COVID-19 antivirals access criteria (includes Paxlovid)

Access criteria current as at 1 September 2025

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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:

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

Wholesalers will work with pharmacies and Health NZ Hospitals to ensure they get the right stock.

Once it has expired, pharmacies and wholesalers can destroy any remaining Pharmac-owned Paxlovid stock following their usual processes.