Covid-19 treatments

You may be at highest risk of getting seriously ill from Covid-19 if you:

• are aged 85 years or over
• have end-stage heart failure and have a long-term ventricular assistance device
• are resident in a care home and aged 70 years or over
• are resident in a care home and have a BMI of 35 or more, or have diabetes or heart failure
• have Down's syndrome, or another chromosomal condition that affects your immune system
• have certain types of cancer, or had treatment for certain types of cancer
• have sickle cell disease
• have certain conditions affecting your blood, including some types of blood cancer
• have chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 4 or 5, including people on dialysis
• have severe liver disease
• have had an organ transplant or are on the organ transplant waiting list
• have certain autoimmune or inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease
• have HIV or AIDS and have a weakened immune system
• have a condition affecting your immune system
• have a condition affecting the brain or nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, motor neurone disease, myasthenia gravis, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease or certain types of dementia
• have certain lung conditions or treatments for lung conditions

This list is a summary and does not cover everything.

If you're unsure if you are eligible, speak to your doctor or hospital specialist who can advise you.

Find out more about people at the highest risk who are eligible for COVID-19 treatment on the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) website

The treatments available for people at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill from Covid-19 are:

• nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid)
• sotrovimab (Xevudy)
• molnupiravir (Lagevrio)
• remdesivir (Veklury)

Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, molnupiravir and remdesivir are antiviral medicines.

When being assessed for treatment, a doctor will advise which treatment is most suitable for you.

Some treatments come as capsules or tablets that you swallow. Others are given to you through a drip in your arm (infusion), usually in a hospital or local health centre.

These treatments can help some people manage their Covid-19 symptoms and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill.

If you need to go into hospital for Covid-19, you may get other treatments.

1. Keep rapid lateral flow tests at home

If you're eligible for Covid-19 treatments, you should keep rapid lateral flow tests at home.

You can pick up free Covid-19 rapid lateral flow tests from your local pharmacy. Check this list of participating pharmacies or go to https://www.nhs.uk/service-search/pharmacy/find-a-pharmacy enter your postcode, select a pharmacy, click on treatment and services and scroll down to screening and test services. Lateral flow tests will be listed here if they offer them.

The pharmacist may ask you about your medical history to confirm you’re eligible for free tests. Visit here for more information on free Covid-19 tests.

2. Take a rapid lateral flow test if you get symptoms

If you have any symptoms of Covid-19, take a rapid lateral flow test as soon as possible, even if your symptoms are mild. Only take a test if you have symptoms.

You can also use tests you've paid for, for example, a test you've bought from a supermarket or pharmacy.

3. If your test is positive

If you are positive call 020 3196 3239 or email NEL.CMDUReferral@nhs.net as soon as possible to see if you are eligible for treatment.

4. If your test is negative, do a total of 3 tests over 3 days

If your test result is negative, but you still have symptoms of Covid-19, you need to do a total of 3 rapid lateral flow tests over 3 days.

For example, if you did your first test today, you should do a 2nd test tomorrow and a 3rd test the day after.

If any test result is positive call 020 3196 3239 or email NEL.CMDUReferral@nhs.net as soon as possible to see if you are eligible for treatment.