COVID-19 antivirals access criteria (includes Paxlovid)

Update on move to supplier-owned stock of Paxlovid

On 30 November 2025, the last of the Pharmac-owned Paxlovid stock expired. Pharmacies and wholesalers will now need to move to supplier-owned Paxlovid stock (Pharmacode 2711613)

To support the change, Pfizer will credit wholesalers and pharmacies for any stock from batch LY8038 (expiry 30 June 2026) that expires before it can be used. The offer of sale or return applies to this batch of Paxlovid stock only, and is subject to other terms and conditions. Please consult with your preferred wholesaler for further details.

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:

1. 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
2. Person’s symptoms started within the last 5 days (if considering nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) or within the last 7 days (if considering remdesivir);
   AND
3. Person does not require supplemental oxygen as a result of their COVID-19 infection^#;
   AND
4. ANY of the following:
   1. Person is aged 65 years or over; or
   2. 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  
   3. 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
   4. Person has had a previous admission to Critical Care or High Dependency care directly as a result of COVID-19; or
   5. Person has Down syndrome; or
   6. Person has sickle cell disease; or
   7. Person receives Disability Support Services funded and administered by the Ministry of Social Development (previously administered by the Ministry of Disabled People | Whaikaha); or
   8. Person has pre-existing high risk due to a health condition and needs direct family, whānau or external disability care most days; or
   9. Person has pre-existing severe frailty and/or vulnerability due to one or more severe health conditions**; or
   10. Person has any combination of three or more high-risk factors for severe illness from COVID-19***;
       AND 
5. 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).