COVID-19 treatments remain available from the HSC Outpatient COVID-19 Treatment service (OCT) for groups of patients in Northern Ireland likely to be at highest risk from COVID-19 infection.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) have updated the clinical guidance to expand those eligible for COVID-19 treatment.
The Department of Health has therefore extended eligibility for treatment with Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir) to include additional groups in Northern Ireland.
Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir) is now also available to adults who do not need oxygen therapy for COVID-19 and who:
are aged 85 years and over
have end-stage heart failure and have a long-term ventricular assistance device (a mechanical device that helps the heart pump blood)
are on the organ transplant waiting list
are aged 70 years and over, or who have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m2 or more, diabetes or heart failure, and who are: resident in a care home or already in hospital.
By June 2025, Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir) will also be available for adults who do not need oxygen therapy for COVID-19 and who:
are aged 70 years and over
have a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or more
have diabetes
have heart failure.
Those people eligible for a COVID-19 treatment should stay alert to the symptoms of COVID-19 and can access rapid lateral flow tests to keep at home.
Information on all current patient groups eligible for treatment and further advice on how to access treatment and lateral flow tests is available on the NI Direct Treatment for Coronavirus (COVID-19) webpage.