Antiviral treatments are capsules or tablets you can take which may help stop COVID-19 infection from becoming severe. Courses of these antiviral treatments need to be started as soon as possible, and within the first 5 days after symptoms from COVID-19 begin.
Patients at higher risk of severe illness are eligible for antiviral treatments. If you are Covid positive after using a home RAT or after a CPR pathology test at a laboratory then telephone Floreat Medical to arrange a telehealth consultation with your doctor to discuss management of your symptoms and whether you are eligible for antiviral treatment.
Learn more about oral antiviral treatments for COVID-19.
If you test positive you may be eligible for antiviral treatments if you are:
- 70 years and older;
- 50 years or older with 2 additional risk factors;
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander; or
- Over 18yo and are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Risk factors for over 50yo and ATSI patients include:
- living in residential aged care or nursing home;
- living with a disability
- neurological conditions like stroke or dementia or multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- chronic respiratory conditions including COPD or asthma
- obesity or diabetes
- heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies
- kidney failure or cirrhosis
- living remotely with reduced access to higher level healthcare.
If you test positive, you can contact your doctor at Floreat Medical for advice. If oral antiviral treatments are recommended by your doctor then you will need a prescription. Your doctor can send the pharmacist your prescription electronically so the medications can be either collected by a friend or family member (you will be in isolation having tested positive) or delivered to your home. The antiviral medications are available at most pharmacies.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding you should not have oral antivirals. If you have severe kidney or liver disease you should not have Paxlovid antivirals. Talk to your GP at Floreat Medical about alternative treatment.