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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Sarah Martin Chief political correspondent

Government urges take up of Covid antivirals as almost 500,000 in Australian stockpile near expiry date

Mark Butler United States Australia
Pfizer's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pill Paxlovid is packaged in Ascoli, Italy,
The health minister, Mark Butler, is working to determine whether the shelf life of remaining Covid treatments can be extended. Photograph: PFIZER/Reuters

Just 20,000 of the 1m Paxlovid antiviral drugs ordered by the former government have been prescribed to Covid-19 patients, leaving Australia with hundreds of thousands of drugs due to expire within months.

While the take-up of Covid-19 antiviral medicines has tripled since eligibility was expanded a fortnight ago, the federal government is urging more people to access the drugs amid concern about the shelf life of remaining treatments.

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