The oral antiviral combination nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) is funded for treating patients with COVID-19 in the community. This resource for prescribers and dispensing pharmacists links to Pharmac's access criteria (updated 1 October 2023) and to comprehensive drug interaction guidance.
Paxlovid and molnupiravir were approved in Aotearoa early in 2022 for treating COVID-19 in adults at increased risk of progressing to severe disease, hospitalisation or death. Variations in the dispensing of these medicines suggest inequitable access. Read this microlearning to find out more.
To date, two oral antiviral agents have been approved in Aotearoa New Zealand for treating COVID-19 in adults who are at increased risk of progressing to severe disease, hospitalisation or death. This article reports on the uptake of these medicines between April 2022 and December 2023, based on dispensing data provided by Te Whatu Ora.
Available evidence indicates that Evusheld is useful against only a small number of the variants of COVID-19 in New Zealand. It is not routinely recommended for use and will only remain available for ordering until the stock has expired. Pharmac continues to review this regularly.
Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid), a new oral antiviral medicine for adults with COVID-19, is now available for community use. In people at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, treatment with Paxlovid has been shown to reduce the incidence of hospitalisation or death. However, for certain patients it will not be safe or appropriate to use Paxlovid.