Newly published federal guidelines prioritize the recently FDA approved COVID-19 treatments people can take orally.

With a wave of infections, who qualifies and what should you do when that happens?

These new treatments in the form of a pill join others in the fight against omicron.

The first thing to know is because they're just now rolling out, they're making it available to the most vulnerable.

USF Professor of Medicine Dr. Michael Teng said prioritizing treatments as omicron takes hold is a way to help as many as possible when there’s a limit of the new anti-viral pills.

“So I still think the federal government will be in charge of distributing it,” said Teng.  “It’s not going to be something (where) you get a prescription and you just walk into your local pharmacy and get.”

Who qualifies and what to take is summed up perfectly with this tweet by University of Virginia Professor of Medicine Dr. Taison Bell.

Again the high risk applies usually to the elderly, immunocompromised or someone with comorbidities.

The prioritized list is topped by Pfizer’s anti-viral pill Paxlovid if taken within five days of symptom onset.

Then, Sotrovimab if taken within 10 days is next on the list.

That’s the monoclonal antibody treatment by drug maker Glaxo-Smith Kline that’s also shown effectiveness against the omicron variant.

But, it’s an intravenous injection and therefore must be done at a clinic or by a health professional.

Remdesivir is also on the list and must be taken within seven days but also presents the same challenges as the antibody treatment.

Last on the list is Merck’s anti-viral pill Molnupiravir and must be taken within five days.

This anti-viral has shown the least effectiveness.

But as the anti-viral pill treatments become more available and widespread, Teng said Paxlovid is on top for a reason.

“Although it's a pill and easier to do at home, you do have to take six pills a day for five days,” he said.  “Side effects are pretty mild, if any."