Ontarians Can Now Visit Local Pharmacies for Paxlovid Prescriptions

Providing People More Convenient Access to COVID-19 Antiviral Treatment Closer to Home

December 08, 2022

Over the last two and a half years, the people of Ontario have shown incredible amounts of resiliency, adaptiveness and compassion in helping each other get through the COVID pandemic. Thanks to this latest development, we are now one step closer to putting it behind us” said MPP Deepak Anand. Starting December 12, 2022, pharmacists in Ontario will be able to prescribe the Paxlovid Antiviral Treatment, which reduces severe outcomes from all variants of COVID. It will be available at pharmacies across Ontario ensuring everyone has access to treatment in their own community.

The Ontario government is giving people more convenient access to care by allowing pharmacists to prescribe Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment option used to reduce severe outcomes from COVID-19. All Ontarians are strongly encouraged to keep up to date with vaccinations, which remains the best way for people to stay healthy this flu and respiratory illness season and prevent unnecessary visits to the hospital.

Starting December 12, 2022, pharmacists will be able to prescribe Paxlovid to eligible individuals in-person or virtually (such as by telephone) at no cost. Eligible individuals should contact their local pharmacy to confirm if they prescribe Paxlovid and how to get a prescription for Paxlovid.

Eligibility for Paxlovid includes:

  • Symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19;
  • A positive lab-based PCR, rapid molecular, or rapid antigen test (including rapid tests done at home);
  • The prescribing occurs within five days of symptom onset;
  • The individual receiving the prescription is;
    • 60 years of age or older
    • 18 years of age or older and is immunocompromised
    • 18 to 59 years old and at a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes including having chronic medical conditions (such as diabetes, heart or lung disease) or inadequate immunity against COVID-19 (i.e., not up-to-date on vaccines).