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
4/x what did they find? Not wonderful news. Whilst many patients with cancers do have antibody responses, some do not. Patients affected are those with blood cancers @bloodcancer_uk . B-cell targeted therapy is not great either. ๐ง๐๐ซข
5/x What do the authors conclude? ๐๐ค๐ณ Similar to all international studies, they note that prophylactic antibody therapies have a role to play. This is effectively #evusheld, the #immunocompromised vaccine alternative.
6/x Why does this matter that this is a UK paper? Because 32 other countries are protecting the #immunocompromised this winter with this drug. But not the UK. Decision making is stalled until next year.
7/x. 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. ๐๐งก
8/x They are asking for equality in terms of COVID-19 protection by Christmas ๐๐งโ๐. They also want us to know that telling them to keep shielding to protect themselves, or having a policy of "pay privately or get nothing", isn't very British ๐ฐ A fair ask
9/x I'm sure they'll like to thank @michaeltilby ๐งโโ๏ธfor delivering another massive global study ๐of cancer patients who are #immunocompromised. We appreciate everyone putting the data ๐ป out there to flag โณ๏ธ the problem. Whether @RishiSunak ๐ฌ๐ง @SteveBarclay ๐ฌ๐ง leads is unclear.
ps. Looking forwards to seeing anyone online later today or in person. 1330 ๐งก๐๐๐๐ค๐๐๐.
pps. @michaeltilby is from @uhbtrust, the largest trust in the country. University Hospitals Birmingham. Hence the beautiful picture on page 1. He was also on the national leadership programme and a very talented cancer doctor.
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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 The father unable to hug his teenage daughter ๐ซ, a retired nurse ๐ฉโโ๏ธunable to walk down the streets, the heartbreaking stories of the Britons with health conditions that mean they are still in self-isolation, shielding from COVID-19. They are the #immunocompromised โฅ๏ธ๐ค๐๐๐
3/x Imogen Dempsy said "my blood test show I have no protection against COVID-19". There is a drug that would provide protection to those that don't respond to the covid vaccines ๐ท๐. BUT...Evusheld is only available in the UK only to patients who are willing to pay for it. ๐ข