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.
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.