25 Jan 2022

Covid-19: Concerns anti-viral medication orders will come too late

From Morning Report, 7:24 am on 25 January 2022

Anti-viral medications ordered by the government may not be available until after the peak of this outbreak - if they get approval.

Last year the government announced it had bought tens of thousands of doses of the drugs molnupiravir and paxlovid.

If taken earlier enough they can cut the risk of serious illness, particularly in vulnerable patients.

But, on the cusp of an Omicron outbreak, one is still getting approved by Medsafe and the other has not yet sought approval.

Health Correspondent Rowan Quinn asked Bryan Betty from the College of GPs whether, approvals aside, the 120,000 doses ordered are enough.