What are flu and COVID-19?
Influenza (the flu) and COVID-19 are contagious respiratory illnesses caused by different viruses. They share many symptoms — fever or chills, cough, sore throat, body aches, congestion, and fatigue — and can be difficult to tell apart without testing. COVID-19 is more likely to cause a new loss of taste or smell. Both range from mild to severe, and both have antiviral treatments that work best when started early in the illness.
How online flu & COVID prescriptions work
You complete a secure online assessment describing your symptoms, when they started, any COVID-19 test result, your medical history, current medications, allergies, and pharmacy preference. A licensed physician reviews the information and may follow up if more detail is needed. If antiviral treatment is appropriate and within the effective window, the clinician can send an electronic prescription to your selected pharmacy for same-day pickup in most cases.
Vyta.co does not automatically prescribe antivirals. If your answers suggest an emergency warning sign, pregnancy, severe kidney or liver disease, a significant drug interaction, or that you are outside the treatment window, the clinician may recommend in-person care or supportive treatment instead.
Pharmacy pickup
Clinician-reviewed
No charge if not prescribed
When online flu & COVID treatment is appropriate
Telehealth may be appropriate for adults aged 18–64 with typical flu or COVID-19 symptoms who are early in their illness and have no emergency warning signs. Antivirals help most when started promptly — within about 48 hours of flu symptoms or within 5 days of COVID-19 symptoms.
Because flu and COVID-19 look alike, your clinician reviews the full intake — including any test result — before deciding whether an antiviral is clinically appropriate.
When to seek in-person or emergency care
Online care is not right for every respiratory illness. Call 911, go to the ER, or see a clinician in person if any of the following apply.
- Severe difficulty breathing, chest pain or pressure, bluish lips or face, or confusion
- Inability to keep fluids down, signs of severe dehydration, or a stiff neck with a high fever
- Pregnancy, severe kidney or liver disease, or age under 18 or 65 and older
First-line antivirals for flu and COVID-19
For influenza, clinicians commonly consider oseltamivir (Tamiflu), typically 75 mg twice daily for five days, started within about 48 hours of symptom onset for the most benefit. For COVID-19 in adults at higher risk of progression, nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (Paxlovid) is a five-day course that must be started within 5 days of symptom onset.
Paxlovid (ritonavir) interacts with many common medications — including certain statins, blood thinners, and heart-rhythm drugs — so your clinician reviews your current medications before prescribing and adjusts for kidney function. Common oseltamivir side effects include nausea; supportive care such as rest, fluids, and fever reducers helps both illnesses. Your clinician chooses the medication and duration based on your symptoms, test results, history, and the time since onset.
How to lower your risk
Annual flu vaccination and staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of severe illness. Frequent handwashing, staying home when sick, improving indoor ventilation, and wearing a mask around others when you have symptoms all help limit spread. People with chronic conditions or weakened immune systems benefit most from early evaluation if symptoms appear.
What if I'm not sure whether it's flu or COVID?
That is common — the two are hard to distinguish on symptoms alone. A home or pharmacy COVID-19 test can help, and you can report the result in your intake. Either way, a clinician can review your presentation and, when appropriate and within the treatment window, prescribe the right antiviral for the most likely cause.