There are now two oral antiviral medications available to treat covid-19 in high risk patients to reduce the risk of serious complications. The eligibility criteria for these medications have recently been widened as of July 11th 2022. If you test positive for covid-19 and fall into one of the following categories you may be eligible for antiviral medication:
- 70 years or older regardless of risk factors, and with or without symptoms
- 50 years or older with 2 risk factors
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 30 years or older and with 2 risk factors.
- 18 years or older with moderate to severe immunocompromise
Risk factors include:
- living in residential aged care
- living with disability with multiple conditions and/or frailty
- 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 (BMI>30) or diabetes (type I or II requiring medication)
- congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies
- kidney failure or liver cirrhosis
- living remotely with reduced access to higher level healthcare
Please note antiviral medication is only suitable for people at high risk of complications from covid-19. Most people do not require treatment. Further information is available through NSW Health.
