COVID-19 Antivirals Access Criteria assessment tool

This guide is intended to help clinicians assess whether their patient is eligible for funded COVID-19 antiviral treatments.

A person has confirmed or a likely case of COVID-19
Symptoms started:
Person needs supplemental oxygen as a result of COVID-19 infection #
Person is:
Person has:
Person has had symptoms for
Person has had symptoms for
Are there clinical reasons the person can't take Paxlovid ‡
Are there clinical reasons the person can't take Paxlovid ‡

Result will appear here

COVID-19 antiviral treatments are not funded

As it has been more than 7 days since symptoms started, COVID-19 antivirals are not funded.

COVID-19 antiviral treatments are not funded

The person cannot access funded antivirals because they require supplemental oxygen.

COVID-19 antivirals are not funded until someone has COVID-19

Advance ("back pocket") prescriptions

Since 11 August 2022, the Ministry of Health has allowed prescriptions for antivirals to be written in advance of someone getting sick. 

Guidance on advance prescriptions for health care professionals - Te Whatu Ora

How to get antivirals - Covid19.govt.nz

To check eligibility

Change your answer to "yes" to check if the person would be eligible if they get COVID-19.

The person is not eligible for COVID-19 antiviral treatments

The person does not meet current funding criteria for COVID-19 antiviral treatments.

Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid) is funded

The person can access funded Paxlovid.

Remdesivir is funded

Where Paxlovid cannot be used for clinical reasons, people can access funded remdesivir. 

Nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid) is funded

The person can access funded Paxlovid.

Remdesivir is funded

Where Paxlovid cannot be used for clinical reasons, people can access funded remdesivir. 

Remdesivir is funded

Where people have been symptomatic for between 6 and 7 days, remdesivir is the funded antiviral. 

Remdesivir is funded

Where people have been symptomatic for between 6 and 7 days, remdesivir is the funded antiviral. 

Notes: 

# 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)

^ a ‘primary course’ defined as having at least two courses of vaccination against COVID-19. Two injections for most people, three for immunocompromised people.

* 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. 

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

Updated from 1 February 2024 (Molnupiravir no longer available).