Remdesivir (Veklury) - hospital access criteria assessment tool

This guide is intended to help Health NZ clinicians assess whether their hospitalised patient is eligible for funded access to remdesivir.

A person has confirmed or a likely case of COVID-19
Symptoms started:
Person is taking another COVID-19 antiviral?
Patient is hospitalised and at high risk of progressing to severe disease
Patient needs, or is expected to need, mechanical ventilation
Are there clinical reasons the person can't take Paxlovid ‡
Person needs supplemental oxygen as a result of COVID-19 infection #
Person is:
Person has:

Result will appear here

Remdesivir is not funded

As it has been more than 7 days since symptoms started, remdesivir (Veklury) is not funded.

Remdesivir not funded

Remdesivir (Veklury) is not funded because the person is already taking a COVID-19 antiviral treatment.

Remdesivir is not funded unless someone has COVID-19

To check eligibility, change your answer to "yes" to assess whether the person would be eligible if they get COVID-19.

Remdesivir is funded

The person meets the access criteria for funded access to remdesivir (Veklury).

Remdesivir is funded

The person meets the access criteria for funded access to remdesivir (Veklury). 

Remdesivir is funded

The person meets the access criteria for funded access to remdesivir (Veklury).

Remdesivir is not funded

Remdesivir (Veklury) is not funded because the person needs, or is likely to need, mechanical ventilation

Remdesivir not funded

The person may be able to access funded Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir).

Paxlovid access criteria tool

You will likely get an error message when you follow the link, you can disregard it.

Remdesivir is not funded

Remdesivir (Veklury) is not funded for people who need supplementary oxygen as a result of a COVID-19 infection.

Remdesivir is not funded

Remdesivir (Veklury) is not funded because the person does not meet any of the access criteria.

Notes: 

Guidance for assessing if someone is at high risk of severe disease progression

BPACNZ | Access criteria for COVID-19 antivirals: Determine priority by need(external link) 

# supplemental oxygen to maintain oxygen saturation >93%, or at or above baseline, due to COVID-19 infection (excluding people with chronic resting hypoxia as a result of conditions other than COVID-19)

* Identifying people who are severely immunocompromised

** 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

‡ including but not limited to using the Liverpool COVID-19 Drug Interaction Checker(external link)

Only one COVID-19 antiviral treatment is funded at a time. 

You may get an error message saying you have unsaved changes when you leave or refresh this page. You can ignore this message.

If you don't get a result, refresh and start again. Changing answers to earlier questions may cause this.

Updated from 1 September 2025