You may be eligible to receive antivirals if you test positive for COVID-19 (or are household contact with symptoms of COVID-19) and are:
Find out if you are eligible for COVID-19 antiviral medication at healthnavigator.org.nz, call Healthline on 0800 358 5453, or speak to your GP practice or pharmacist.
Where to get COVID-19 antiviral medication
For eligible people, some pharmacists will be able to supply COVID-19 antivirals as a pharmacist-only medicine, without a prescription.
If you develop symptoms or test positive for COVID-19 talk to your pharmacist or GP immediately to see if the medicines are right for you.
If you already have a prescription, find a local pharmacy near you.
What are antiviral medications?
Antivirals are medicines that reduce the amount of virus in your body that cause infections like COVID-19 and help avoid severe illness, get better faster, and stay out of hospital.
People who are eligible need to take COVID-19 antivirals within the first 5 days of COVID-19 symptoms starting and are more effective the sooner they are taken.
Antiviral medications do not replace the need to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Vaccination is the best way to help protect against COVID-19.
Which COVID-19 antiviral medications are available in New Zealand?
There are two oral COVID-19 antiviral medications available from a GP or pharmacist in New Zealand for people who are eligible.
Read more about Paxlovid, molnupiravir, and Remdesivir.
Important Notes
Evusheld is a preventative medication for those people most at risk of serious illness due to COVID-19. Evusheld is shown to reduce their chances of getting very sick if they get COVID-19.
It’s only available for a small group of people with very weakened immune systems (e.g. organ transplant patients) who have trouble making antibodies to fight COVID-19 (approximately 2 people per 1,000 in the population).
In some cases, it’s also available for people who are unable to have the COVID-19 vaccine due to a medical condition (not for people who choose not to have the vaccine).
If you’re eligible for Evusheld, the health services managing your care will contact you, or you can call your GP to discuss if the medication is right for you.