A study by Johns Hopkins University found only 17% of immunocompromised people produce antibodies from the COVID-19 vaccine. A new monoclonal antibody treatment called Evusheld for the immunocompromised has been available for providers and patients since early January. Evusheld might save the lives of those who aren’t producing those antibodies.
The Food and Drug Administration approved the treatment for pre-exposure use with immunocompromised patients in late December. It's different from Sotrovimab, which is for people who currently have a mild-to-moderate case of COVID and are at high risk of severe illness from COVID.
At the end of January, the federal government shipped 400,000 doses, with 1.2 million doses ordered. About 7 million people who are immunocompromised could benefit from the drug, all at a higher risk of having a severe COVID-19 case.
Evusheld is administered with two shots, given in the same appointment, and is designed to prepare an immunocompromised person’s immune system to fight off the virus. AstraZeneca, which produced the medication, said it’s effective for at least six months and has a half-life that could stretch up to 12 months- which would allow the nearly 7 million immunocompromised people in the US a chance to return to a level of normalcy they haven’t seen in almost two years.
As local hospitals gain greater access to the drug, they are echoing the importance of people needing to still receive their full course of the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Stanley Marks, the chairman of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, said immunocompromised people should still be vaccinated against covid-19. Evusheld offers a better layer of protection for people whose immune systems may not respond well to the standard vaccine, he said. Like many networks, UPMC is also choosing recipients in a lorry style selection process that prioritizes the most immunocompromised patients.
As of yet, there have been no serious symptoms assisted with the drug and it is proving to be effective against the COVID-19 variants. In the clinical trial, Evusheld recipients saw a 77% reduced risk of contracting COVID-19, compared with a group that received a placebo.
Patients who believe they qualify for the Evusheld vaccine should consult their physician.
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