COVID-19 medicines
This is an Easy Read fact sheet about COVID-19 medicines.
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This is an info guide about COVID-19 medicines.
Medicines are things you take to get better when you are sick.
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The NSW Government made this guide.
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You can ask someone for help to read this guide.
This might be a:
- family member
- friend
- support worker.
What are the COVID-19 medicines
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The COVID-19 medicines can help stop you getting very sick from COVID-19.
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The COVID-19 medicines can help stop you:
- going to hospital
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- having trouble breathing.
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Lots of people who get COVID-19 will be OK at home.
They might not need the COVID-19 medicines.
Who can get the COVID-19 medicines
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If you get COVID-19 you might be able to get the COVID-19 medicines.
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You can get the medicines if you are 70 years or older.
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You can get the medicines if you are:
- 50 years or older
and
- you have health issues that could make you very sick from COVID-19.
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You can get the medicines if you are:
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
and
- 30 years or older
and
- you have health issues that could make you very sick from COVID-19.
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You can get the medicines if you are:
- 18 years or older
and
- you have problems with your immune system
or
- you have stayed in hospital when you were sick with COVID-19.
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Your immune system helps your body to not get sick.
When you take the COVID-19 medicines
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You take the COVID-19 medicines when you get COVID-19.
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You can only take the medicines if a doctor says you can.
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The medicines work best if you start to take them as soon as possible.
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You can talk to your doctor now about the medicines.
They can tell you if you might need to take the medicines if you get COVID-19.
COVID-19 symptoms
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If you have any COVID-19 symptoms you should get a COVID-19 test.
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Symptoms are signs you might be sick.
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COVID-19 symptoms are things like:
- fever
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- headaches
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- sore throat
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- runny nose.
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For more Easy Read info about COVID-19 symptoms see:
How to get the COVID-19 medicines
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You can get the COVID-19 medicines if you get a positive result from a COVID-19 test.
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A positive result means you have COVID-19.
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A COVID-19 test could be:
- a rapid antigen test
- a PCR test.
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For more Easy Read info about rapid antigen tests see:
www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/support/easy-read/rapid-antigen-tests
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For more Easy Read info about PCR tests see:
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If you get a positive result you should tell your doctor as soon as you can.
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The doctor will tell you:
- if you can take the medicines
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- where to get the medicines.
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If you get COVID-19 you can choose to self isolate.
Self isolate means you stay at home away from other people.
If you need help to get the medicines
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You might need help to get the medicines if you decide to stay home and self isolate.
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You should ask the doctor if someone can bring the medicines to your home.
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This might be a
- family member
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- friend
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- support worker.
How to take the COVID-19 medicines
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You can take the COVID-19 medicines as injection or tablets.
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Injection is when the medicine is put into your body with a needle.
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Tablets are medicines you swallow with your mouth.
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For some people it is hard to swallow.
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The medicines can be made into a drink if you can not swallow.
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You can tell your doctor if it is hard for you to swallow.
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They will tell you how you can take the medicines.
COVID-19 help
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There are numbers you can call to get more info about the COVID-19 medicines.
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The Healthdirect Health Advice Line gives free info about COVID-19 to everyone in Australia.
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You can call the Healthdirect Health Advice Line on 1800 022 222.
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They can tell you if you can take the COVID-19 medicines.
How much do the COVID-19 medicines cost
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The COVID-19 medicines cost about $10 if you have a concession card.
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A concession card is a government card that lets you buy medicines cheaper.
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If you do not have a concession card the COVID-19 medicines cost about $45.
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You can ask your doctor if you can get the COVID-19 medicines cheaper.
COVID-19 vaccines
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The COVID-19 medicines are different to the
COVID-19 vaccines.
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COVID-19 vaccines are other medicines that can help stop you:
- getting COVID-19
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- getting very sick if you get COVID-19.
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You take the COVID-19 vaccines as an injection.
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COVID-19 vaccines are still the best way to stop you from getting very sick from COVID-19.
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For more Easy Read info about COVID-19 vaccines see: