COVID-19 Antiviral Treatment
In January, Health Canada approved a new pill-form COVID-19 antiviral drug called Paxlovid. A very limited supply of the new drug is available and Ontario Health is prioritizing its use in COVID-positive individuals most at-risk of severe outcomes including:
- immunocompromised individuals (PDF) aged 18 and over regardless of vaccine status
- unvaccinated individuals aged 60 and over
- unvaccinated First Nation, Inuit and Métis individuals aged 50 and over
- unvaccinated individuals aged 50 and over with one or more risk factors (PDF)
Who to contact if you think you’re eligible
Due to the extremely limited supply, Paxlovid is currently only offered in consultation with your primary care provider or through a COVID-19 assessment. Paxlovid does not replace the COVID-19 vaccines, but a treatment for those who are COVID-positive, confirmed through a PCR test, and who meet the eligibility criteria listed above. If you think you may be eligible to receive Paxlovid, you can:
- contact your primary care provider
- call Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000
If you are experiencing moderate COVID-19 symptoms and require care, you can book an appointment at our Assessment Centre where we can assess, test and provide treatment options for COVID-19.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms, please call 911 or visit your nearest Emergency Department.
Referrals
Primary care providers, Telehealth Ontario and Clinical Assessment Centres can refer a patient for an assessment to determine eligibility for Paxlovid. Referrals must be made through St. Mary’s COVID-19 Clinical Assessment Centre by a healthcare provider and Paxlovid is available by prescription only.
Referral Form for Primary Care Providers: Referral for Nirmatrelvir / Ritonavir (Paxlovid®)