Thread by @drlennardlee

1/x 🧵Thank you to @bmj_latest for an excellent article doi.org/10.1136/bmj.o2… by @Garethiacobucci "Evusheld: Government is urged to expedite covid antibody treatment for vulnerable patients". It highlights ongoing clinical pressure to protect the #immunocompromised. Pls RT

2/x What's the issue......"With covid-19 cases rising 📈 and winter approaching, immunocompromised patients are frustrated at the government’s 🏦 inaction on rolling out the preventive drug" 💉

3/x "The UK government has been urged to re-examine its decision not to purchase a new covid-19 antibody drug for clinically extremely vulnerable people, amid warnings that these patients face renewed risk from the disease this winter."😢

4/x "Evusheld was approved for use in the UK in March 2022 by the Medicines and Regularly Healthcare Products Agency after trial results showed that it reduced the risk of developing symptomatic covid-19 by 77%, with protection lasting at least six months after a single dose."

5/x "Evusheld is submitted for approval by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence. But, because this process is not due to conclude until well into 2023, clinicians & patients have warned that people who could potentially benefit will miss out this winter."

6/x What's my take? Well, there are inconsistency between the government’s policy on covid vaccines and its approach to antibody treatments. The window 🪟 for protecting very vulnerable patents this winter was rapidly closing...

7/x Why does this matter? There are half a million immunocompromised people in the UK. Many are still shielding, still in isolation, still unable to work, see friends or hug loved ones. They are #forgotten500k, unheard and calling on us to notice.

8/x Thanks to patients, clinicians @AlexRichter3 @ProfBMT, the clinical community has also sprung into action. Patients, 125 clinicians from 17 medical specialities & 4 nations are united in asking for action and potentially the missing decision maker.

9/x Thanks to @libdemdaisy, there is now a parliamentary debate on 12th of October at 11am. whatson.parliament.uk/event/cal39847. We hear MPs are being swamped by emails from patients and their doctors asking for action on to protect the immunocompromised

10/x And in a unusual twist, patient groups and their 19 charities are now asking relatives, grandchildren and grandparents to sit in parliament square on their behalf. The aim is to get DHSC civil servants to notice them and give them protection. I've not seen patient power like

11/x this before. UK patients wish to have the same protection as available in France, US and 32 other countries. There are half a million immunocompromised people in the UK. Many are still shielding, still in isolation, still unable to work, see friends or hug loved ones 😢

12/x They #forgotten500k unheard & calling on us to notice. So many people left behind. From the comments 👇- patients/clinicians are grateful for people like @Garethiacobucci for going the extra mile to share the story & plight for protection +🤞 for a good outcome before xmas.