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HOME KNOW GO PAXLOVID® FOR HCPs
Are you at risk of severe COVID-19?

KNOW if you are at risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.
If you test positive, GO! Act fast and call your doctor or
pharmacist to see if COVID-19 treatment is right for you.

TAKE THE QUIZ
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Know

Take this short quiz to find out if you are one of the ~1 million Kiwis at risk of severe COVID-19. You may be eligible for treatment to help you feel better sooner and keep you out of hospital.

What’s your risk? Badge
Go

Tested positive for COVID-19? Act fast! Call your doctor or pharmacist and ask if COVID-19 treatment (oral antiviral medicine) is right for you. PAXLOVID is an antiviral medicine that you can take at home.

Take action
Know

Follow these 4 simple steps to know if you are at risk of severe COVID-19,
how to protect yourself and how to be prepared if you test positive

Around 1 million Kiwis are at risk of severe COVID-19

COVID-19 can be a mild illness for many people, but in others, it can make them so sick that they need to go to hospital or may even die. It’s important to know if you are at risk of severe COVID-19 so you can take action if you test positive.

People at risk of severe COVID-19 include those who are:

  • Older
  • Have existing medical conditions
  • Māori or
    Pasifika
  • Not
    vaccinated

For the full list of risk factors for severe COVID-19, please visit Health New Zealand or speak to your healthcare provider.

Are you at risk of severe COVID-19?

Take the quiz to find out
(your data will not be stored)

What is your age?

The risk of severe COVID-19
increases with age

Do you identify as Māori or Pasifika?
Have you had a COVID-19 vaccine?
Do you have any of the following conditions?

Tick all that apply.

Do any of the following apply to you?

Tick all that apply.

Addiction

Housing

Disability

Severe COVID-19


Do you have a weakened immune system?

Some medicines or conditions can weaken your immune system and make it harder for your body to fight infections.

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Check if your COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date

eligible Click to find out if you're eligible for the updated vaccine or speak to your doctor or pharmacist

vaccinationFind a vaccination centre or pharmacy near you

Are you up to date with your COVID-19 vaccinations?

One of the best ways to protect yourself from getting very sick from COVID-19 is to get vaccinated and stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

There are a number of factors that can put you at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, including if you:1

  • Are older
  • Have certain ongoing medical conditions
  • Are of Māori or Pacific ethnicity
  • Are
    unvaccinated

The COVID-19 vaccine is updated to ensure it helps protect against the newer strains of the virus. Getting the updated vaccine keeps your immune system on alert and lowers your chance of getting very sick from COVID-19 and ending up in hospital.

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is available for:

  • Everyone 30 years of age and older

  • People 12-29 years of age who are at higher risk of severe COVID-19

Even if you’ve had COVID-19, it is still recommended that you get an updated vaccine.

You should  wait at least 6 months after either your last COVID-19 vaccine or COVID-19 infection before receiving the updated vaccine.

FIND OUT MORE
Check if you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatment

Complete the health checklist now and share with your doctor or pharmacist

Fill out the health
checklist Loading
COVID-19 can be treated at home with COVID-19 antiviral medicines
COVID-19 antiviral medicines can reduce how long you're
sick for and how sick you may get from COVID-19.

  • PAXLOVID is an antiviral medicine that's available for Kiwis who are more likely to get very sick, end up in hospital or die from COVID-19

  • PAXLOVID must be started within 5 days of symptoms starting

Complete the Health Checklist and share it with your doctor or pharmacist to understand if you’re eligible for PAXLOVID.

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If you are eligible for PAXLOVID, ask your doctor about an advance prescription. This means if you test positive for COVID-19, you can start treatment without delay.

Other ways to be prepared for COVID-19

Make sure you have enough masks on hand.

Have enough RAT home testing kits and know how to get more.

Stock up on hand sanitiser, gloves, and basic medical supplies (e.g. pain relief medicines, a thermometer, nasal spray, lozenges).

Share your plan with your loved ones so everyone knows what steps to take if you test positive.

Make sure you have a supply of any regular medications you take.

Keep an up to date list of any medications you take, including vitamins and supplements, and be ready to share with your healthcare provider.

Have someone you can ask to pick up supplies if you test positive.

Go

Don’t wait to see if your symptoms get worse – act fast!

Tested positive for COVID-19? GO!

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, even if they’re mild, don’t wait.

Act fast by calling your doctor, pharmacist or hauora provider and, if it’s right for you, start PAXLOVID.

PAXLOVID can help reduce your risk of going to hospital or dying from COVID-19 by up to 86%.

PAXLOVID is an antiviral medicine that is taken at home as a short course of tablets. PAXLOVID must be started within 5 days of your first symptoms.


PAXLOVID is free of charge for eligible people.

Many pharmacists are specially trained and able to provide PAXLOVID without a prescription. Find a pharmacy and make a plan.

 Find a pharmacy Loading View the PAXLOVID Consumer Medicine InformationLoading

PAXLOVID® (nirmatrelvir 150 mg/ritonavir 100 mg) film-coated tablets PAXLOVID is a prescription medicine for treatment of COVID-19 in adults who are at increased risk of progression to hospitalisation or death. PAXLOVID has risks and benefits. Use strictly as directed. Ask your doctor if PAXLOVID is right for you. Do not take PAXLOVID: if you are allergic to nirmatrelvir and/or ritonavir or any of the ingredients; with certain other medicines that may cause serious or life-threatening side effects or affect how PAXLOVID works; if you have or have had severely reduced liver or kidney function. Use with caution with other medicines; pre-existing liver or kidney diseases or problems; pregnancy; lactation; PAXLOVID contains lactose. Possible side effects include vomiting; diarrhoea; headache; high blood pressure; aching muscle, muscle tenderness or weakness not due to exercise; changes in taste or a metallic taste in the mouth; severe allergic reaction; signs and/or symptoms of allergic reaction include rash, itch, development of hives, swelling of the face (or of the tongue, lips, eyes, throat), feeling breathless, light-headed or dizzy, feeling unwell, nausea, abdominal pain, raw, painful and/or peeling of the skin, blisters, sore throat or mouth, or fever. If symptoms continue or you have side effects, see your doctor, pharmacist or healthcare professional. V10423.

PAXLOVID is a fully funded medicine – restrictions apply. Normal doctor’s fees may apply dependent on access criteria eligibility.
The COVID-19 vaccine is a fully funded, prescription medicine. All medicines have risks and benefits. Speak to your healthcare professional to see if the updated COVID-19 vaccine is right for you.
Further product information and Consumer Medicine Information (CMI) can be obtained from www.medsafe.govt.nz, Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Auckland, www.pfizermedicalinformation.co.nz or phone 0800 736 363. PAXLOVID® is a registered trademark.

References: 1. Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand. About COVID-19. Available at: https://info.health.nz/conditions-treatments/infectious-diseases/covid-19/about-covid-19. Accessed 09/01/2025.  2. Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand. COVID-19 vaccines additional doses. Available at: https://info.health.nz/immunisations/vaccines-aotearoa/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-boosters. Accessed 09/01/2025.  3. Pharmac. COVID-19 antivirals: access criteria. 1 February 2024. Available at: https://pharmac.govt.nz/news-and-resources/covid19/access-criteria-for-covid-19-medicines/covid-antivirals. Accessed 09/01/2025.  4. PAXLOVID® New Zealand Data Sheet.

This website is intended for New Zealand residents only.


© 2025 Pfizer New Zealand. Auckland, New Zealand. All rights reserved. Medical Information: 0800 736 363 or visit pfizermedicalinformation.co.nz. PAXNZ-002978-00. PP-C1D-NZL-0089. TAPS NP22067. March 2025.

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