A lack of supply is expected to affect the access to new oral medicines for COVID-19.

Pfizer’s Paxlovid and Merck Sharp & Dohme’s Lagevrio are the first oral medicines for the virus to be approved for use in Australia by the TGA.

Around 800,000 doses of the anti-viral pills are expected to arrive in the coming weeks.

Taken within five days of symptoms, they are designed to stop the disease progressing in mild and moderate cases.

RACGP President Dr Karen Price told Ben Fordham early supply constraints are expected.

“Initially, they’re going to be a little bit hard to get.

“The increased availability may well be a few months down the track.

“There is a worldwide shortage.”

She says they are “absolutely not” a substitute for a vaccine.

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Image: Getty