Covid-19 Anti Virals
Selected Unichem Pharmacies are able to provide the oral COVID-19 antiviral medicines to those who meet certain eligibility criteria
Book your appointment at a time and place that's convenient for you. Many of our pharmacies are open seven days a week, including some evenings.
Elibility criteria can be found here. This can then be provided without the need for a prescription. This provides an additional pathway for COVID-19 positive individuals to gain access to these medicines, providing you meet eligibility criteria. If you have any questions in relation to oral COVID-19 antiviral medicines, please consult with your local Unichem or Life Pharmacy or your GP.
People can get free antiviral medicine, if:
They have just caught COVID-19 (or they are a probable case, or household contact of positive case); and their symptoms started within 5 days; AND they fit in one of these groups:
Māori or Pacific people AND aged 50 years or older; or
Aged 65 years or older; or
Aged 50 years or older AND have not been given at least two doses of COVID-19 vaccination;
Is severely immunocompromised; or
Has Down syndrome; or
Has sickle cell disease; or
Previously in critical care or a hospital high dependency unit because of COVID-19; or
Any age with three or more high risk medical conditions. These 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/ High blood pressure
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)
sickle cell disease
Down syndrome.
Other notes:
Patient’s symptoms must have started within the last 5 days in order to receive the oral COVID-19 antiviral medicines nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid™) or molnupiravir (Lagevrio®).
Your usual healthcare provider or pharmacy will check the latest information on the Covid19 Health website as well as your overall health, before giving any antiviral medicines. These medicines may not be suitable for everyone, even if they meet eligibility criteria.
