COVID-19 antivirals access criteria (includes Paxlovid)
Access criteria current as at 1 September 2025
On this page
Information for people with COVID-19
If you have, or suspect you have, COVID-19 and are at high risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19:
- test early
- contact your health care provider.
They are best placed to let you know what your treatment options are. Treatments must be started within short timeframes from onset of symptoms.
How to get COVID-19 antivirals – info.health.govt.nz(external link)
Check with your pharmacy, some pharmacies can dispense funded Paxlovid without a prescription. You will still need a clinical assessment. These medicines may not be right for everyone, even if you meet Pharmac’s eligibility criteria.
You may still need to pay a co-payment, usually $5.
Access criteria for nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid) and remdesivir (Veklury)
Access criteria – from any relevant practitioner.
Approvals are valid for people where the prescriber confirms the person meets the following criteria and has endorsed the prescription accordingly:
All of the following:
- Person has confirmed (or probable) symptomatic COVID-19, or has symptoms consistent with COVID-19 and is a household contact of a positive case;
AND - Person’s symptoms started within the last 5 days (if considering nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) or within the last 7 days (if considering remdesivir);
AND - Person does not require supplemental oxygen as a result of their COVID-19 infection#;
AND - ANY of the following:
- Person is aged 65 years or over; or
- Person is aged 50 years or over AND is considered by their health care professional to be at high risk of hospitalisation or death from COVID-19 due to factors not covered below; or
- Person is immunocompromised* and not expected to reliably mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination or SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of vaccination status; or
- Person has had a previous admission to Critical Care or High Dependency care directly as a result of COVID-19; or
- Person has Down syndrome; or
- Person has sickle cell disease; or
- Person receives Disability Support Services funded and administered by the Ministry of Social Development (previously administered by the Ministry of Disabled People | Whaikaha); or
- Person has pre-existing high risk due to a health condition and needs direct family, whānau or external disability care most days; or
- Person has pre-existing severe frailty and/or vulnerability due to one or more severe health conditions**; or
- Person has any combination of three or more high-risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19***;
AND
- Not to be used with other COVID-19 antiviral treatments.
Notes:
* Identifying people who are severely immunocompromised as per list hosted on the Pharmac website
** Health conditions that include severe or very advanced disease including, but not limited to, severe neurological, cardiovascular, renal and respiratory conditions
*** High risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19 as per list of hosted on Pharmac website
# supplemental oxygen to maintain oxygen saturation >93%, or at or above baseline, for people with chronic resting hypoxia due to COVID-19 infection (excluding people with chronic resting hypoxia as a result of conditions other than COVID-19).
Guidance for criterion 4.2
BPAC is developing guidance to support health care professionals assess whether someone is at high risk of hospitalisation or death from COVID-19.
BPACNZ | Access criteria for COVID-19 antivirals: Determine priority by need(external link)
Remdesivir only available in public hospitals
These funding criteria apply to Paxlovid and remdesivir (Veklury). Funded remdesivir is only available in public hospitals. Another funding avenue is also available for remdesivir for people in public hospitals.
Remdesivir access criteria and supply arrangements
Supply and transition arrangements
From 1 October 2025 supply and funding of Paxlovid will be the same as most other funded medicines. Pharmacies and Health NZ Hospitals purchasing stock will need to claim a subsidy.
Wholesalers will purchase stock of remdesivir and Paxlovid at the list price on the Pharmaceutical Schedule and then sell it to pharmacies and Health NZ Hospitals, which will dispense treatments to eligible people.
Wholesalers will be able to purchase Paxlovid stock from 12 September 2025.
Pharmac-owned stock remains free
Pharmac-owned stock will remain in the supply chain for a short time after 1 October 2025. This stock can continue to be used until it has expired. It continues to be free, as it is now.
From 1 October 2025, both Pharmac-owned and supplier-owned Paxlovid stock will be listed on the Pharmaceutical Schedule.
Check the batch numbers to know Paxlovid to claim for
Pharmac-owned Paxlovid stock (not to be claimed) – Currently available from wholesalers
|
Batch number |
Expiry date |
|---|---|
|
LC4337 |
30 September 2025 |
|
LA6262 |
30 September 2025 |
|
LE2880 |
31 October 2025 |
|
LK1195 |
30 November 2025 |
Supplier-owned stock (can be claimed) – Available from wholesalers from 1 October 2025
|
Batch number |
Expiry date |
|---|---|
|
LY8038 |
30 June 2026 |
Pharmacies can continue to order the free stock until it reaches its expiry date. After expiry, it does not need to be returned to wholesaler, it can be disposed at pharmacy using usual methods.
Wholesalers will work with pharmacies and Health NZ Hospitals to ensure they get the right stock.