Calls to expand access to Covid antivirals in Australia splits experts and doctors

The medications, taken after Covid diagnosis to lessen symptoms, are only subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for people aged over 65 with two high-risk factors, people over 75 with one high-risk factor, or any immunocompromised person, according to the federal health department.

Butler this week recommended doctors consider prescribing the antivirals to patients, and for patients to ask their doctors about the drugs, warning of an expected spike in Covid cases over winter.

Data tracking website CovidLive reported 332 deaths and more than 196,000 cases nationwide in the last seven days, including 42 deaths and over 30,000 cases on Thursday alone.

Toole said more data was needed on which people were being given the antivirals and what effect it had before eligibility is expanded.

Australia was one of the first countries to grant oral treatments approval for Covid-19 treatment in January. But while 1.3m courses of oral antivirals are now available, just over 55,000 have been administered.