Am I eligible for the COVID19 Antiviral medication?
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments.
Most cases of COVID-19 are mild and can be managed at home, however some people who are at higher risk may need specific antiviral treatments prescribed by a healthcare provider.
Antiviral treatments taken as capsules or tablets may help stop COVID-19 infection from becoming severe.
Courses of these antiviral treatments need to be started as soon as possible after symptoms from COVID-19 begin.
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments if you are:
• 70 years of age or older, regardless of risk factors and with or without symptoms
• 50 years of age or older with 2 additional risk factors for developing severe disease or have had past COVID 19 infections resulting in hospitalisation
• First Nations person, 30 years of age or older and with 1 additional risk factor for developing severe disease
• 18 years of age or older and moderately to severely immunocompromised.
Senior Australians and First Nations people
If you test positive for COVID-19, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments if you are:
• 70 years of age or older, regardless of risk factors and with or without symptoms.
• 50 years of age or older with 2 additional risk factors for developing severe disease or have had past COVID 19 infections resulting in hospitalisation.
• First Nations people, 30 years of age or older and with 1 additional risk factor for developing severe disease or have had past COVID-19 infection resulting in hospitalisation.
Risk factors include:
• living in residential aged care
• living with disability with multiple conditions and/or frailty (but not limited to living in supported accommodation)
• 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 or diabetes (type I or II requiring medication)
• heart failure, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies
• kidney failure or cirrhosis
• living remotely with reduced access to higher level healthcare
• past COVID-19 infection episode resulting in hospitalisation.
People aged 18 years or older
If you test positive for COVID-19 and are moderately to severely immunocompromised, you may be eligible for antiviral treatments.
Conditions include:
• blood cancer or some red blood cell disorders (thalassemia, sickle cell disease)
• transplant recipient
• primary or acquired (HIV) immunodeficiency
• chemotherapy or whole-body radiotherapy in the last 3 months
• high dose corticosteroids or pulse corticosteroid therapy in the last 3 months
• immunosuppressive treatments in the last 3 months
• anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody treatment in the last 12 months/li>
• cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome
• congenital heart disease
• living with disability with multiple conditions and/or frailty.
So, if you meet the above criteria, these are the next steps to take:
1. Contact a doctor for advice about your eligibility for the Antiviral medication.
Private Medical offers COVID19 Antiviral specific consultations, where you can speak with one of our GP’s from the comfort of your home, at a time that suits you. You will speak with them via a video link where they can assess you and your symptoms. These consultations are 20 minutes in length, and you will be out of pocket under $30 for this consultation.
View the benefits of telehealth.
2. If the doctor recommends oral antiviral treatments, you will need a prescription.
The doctor can send the pharmacist your prescription electronically so the medications can be either collected by a friend or family member or delivered to your home.
If you or a loved one has a positive COVID19 result and you meet the criteria for the COVID19 Antiviral medication, please head to Private Medical’s website at www.privatemedical.net to book a consultation online, or simply phone 135 001 to speak with one of our friendly staff.
Book a telehealth appointment now or contact us 135 001.
View COVID19 Antivirals eligibility.
