More Australians eligible for COVID-19 antiviral treatment in bid to stem hospitalisations - 9News

Millions more Australians will have access to life-saving antiviral COVID-19 treatment from tomorrow in a move to stem hospital admissions.

The drugs will be available to everyone aged over 70 and those over 50 who have health conditions such as obesity or diabetes.

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), which advises which drugs should be put on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, has recommended changes to the eligibility criteria.

Health authorities hope expanded access to antiviral treatments will help stem rising hospital cases. (SMH / Kate Geraghty)

Dr Daniel Nour of Street Side Medics, a non-profit medical association, told Today the medication should reduce the number of hospitalisations in Australia.

"That is what the studies show, it reduces hospitalisations and mortality," he said.

"The antiviral by its design and definition aims to stop the replication of the virus to give your body the ability to fight back ... the ability for our body to respond quicker and hopefully suppress severe infection."

Australians aged over 70 who test positive to COVID-19 will be able to access the antivirals, known as Lagevrio and Paxlovid, on the PBS from tomorrow.

GPs can write a script for them.

People aged over 50 with at least two underlying serious health conditions, as well as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged 30 and older with at least two health risk factors, can also access the anti-viral drugs.

The new changes do not affect the ability of people aged 18 and older who are severely immunocompromised or have severe intellectual or physical disabilities needing residential care, as well as people with cerebral palsy or down syndrome, from requesting antiviral treatment.

The Paxlovid tablet for coronavirus patients is produced by pharmaceutical giant Pfizer. (AP)

People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid antivirals and those with severe kidney or liver disease should not take Paxlovid.

Men who take Lagevrio are advised to use contraception while taking the antiviral and for three months after.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group last week recommended that people aged 50 to 64 years old should receive a fourth dose, while people aged 30 to 49 years old may choose to have a fourth dose.

People aged 65 and over are already eligible for a fourth dose.

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https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMioAFodHRwczovL3d3dy45bmV3cy5jb20uYXUvaGVhbHRoL2Nvcm9uYXZpcnVzLWNvdmlkLTE5LWFudGktdmlyYWwtdHJlYXRtZW50LWxhZ2V2cmlvLXBheGxvdmlkLXBmaXplci1hdXN0cmFsaWFucy1lbGlnaWJsZS1wYnMvZTUzZDQyZWUtOWZiZS00NmM3LTgxMTQtODc3YzMwZjU4MzBj0gEA?oc=5

2022-07-10 09:31:58Z
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