk about COVID-19 medicine. If you can't get an appointment with a GP or a GP Respiratory ClinicExternal Link , contact the Victorian Virtual Emergency DepartmentExternal Link .
  5. 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 ClinicExternal Link 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 DepartmentExternal Link .

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.

  • 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 ClinicExternal Link 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.

  • 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.

  • 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
  • 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:

    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:

  • 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.

  • 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

    (03) 9370 4146

    Yes
    Balwyn Balwyn Day and Night Pharmacy

    310-314 Whitehorse Road, 3103

    (03) 9836 3245

    Yes
    Coburg Coburg Pharmacy 4 Less

    1 Louisa Street, 3058

    (03) 9386 6655

    Yes
    Craigieburn Chemist Discount Centre

    2A/340 Craigieburn Road, 3064

    (03) 9308 4981

    Yes
    Cranbourne North Cranbourne North Chemist Warehouse

    180S William Thwaites Boulevard, 3977

    (03) 8391 9509

    Yes
    Hoppers Crossing Hoppers Crossing Chemist Warehouse

    Shop 24-25, 428 Old Geelong Rd, 3029

    (03) 9931 0040

    Yes
    Keilor East Keilor East Chemist Warehouse, 3033

    Lot 3 Milleara Road, 3033

    (03) 9325 4660

    Yes
    Keysborough Parkmore Pharmacy 4 Less

    Shop J01, 317 Cheltenham, 3131

    (03) 9798 1936

    Yes
    Melbourne HealthSmart Pharmacy Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre

    311 Grattan Street, 3000

    (03) 9045 9777

    Yes
    Melton Melton Chemist Warehouse

    Unit 4 Melton Gateway, 66-84 High Street 3337

    (03) 9746 8733

    Yes
    Reservoir Reservoir Pharmacy 4 Less

    Summerhill Shopping Centre, 13/850 Plenty Road, 3073

    (03) 9957 8786

    Yes
    Ringwood Ringwood Chemist Warehouse

    131-133 Maroondah Highway, 3134

    (03) 9870 5022

    Yes
    Wantirna South Pharmacy@Knox

    Shop 2081 Westfield Knox, 425 Burwood Highway 3152

    (03) 9800 5199

    Yes
    Yarraville Carnovale Pharmacy

    149 Somerville Road, Yarraville 3013

    (03) 9314 7557

    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

    (02) 6058 4665

    No
    Ararat Ararat Base Hospital

    Lot 5B Girdlestone Street, 3377

    (03) 5352 9340

    No
    Bairnsdale Bairnsdale Regional Health Service

    122 Day Street, 3875

    (03) 5150 3485

    No
    Ballarat UFS Dispensaries

    717 Sturt Street, 3350

    (03) 5331 9811

    Yes
    Bendigo Bendigo UFS Pharmacy

    Corner View and Barnard Streets, 3530

    (03) 5443 4610

    Yes
    Curlewis Curlewis Pharmacy 4 Less

    10-11/90 Centennial Boulevard, 3222

    (03) 5251 6781

    Yes
    Echuca Echuca Regional Hospital

    226 Service Street, 3564

    (03) 5485 5987

    No
    Hamilton Hamilton Base Hospital

    20 Foster Street, 3300

    (03) 5551 8398

    No
    Horsham Wimmera Healthcare Group

    83 Baillie Street, 3400

    (03) 5381 9247

    No
    Kyneton Kyneton Base Hospital

    7-25 Caroline Chisholm Drive, 3444

    (03) 5422 9906

    No
    Mildura Mildura Chemist Warehouse

    114A-118 Langtree Avenue, 3500

    (03) 5023 2383

    Yes
    Portland Portland District Health

    141-151 Bentinck Street, 3305

    (03) 5521 0329

    No
    Sale Central Gippsland Health

    155 Guthridge Parade, 3850

    (03) 5143 8610

    No
    Shepparton Shepparton Chemist Warehouse

    425 Wyndham Street, 3630

    (03) 5821 6000

    Yes
    Swan Hill Swan Hill District Health

    48 Splatt Street, 3585

    (03) 5033 9296

    No
    Traralgon Traralgon Chemist Warehouse

    92 Franklin Street, 3844

    (03) 5174 2003

    Yes
    Warragul West Gippsland Healthcare

    41 Landsborough Street, 3820

    (03) 5623 0639

    No
    Warnambool South West Healthcare

    25 Ryot Street, 3280

    (03) 5563 4170

    No
    Wonthaggi Bass Coast Health

    235 Graham Street, 3995

    (03) 5671 3227

    No

Clinician resources

View clinician resourcesExternal Link for advice for healthcare workers on medications for patients with COVID-19.

Reviewed 12 January 2023

Coronavirus Hotline

Call the Coronavirus Hotline if you need help to report a rapid antigen test (RAT) or if you have any questions about COVID-19.

The Victorian Coronavirus Hotline diverts to the National Coronavirus Helpline every night between 4pm and 9am.

Please keep Triple Zero (000) for emergencies only.

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