COVID-19

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Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

COVID-19 Medications

Information for the public on who can get medications to treat COVID-19 and how to access them. Health care providers should refer to Therapeutic Options for COVID-19 Patients for more information on treatment options and prescribing.

On this page:
Who should get COVID-19 medication
Antiviral therapy
   Oral antivirals
   Remdesivir (intravenous)
Monoclonal antibodies
Pregnant or breastfeeding
Cost and insurance
COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP)
More information

People with risk factors for severe illness with COVID-19, such as older age or underlying health conditions, may benefit from COVID-19 antiviral medications. These treatments can help prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Talk to your health care provider right away if you test positive and are at higher risk as treatments need to be started early to work best. Your health care provider will help determine which COVID-19 medication option is best for you.

COVID-19 medications are not a substitute for prevention. It is still recommended that everyone who is eligible get vaccinated and take other steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Managing mild COVID-19 illness

If you have a fever, cough, or other symptoms, you might have COVID-19. Most people have mild illness and can recover at home. Your health care provider might recommend the following to relieve symptoms and support your body’s natural defenses:

  • Taking medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever;
  • Drinking water or receiving intravenous fluids to stay hydrated; and
  • Getting plenty of rest to help the body fight the virus.

When to seek emergency medical care

If your illness is getting worse or you notice any of these emergency warning signs, call your health care provider or emergency services right away. Emergency warning signs can include:

  • Trouble breathing;
  • Ongoing pain or pressure in the chest;
  • New confusion or not being able to wake up;
  • Bluish lips or face.

Who should get COVID-19 medication

Not everyone with COVID-19 needs to get treated. Antiviral treatments for COVID-19 are available for patients with mild to moderate symptoms, who are not in the hospital, who have had symptoms for seven days or less, and who are at high risk for severe illness.

People can be at high risk for many reasons. Some of the most common are being older than 50 years, obesity, having chronic medical conditions such as heart, lung or kidney disease, being on treatment that suppresses your immune system, or pregnancy. To find a full list of factors that may put someone at high risk, visit CDC: People with Certain Medical Conditions and Risk Factors.

If you are at high risk and develop symptoms that could be COVID-19, get tested right away and contact your health care provider. Don't delay even if your symptoms are mild right now as treatment must be started early to work.

COVID-19 medications may be available for free or at low cost. Ask your health care provider (such as your doctor) or pharmacist if you are eligible for a patient assistance program to cover any out-of-pocket costs.

More detailed information is available at Commercial Availability of Antiviral Medication for COVID-19.

Antiviral therapy

Oral antivirals

Oral antivirals are a pill taken by mouth for the treatment of COVID-19 in certain people. They are available by prescription only.

  • The oral antivirals Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir/ritonavir) and molnupiravir provide another tool for treating COVID-19 in patients at highest risk for severe illness.
  • Treatment is no substitute for prevention, so getting vaccinated, getting your booster when eligible, masking when recommended, and taking other steps to protect yourself and others is still very important.
  • Oral antivirals may not be right for everyone. Your health care provider can help determine what type of treatment is right for you by carefully reviewing your symptoms, test results, medical history, and current medications.

Paxlovid is an oral antiviral medication that works by blocking the virus from making copies of itself (replicating). Paxlovid is FDA-approved for use in adults and remains under emergency use authorization for children aged 12-17 years. It is recommended for people with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are at high risk for severe disease.

Paxlovid is to be taken within five days of symptoms starting, so it's important for people at high risk to connect with their health care provider right away.

Also be sure to inform your health care provider of your current prescriptions, supplements, and over-the-counter medicines, as Paxlovid may interact with certain medications. Do not start any new medication while on Paxlovid without informing your health care provider.

There have been some reports of patients who received Paxlovid having symptoms of COVID-19 come back after they finished treatment and recovered. This is called COVID-19 rebound and has occurred two to eight days after finishing treatment. These patients have tested positive again for COVID-19 after testing negative at the end of their treatment. Rebound has been observed not only with Paxlovid but also in patients receiving no treatment and in patients receiving other COVID-19 therapeutics. Recent studies suggest patients with rebound have mild symptoms and have an extremely low probability of developing severe COVID-19.

If you were treated with Paxlovid and recovered, but symptoms came back and you had a positive test result, follow guidance on CDC: Preventing Spread of Respiratory Viruses When You're Sick for how long to stay home and other steps to take. Let your health care provider know your symptoms have returned and let them know if you have any questions. At this time, you should not need to receive other COVID-19 medications.

Refer to:

Molnupiravir is an oral antiviral medication that works by blocking the virus from making copies of itself (replicating). It has been authorized for use in adults ages 18 and older with mild to moderate COVID-19, and at high risk for severe disease.

Molnupiravir is to be started within five days of symptoms starting, so it's important for people at high risk to connect with their health care provider right away.

This medication is not recommended for use while pregnant or breastfeeding. Talk to your health care provider about other treatment options if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, and people of childbearing age should talk to their provider about preventing pregnancy if using this treatment.

Refer to the FDA Fact Sheet for Patients And Caregivers: Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) Of LAGEVRIO™ (molnupiravir) capsules For Coronavirus Disease 2019 for more information.


Where to access oral antiviral therapy in Minnesota

  • Health systems and clinics
    Talk to your health care provider or local clinic about COVID-19 medications. Many health systems and clinics across the state offer COVID-19 testing, medical assessment, and prescriptions for antiviral medications.
  • Test-to-treat locator
    The federal test-to-treat program allows you to get tested (or have your self-test result or test result from another provider assessed), and if positive and treatments are appropriate for you, receive a prescription and have your prescription filled, all at one location. The ASPR: Find COVID-19 Medications Locator is available to help find participating sites.
  • Pharmacy clinics
    Some pharmacies offer testing and treatment for COVID-19. For example, CVS Minute Clinic can provide testing and antiviral medication in certain locations. Walmart pharmacy locations in Minnesota can offer testing and treatment for COVID-19 as well as strep throat and influenza. Please note that there may be out-of-pocket costs associated with these services. Patients should contact their insurance company for coverage details.
  • Public hotline
    The Minnesota Department of Health COVID-19 Public Hotline can help you understand treatment options and direct you to resources. Call 1-833-431-2053, Monday – Friday: 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

COVID-19 Medications: Oral Antivirals (PDF) Handout summary of when oral antivirals are used to treat COVID-19.


Remdesivir (intravenous)

Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that works by blocking the virus from making copies of itself (replicating). Remdesivir is given through a needle in the vein (intravenously) over time, which is called an IV infusion.

Remdesivir is approved for outpatient treatment of adults and children who are at high risk for severe COVID-19. It should be started as soon as possible, with outpatient treatment beginning within seven days of symptoms developing. It’s important for people at high risk to connect with their health care provider right away if they have symptoms and test positive for COVID-19. The treatment is given as a series of three IV infusions, given once a day for three consecutive days.

Not all health care facilities can offer outpatient remdesivir treatment – patients should speak to their health care provider to see if it may be a potential treatment option.

Remdesivir is also used to treat patients who are hospitalized with more severe illness due to COVID-19. If you are hospitalized due to COVID-19, your health care providers will decide if remdesivir or other treatments are needed.

Monoclonal antibodies

Antibodies are proteins that people's bodies make to fight viruses, such as the virus that causes COVID-19. Antibodies made in a laboratory act a lot like natural antibodies to limit the amount of virus in your body. They are called monoclonal antibodies. Antibodies are usually given into a vein by intravenous (IV) infusion or into the skin by subcutaneous (SQ) injection.

There is currently one monoclonal antibody (pemivibart, Pemgarda™) authorized for the prevention of serious illness from COVID-19 (pre-exposure prophylaxis), in conjunction with COVID-19 vaccines, in people who are immunocompromised and who are unlikely to respond to COVID-19 vaccination. There are currently no monoclonal antibodies authorized for use in the treatment of COVID-19 once someone has symptoms.

Pemgarda™ is a monoclonal antibody that is authorized for use in the prevention of COVID-19 (pre-exposure prophylaxis) for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. The antibodies in Pemgarda™ attach to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and prevents it from entering the body’s cells and causing illness. Pemgarda™ is authorized for use in people who:

  • Are at least 12 years of age or older AND
  • Are not currently infected with SARS-CoV-2 and have not been known to be exposed to someone with SARS-CoV-2 AND
  • Have moderate to severe immune compromise because of a medical condition, or because they receive medication or treatments that suppress the immune system and are unlikely to have an adequate response to COVID-19 vaccines.

Pemgarda™ is not authorized for the treatment of COVID-19, for the prevention of COVID-19 after being exposed to someone with SARS-CoV-2 (post-exposure prophylaxis), or for use in children who are under 12 years of age OR aged 12-17 years and weighing less than 88 pounds (40kg).

Pemgarda™ is given as an infusion into a vein (intravenous (IV) infusion) for about 60 minutes. You will be observed during your infusion and for at least 2 hours after your infusion is finished. The dose of Pemgarda™ is repeated every 3 months if ongoing protection is needed. You must wait at least 2 weeks after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine to receive Pemgarda™.

Pemgarda™ is not a substitute for vaccination. All persons, including those who are immunocompromised and their household members and close contacts, should stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccination.

Pemgarda™ may cause side effects, including but not limited to:

  • A serious allergic reaction caused anaphylaxis. This was seen in 4 out of 623 patients (0.6%) in a study of Pemgarda™. Your health care provider will monitor you for signs of anaphylaxis during your infusion and for 2 hours afterwards.
  • Tiredness
  • Headache
  • Nausea
  • Infusion-site reactions

The SARS-CoV-2 virus can change over time (mutate) and develop into a new variant. It is possible that Pemgarda™ may not be effective in the future against newer variants of SARS-CoV-2. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is closely monitoring the variants circulating in the U.S. for any changes that may impact the use of therapies for COVID-19, including Pemgarda™. Anyone at high risk for COVID-19, including those receiving Pemgarda™, should take additional prevention measures against COVID-19 such as wearing a well-fitting mask, taking steps for cleaner air, practicing good hygiene, and seeking health care promptly for testing and/or treatment at the first sign of any symptoms of a respiratory virus infection.

More information:


Pregnant or breastfeeding

Pregnant people and their babies are at high risk for serious illness from COVID-19. People who are pregnant should talk with their doctor or other health care provider.

Oral antivirals
There are limited specific safety data on the use of antiviral treatment for COVID-19 in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding, although to date no safety concerns have been identified when these patients have taken antivirals. Patients should discuss potential treatment options and their risks and benefits with their providers. The use of antiviral treatments for COVID-19 in pregnant or breastfeeding patients is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM).

  • Paxlovid may be considered for use in people who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
  • Molnupiravir is not recommended for people who are pregnant or breastfeeding due to potential concerns from animal studies on its effect on the developing baby. However, it may be used as a treatment option if no other therapies are available.

Remdesivir
Remdesivir should be offered to pregnant or breastfeeding patients if it is indicated. Pregnant patients were not included in the clinical trials that evaluated the safety and efficacy of remdesivir; however, subsequent safety reports have found that it is well tolerated.

ACOG: COVID-19 FAQs for Obstetrician-Gynecologists, Obstetrics

Cost and insurance

The distribution of COVID-19 antiviral medications has switched from the federal government to the traditional commercial marketplace. This means that some patients with private health insurance will have a co-pay. For now, the majority of patients will continue to be able to get an oral antiviral for free or at a low-cost using patient assistance programs to cover costs. For example, if you are on Medicare or Medicaid or you do not have health insurance, you will be able to get Paxlovid free of charge until the end of 2024 through a Pfizer patient assistance program called PAXCESS. If you have private insurance, you can enroll through the same program to receive a co-pay assistance card to cover some or all of your out-of-pocket costs. Enroll in PAXCESS with your prescription: PAXCESS Patient Support Program.

Pemgarda™ (pemivibart) is available via traditional commercial distributors. For patients with Medicare Part D, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) rules do not allow cost-sharing for COVID-19 monoclonal antibody products, meaning that patients do not pay a copay/coinsurance or deductible. Refer to CMS: COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibodies for more details.

Patients who do not have insurance may be able to find low- or no-cost treatment in their communities at a U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) health center or community health center. Refer to HRSA Health Centers: Find a Health Center for a list of centers. Additional information on Minnesota community health centers/federally qualified health centers that provide services to medically underserved and disadvantaged populations, as well as a health center locator, are available at Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers: Find a Health Center.

If your health care provider recommends you take a COVID-19 antiviral medication, ask them or your pharmacist if you are eligible for a patient assistance program to cover the costs of the medication.

Have a Paxlovid Prescription? Low-cost options available (PDF)

COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP)

COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CCP) is the liquid portion of blood from donors who have recovered from COVID-19. The blood from people who recover from COVID-19 contains substances called antibodies, which are capable of fighting the virus that causes COVID-19.

CCP may benefit people with compromised immune systems, in which the body is unable to make its own antibodies to the virus or the patient may be taking medications that weaken their immune system.

CCP is given through an IV. Your health care provider can let you know if CCP is an appropriate treatment for you.

More information

For more information on COVID-19 testing, treatments, and vaccines, please visit COVID.gov, provided by the U.S. government.

  • The COVID.gov website offers a helpline for more information, including help with navigating the federal locator website to find treatment locations. Note: this is not an MDH helpline.
    • English or Spanish: 1-800-232-0233
    • TTY (Text Telephone for hearing impaired): 888-720-7489
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Last Updated: 09/24/2024