Antibiotics work on bacteria to kill or slow their growth. COVID-19 is a viral disease, and there are no antibiotics that kill SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

COVID-19 illness can include viral lung infection (viral pneumonia). A small number of patients with viral pneumonias can also develop a bacterial infection in the lungs. If there is a secondary bacterial infection it may need to be treated with an antibiotic. Regardless of whether a person is vaccinated against COVID-19 or not, if there is no bacterial infection, then antibiotics are not needed.

Unnecessary prescription of antibiotics contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance.