Respiratory doctor calls for antivirals to be given to more people with COVID-19

A respiratory physician is calling for the use of antivirals to fight COVID-19 infections to be expanded.

Currently, two antivirals are available for treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19.

The medication is available on the pharmaceutical benefit scheme to people who:

• Are aged 65 or older who have two other risk factors for severe disease
• Are aged 75 or older with one other risk factor
• Are aged 50 and older who are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and have two further risk factors
• Are moderately to severely immunocompromised

But with 2213 COVID-19 deaths recorded in Victoria so far this year, head of epidemiological modelling unit at Monash University and respiratory doctor at The Alfred Hospital, Associate Professor James Trauer, says it’s time to consider expanding the eligibility criteria for the antivirals.

“We at least need to have a look at whether we need to expand their use a bit,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“Most people don’t get any side effects from these treatments and you only take them for a few days … so I think there is scope to expand.

“They are pretty safe and manageable.”

Associate Professor Trauer says there will likely be “a significant wave ahead of us with BA.4 or BA.5”, so it’s critical Australia shores up stocks of antivirals.

“We need to have a really careful look at what we can do.”