News

Antiviral medications are now available for COVID-19 positive people at risk of severe disease.

The eligibility criteria for receiving the COVID-19 oral antiviral treatments have now been expanded meaning many more people in our community are now eligible.

Antiviral medications reduce the risk of severe disease, hospital admission and death. They may also reduce the risk of you passing on COVID to your household.

As COVID-19 cases continue to increase, so are the number of patients the Barwon South West Public Health Unit (BSWPHU) are prescribing antivirals for in partnership with GPs and respiratory clinics.

There are 50-90 people eligible for antiviral treatment in the greater Geelong region every day.

The BSWPHU team are currently prescribing Paxlovid® and Lagevrio® which are provided in tablet form.

Both Paxlovid® and Lagevrio® were shown to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death in two internationally recognised clinical studies and we are seeing a significant impact locally with many of those patients reporting mild symptoms and our records show most people who are prescribed antivirals are able to remain at home and out of hospital.

Keeping COVID-19 patients out of hospital where possible, is vital to ensuring the health system can continue to support the community for non-COVID related illness.

Infectious Disease registrar Dr Arvind Yerramilli from the Barwon South West Public Health Unit (BSWPHU) is one of the team providing new oral antiviral treatment to eligible patients with COVID-19.
Paxlovid® and Lagevrio® are oral antiviral agents meaning that they can be taken in tablet or capsule form.

Lagevrio® has an active ingredient that works by preventing the virus from multiplying within the body. In contrast, Paxlovid® has two ingredients. Like Lagevrio, the first part works by preventing the virus multiplying, while the second part helps to increase the blood concentration of the first part allowing it to work for longer.

Dr Yerramilli believes antivirals are a game-changer when it comes to keeping COVID positive patients out of hospital,

“While vaccination and particularly booster doses are still the best way to prevent severe COVID-19, oral antiviral treatments can be used as another tool to help particularly vulnerable adults.”

“Both Paxlovid® and Lagevrio® were shown to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death in two internationally recognised clinical studies,” he says.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 30 years or older are eligible along with people with medical comorbidities or those who are moderately immunocompromised. For information on eligibility click here.

The best way to quickly get access to this medication is by arranging a tele-health appointment with your GP and discussing this with them. Prior to becoming unwell, the Barwon South West Public Health Unit also recommends discussing your COVID treatment plan with your GP, should you be diagnosed with COVID.

If you are unable to contact your GP, you can contact a Respiratory Clinic for a telehealth appointment on (03) 9975 8401.