Awareness of COVID-19 antivirals has risen in recent weeks, thanks in large part to media coverage. -EPA
The adoption of life-saving COVID-19 antivirals by Australians is slowly increasing as authorities seek to simplify their distribution criteria.
Awareness of drugs, Lagevrio and Paxlovid, has risen in recent weeks, thanks in large part to media coverage. However, there is still a long way to go.
The vice-president of the Australian Medical Association, Dr Chris Moy, said the top body was working with authorities to further promote antivirals.
One of the biggest challenges remained getting people to take them within five days of the onset of their symptoms, the mandatory deadline for access.
They should also test positive for the virus before taking it.
“In the five-day window, sometimes some people don’t get tested on time,” Dr. Moy told the AAP.
“There is (also) a subgroup that would probably never want it anyway … some of them may be those who have not wanted to get vaccinated before.”
Dr Moy said it was up to the healthcare system to let Australians know that antivirals were an important second line of defense to alleviate the risk of serious illness.
“It could make the difference between life and death in some people and also reduce the chances of them ending up in hospital,” he said.
Antiviral drugs are listed in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and can be accessed according to their guidelines, but there are also state regulations that may vary.
“And also some of them don’t match the PBS guidelines,” Dr. Moy said.
“Sometimes it’s hard for a GP to figure out what to do when they find out a patient is stuck between different criteria.”
Some patients may be referred to state authorities for the drug.
Dr. Moy said authorities were looking to simplify guidelines for the distribution of antiviral drugs so that there could be harmony at all levels.
LATEST DETAILS OF COVID-19 THE 24 HOURS:
NSW: 8201 cases, 21 deaths, 1263 in hospital and 40 in ICU
Victory: 8903 cases, 22 dead, 517 in hospital and 29 in the ICU
Queensland: 3861 cases, nine dead, 297 in hospital and 11 in the ICU
Tasmania: 624 cases, one death, 37 in hospital and one in the ICU
NT: 250 cases, one death, 16 in hospital without going to the ICU.