Medicines to treat COVID-19

COVID-19 antiviral medicines can help people who are at risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19. These medicines are free.

Who can get antivirals

People with a high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are eligible for treatment with COVID-19 antiviral medicines. These medicines reduce the amount of virus in your body, so you do not get as sick and you are less likely to go to hospital.

You can get free antiviral medicines if you:

  • have COVID-19 and symptoms or you are a Household Contact and have symptoms, and

  • became sick within the last 5 days, and

  • are eligible for the medicine.

Eligible people include:

  • Māori or Pacific people aged 50 or over

  • everyone aged 65 or over

  • anyone aged 50 or over with fewer than 2 COVID-19 vaccinations

  • anyone with a severely weakened immune system

  • anyone with Down syndrome

  • anyone with sickle cell disease

  • anyone who has previously been in critical high dependency hospital care from COVID-19

  • anyone with 3 or more high-risk medical conditions.

  • High-risk medical conditions include:

    Chronic lung or airways disease

    Serious heart conditions such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, and congenital heart disease

    Hypertension

    Chronic neurological or neuromuscular disease

    Diabetes

    Chronic kidney disease

    Severe liver disease such as cirrhosis

    Severe haematological disorders

    Severe mental illness such as schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar or schizoaffective disorder

    Active cancer

    Morbid obesity (BMI greater than 35).

  • New Zealand has reciprocal health agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom (UK). Citizens and permanent residents of Australia and UK citizens can get the same publicly funded healthcare as New Zealand. This includes free COVID-19 antiviral medicines for eligible people.

    Reciprocal health agreements and what they cover | Te Whatu Ora — Health New Zealand(external link)

    We strongly encourage overseas visitors to get travel insurance and check it covers them for the treatment of COVID-19.

    COVID-19 tests are free for everyone in New Zealand, including visitors.

  • If you are not eligible for free antivirals, contact your healthcare provider to discuss options.

    Currently, molnupiravir (Lagevrio) is the only COVID-19 antiviral available for private purchase in New Zealand. Pharmacists can answer questions about this medicine.