3/x What's my take on the points? 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.
4/x I have worked @DHSCgovuk. Like any organisation, they are extremely talented people & also those who are different. This article may have elements of truths, but you might you miss the strengths of a single public healthcare system's and DHSC's ability to lead to rapid change
5/x Once decisions are made by the right people, as shown by @katebingham2, the process goes fast. We were the first on vaccines. We were first to approve antibodies (Evusheld). We were first to identify the excess risk to #immunocompromised from poor vaccine responses.
6/x Unfortunately, on antibodies, we are not the first. This has led 17 charities, 125 clinicians from 17 medical specialities & 4 nations, patient groups and professional organisations to ask why we can't move fast to protect the vulnerable. Why UK patients are the last in line.
7/x No one is sure if DHSC had asked the "right people" about offering Winter protection or will consider a pilot to protect #immunocompromised patients with #evusheld this Winter. There is a debate tomorrow in Westminster whatson.parliament.uk/event/cal39847
8/x I will remain positive. If there is an attempt to reach out to the scientific leads and clinicians pandemic experts.... and if our new health secretary is keen to lead.... then there is a chance their Winter plan may be ressurected. ๐ซข๐ซฃ๐
9/x It is important to protect those who do not respond to vaccination, it is important not to leave anyone behind. #immunocompromised people are important. Let's hope our single public healthcare system and DHSC can move quickly once again before Christmas.๐ค **END**
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1/x *** New Research ***. ๐What can be done to protect immunocompromised patients? New press release from @AstraZeneca. , and it's about a therapy called Sipavibart, the successor to Evusheld. astrazeneca.com/media-centre/pโฆ
2/x. What is the background? Some individuals in our community are more prone to infections, they are called immunocomromised. There are ~ 500,000-1.5M with these conditions. When they get infections, they can fight it less well. ๐ And the pandemic hit, this was a problem.
3/x It includes renal transplant patients, primary immunodeficiencies, those with cancer & blood cancers, kidney disease, and those with primary immunodeficiencies. It's a fair number. Most doctors want to protect these patients from infectious diseases by what ever means ๐
1/x ๐งต ***NEW RESEARCH *** How has #COVID-19 disease evolved in people living with #cancer and who remains at risk? Find out more in our latest publication from @UKCORONACANCER: https://t.co/P9NdBtbCRWnature.com/articles/s4159โฆ
2/x It is relevant as healthcare systems develop strategies for living with SARS-CoV-2 as an endemic disease and informing individual discussions between cancer patients and their oncologists. And to ensure that no one is left behind or forgotten.
3/x What was done? They analysed COVID-19 infections in the ๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ population, assessing rates of COVID-19 related hospitalisation, intensive care admission and mortality. It ran Winter 20-Summer 22
2/x What's the issue ? The UK delivers successful cancer care. Year on year, people live longer and better lives. gov.uk/government/newโฆ. 10% improved survival in 15 years. That is by achieved early diagnosis, having better treatment the best cancer staff, research. ๐๐๐ฌ๐งโ
3/x but.... there's a flipside. Our Cancer leadership quote "Demand for cancer treatment is increasing by approximately 6-8% every year" and "They are being asked to deliver more treatment with the same staffing numbers"
1/x ๐งตThis Friday at 10:30am, we're excited to announce the reboot of the #forgotten500K campaign with an update from the podcasts hosted by @claremenglish, @MarkOak04974342, @NikolaBrigden. Here's the message for 2023 in advance. RT. ๐
2/x "The #forgotten500K are a group of immunocompromised patients who have not been prioritized during the pandemic and are experiencing higher ongoing levels of risk. The group started off as individuals asking for help while still in isolation during the pandemic.
3/x They were speaking as individuals trying their best to be heard virtually, as they were not able to leave their homes and re-enter normal life like everyone else. However, the #forgotten500K patient campaign brought them together, providing support and one voice. amazing
1/x Several months ago, @katebingham2 drove the UK pandemic response. She is incredible ๐ฆธโโ๏ธ- thanks for your insight. But then she finished and something extraordinary happened. The Winter plan to protect the #immunocompromised was quietly dropped....๐ซ Why does it matter? ๐คท๐คทโโ๏ธ๐คทโโ๏ธ
2/x Because it had widespread clinical & academic backing for our 2022 Winter plan. Cohorts were identified & large teams of clinicians worked around the clock to work out which of #immunocompromised who don't have high levels of protection from vaccination could be protected ๐ฉโโ๏ธ
3/x This would have put us in line with 32 countries who were protected their #immunocompromised during the Winter months when COVID cases rise. If you don't respond to vaccines ๐, then your risk of hospitalisation, ITU admission & not recovering from COVID is ๐
2/x Why did they do it? Because 1โฃ cancer patients are at high risk from covid ๐ 2โฃ Many don't get an immune response to vaccines ๐ 3โฃ They wanted to find the scale of the problem ๐ฅ. So they decided to go global! ๐
3/x. The team searched 3065 papers published from the start of vaccination to March 2022. They looked at third dose boosters ๐. They looked across all cancer types. They found 15 studies encompassing 1205 patients๐งโ๐คโ๐ง. The largest global review ๐