Australians over 70 will be eligible to access COVID-19 antiviral treatments
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After two and a half years since COVID-19 came into the picture, Australia is yet again experiencing a concerning surge of cases and a rising death rate, with over 10,200 deaths since the beginning of the pandemic.
But amid all the chaos is a silver lining – a potentially significant step towards eradicating the virus from our lives once and for all, and the seniors are the first in line for it (the way it should be!) All Australians over the age of 70 with COVID-19 will be able to take antivirals from Monday, after the health minister, Mark Butler, expanded access to the treatments.
Mr Butler detailed that access to the antiviral treatments will also be expanded to Australians aged over 50 along with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 30 if they have two or more risk factors for severe disease.
In an interview, the health minister acknowledged the increased use of antivirals but emphasised that the government is not in favour of broad-based mask mandates, requiring citizens to take vaccine boosters, and restoring pandemic leave payments.
COVID-19 oral anti-virals. Image Credit: RACGP
“Covid cases and hospitalisation numbers are climbing, particularly with the new variants” Mr Butler stated.
“The former Morrison government bought hundreds of thousands of doses of these medicines that have been sitting on a shelf instead of being used to help people who are at risk of severe illness,”
“I’m pleased this will change, with millions more people now eligible for these treatments. Two antivirals are on the PBS, meaning these remarkable treatments that normally cost more than $1,000 will only be $6.80 for a concession card holder and around $40 for everyone else.”
The Albanese government has rolled out public messaging campaigns for vaccine boosters and granted access to fourth doses.
Health authorities have also revised their advice on reinfection periods from 12 weeks to 28 days, warning that the new variants are linked with increased immune escape and we can expect to see rates of reinfection rise.
A whopping total of 73,000 Australians have already benefited from antiviral medicines, tablets and capsules, all of which can help prevent a COVID-19 infection from escalating if detected early.
Mr Butler said that the crisis is “very serious”, considering how at least a quarter of a million people today are infected with COVID. More than 4,000 people are confined in the hospital and a few hundred die per week.
“We expect case numbers to continue to climb for some weeks yet. We’re still relatively early in winter. Hospitals are under pressure from influenza as well as a range of other illnesses.”
Mr Butler added that the information campaign under the Morrison government portrayed third shots as “a nice thing to get rather than something that was critical to your protection against particularly these Omicron variants.”
He said that there are 2.5 million people in their 30s and 40s who still haven’t gotten booster shots and around five million people who got their second vaccine shot more than six months ago. Going past the six-month mark results in a decrease in the vaccines’ overall effectiveness against infection.
COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy over time. Image Credit: The Conversation
“The boosters are critical. Third doses are critical. If you have had that, by all means, think about a fourth dose. If you’re over 50, it’s recommended you get the fourth dose.”
Mr Butler slammed back on calls for the boosters to be required, as the primary doses were mandatory in many settings and occupations. He said: “There needs to be maximum information to the community so they can make informed decisions themselves,”
In addition, he stated: “There is no advice to me that we should introduce broad-based mask mandates” with the exception of those “in aged care facilities, health facilities, public transport, and airplanes,”
Butler also said that the Albanese government has decided to follow the Coalition’s decision to end pandemic leave payments from 30 June, despite unions pushing for Labor to reintroduce the payments to help people isolate.
“We are one trillion in debt and at some point, emergency payments of this type have to be wound up as we move to a new phase,” he explained.
Mr Butler committed to only “keep an eye on all of the developments in this pandemic”.
Learn more about the COVID-19 antiviral treatment by watching the video below:
Video Credit: 9 News Australia
But amid all the chaos is a silver lining – a potentially significant step towards eradicating the virus from our lives once and for all, and the seniors are the first in line for it (the way it should be!) All Australians over the age of 70 with COVID-19 will be able to take antivirals from Monday, after the health minister, Mark Butler, expanded access to the treatments.
Mr Butler detailed that access to the antiviral treatments will also be expanded to Australians aged over 50 along with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 30 if they have two or more risk factors for severe disease.
In an interview, the health minister acknowledged the increased use of antivirals but emphasised that the government is not in favour of broad-based mask mandates, requiring citizens to take vaccine boosters, and restoring pandemic leave payments.
COVID-19 oral anti-virals. Image Credit: RACGP
“Covid cases and hospitalisation numbers are climbing, particularly with the new variants” Mr Butler stated.
“The former Morrison government bought hundreds of thousands of doses of these medicines that have been sitting on a shelf instead of being used to help people who are at risk of severe illness,”
“I’m pleased this will change, with millions more people now eligible for these treatments. Two antivirals are on the PBS, meaning these remarkable treatments that normally cost more than $1,000 will only be $6.80 for a concession card holder and around $40 for everyone else.”
The Albanese government has rolled out public messaging campaigns for vaccine boosters and granted access to fourth doses.
Health authorities have also revised their advice on reinfection periods from 12 weeks to 28 days, warning that the new variants are linked with increased immune escape and we can expect to see rates of reinfection rise.
A whopping total of 73,000 Australians have already benefited from antiviral medicines, tablets and capsules, all of which can help prevent a COVID-19 infection from escalating if detected early.
Mr Butler said that the crisis is “very serious”, considering how at least a quarter of a million people today are infected with COVID. More than 4,000 people are confined in the hospital and a few hundred die per week.
“We expect case numbers to continue to climb for some weeks yet. We’re still relatively early in winter. Hospitals are under pressure from influenza as well as a range of other illnesses.”
Mr Butler added that the information campaign under the Morrison government portrayed third shots as “a nice thing to get rather than something that was critical to your protection against particularly these Omicron variants.”
He said that there are 2.5 million people in their 30s and 40s who still haven’t gotten booster shots and around five million people who got their second vaccine shot more than six months ago. Going past the six-month mark results in a decrease in the vaccines’ overall effectiveness against infection.
COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy over time. Image Credit: The Conversation
“The boosters are critical. Third doses are critical. If you have had that, by all means, think about a fourth dose. If you’re over 50, it’s recommended you get the fourth dose.”
Mr Butler slammed back on calls for the boosters to be required, as the primary doses were mandatory in many settings and occupations. He said: “There needs to be maximum information to the community so they can make informed decisions themselves,”
In addition, he stated: “There is no advice to me that we should introduce broad-based mask mandates” with the exception of those “in aged care facilities, health facilities, public transport, and airplanes,”
Butler also said that the Albanese government has decided to follow the Coalition’s decision to end pandemic leave payments from 30 June, despite unions pushing for Labor to reintroduce the payments to help people isolate.
“We are one trillion in debt and at some point, emergency payments of this type have to be wound up as we move to a new phase,” he explained.
Mr Butler committed to only “keep an eye on all of the developments in this pandemic”.
Learn more about the COVID-19 antiviral treatment by watching the video below:
Video Credit: 9 News Australia
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