The UK decision not to provide prophylactic antibody therapies to immunocompromised people in the United Kingdom is at odds with 32 other countries, who have established prophylactic antibody therapy programmes with Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab (Evusheld) to address the current Winter coronavirus surges across the world.
Leading clinicians treating immunocompromised patients disagree with the UK decision to withdraw the Winter plan and were not consulted or informed. Full open letter is available on the APPG’s website.
The accusation that this patient group has been abandoned by policy makers is difficult to dispute. They believe the Winter action plan needs to be reimplemented.
Feedback from patient groups is that patients are now looking towards another winter of shielding, with concerning psychological, social and economic consequences.
Consequently, the APPG-VGP have commissioned a full systemic review of all the available scientific data to increase confidence in measures to protect the immunocompromised with prophylactic antibody treatments and will publicise the results within 2 weeks.
Dr Lennard Lee, academic medical oncologist at the University of Oxford, and national clinical champion for immunocompromised patients said, “It is the right time and the right thing to do to provide the best levels of coronavirus protections to immunocompromised patients. It is incredibly important to protect the vulnerable as cases surge. The clinical community, patient charities, patient groups, scientists and academics stand united with our patients on this call for action with Tixagevimab/Cilgavimab (Evusheld)”
Bob Blackman MP, Co-Chair of the APPG-VGP said “Following the disquiet about Government’s failure to address the serious matter of ongoing protection for our most vulnerable the APPG-VGP is commissioning a full systematic review of the scientific data to increase confidence in measures to protect the immunocompromised with prophylactic antibody treatments,”
Notes
- The National Expert Group for immunocompromised patients represents over 125 clinicians, across 4 nations and 17 medical specialities treating immunocompromised patients
- The clinical group works in parallel with the APPG-VGP to safeguard and protect this vulnerable group during the pandemic. Immunocompromised patients are at greater risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes than the general population as many of these patients respond poorly to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines.
Contact
Dr Lennard Lee Lennard.lee@oncology.ox.ac.uk
Bob Blackman MP bob.blackman.mp@parliament.uk
Tracey Allen, APPG-VGP Secretariat 07889 424441 allentj@parliament.uk