1. < Transplants

Just approved: Evusheld for the pre-exposure prevention of COVID-19

Posted by lizzy102 @lizzy102, Dec 10, 2021

Does anyone have any more information on this just-approved by the FDA treatment for immunocompromised people? From what I am reading, it seems very exciting. Boy, what I wouldn’t give for a bit of protection from the scourge virus!

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nimalw | @nimalw | Dec 28, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "@nimalw, You heard part of the story, it looks like a temporary issue due to availability...." + (show)
@rosemarya

@nimalw, You heard part of the story, it looks like a temporary issue due to availability.
I found this information about a Supply Chain Alert for Prazosin-
"The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England and Improvement (NHSE&I) have issued a supply disruption alert for Hypovase® (prazosin) 500microgram tablets (Pfizer)
Pfizer are out of stock of Hypovase® (prazosin) 500 microgram tablets from late November 2021 until mid-January 2022 due to a manufacturing issue."
psnc.org.uk/our-news/supply-disruption-alert-hypovase-prazosin-500microgram …

@nimalw, If you take Prazosin, your pharmacy might have a supply in stock. I would suggest that you refill your current prescription before it runs out, or ask your pharmacist or doctor about a substitute. Are you running low or needing a refill soon?

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Thank you Rosemary. I was getting concerned that disruption was due to a serious side effect but seems not .
Its.still made in India by Phyzer. Am ok till January but if I run out I will move to Amlodipine as prescribed by my Doctor.

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Rosemary, Volunteer Mentor | @rosemarya | Dec 28, 2021
In reply to @nimalw "Thank you Rosemary. I was getting concerned that disruption was due to a serious side effect..." + (show)
@nimalw

Thank you Rosemary. I was getting concerned that disruption was due to a serious side effect but seems not .
Its.still made in India by Phyzer. Am ok till January but if I run out I will move to Amlodipine as prescribed by my Doctor.

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@nimalw,
I have complete confidence in my transplant team to know what to do, before I am even aware that a problem might exist. It sounds like your doctor is offering the same expert care!

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1 reply
nimalw | @nimalw | Dec 28, 2021
In reply to @rosemarya "@nimalw, I have complete confidence in my transplant team to know what to do, before I..." + (show)
@rosemarya

@nimalw,
I have complete confidence in my transplant team to know what to do, before I am even aware that a problem might exist. It sounds like your doctor is offering the same expert care!

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We have to 🙏

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tjdog | @tjdog | Dec 29, 2021

Last week I asked the Mayo Phoenix transplant team about Evusheld. They are unsure when it will become available. Hopefully, they’ll let me know when it is.

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codered032 | @codered032 | Jan 3, 2022
In reply to @zakova "Today I heard from my PCP that I did not meet the criteria to receive Evosheld..." + (show)
@zakova

Today I heard from my PCP that I did not meet the criteria to receive Evosheld because I tolerated the vaccine and it is not for those who can. However that is not what the CDC guidelines state. It says moderately /severely immunocompromised OR unable to take the vaccine NOT both. I still have no referral which the Florida Health Department told me to get from PCP. I prefer not to go to a provider who is not familiar with my medical history but I guess I may have to. Has anyone else had this problem?

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I had a huge problem with my PCP and my nephrologist with getting referrals for antibodies testing and Regeneron infusion. I think they are following the insurance recommendations and not the CDC recommendation. It took me over 2months to finally get a referral for Regeneron even though I met the criteria. I informed my nephrologist of EVUSHELD and after researching it, I was told that it with be in high demand and will be authorized based on priority of need or those more immunocompromised first. Keep in mind that the doctors are as overwhelmed as we are with all of the changes. They don’t have time to read the CDC reviews daily. There are hospital and insurance guidelines that they are required to follow.

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2 replies
zakova | @zakova | Jan 3, 2022
In reply to @codered032 "I had a huge problem with my PCP and my nephrologist with getting referrals for antibodies..." + (show)
@codered032

I had a huge problem with my PCP and my nephrologist with getting referrals for antibodies testing and Regeneron infusion. I think they are following the insurance recommendations and not the CDC recommendation. It took me over 2months to finally get a referral for Regeneron even though I met the criteria. I informed my nephrologist of EVUSHELD and after researching it, I was told that it with be in high demand and will be authorized based on priority of need or those more immunocompromised first. Keep in mind that the doctors are as overwhelmed as we are with all of the changes. They don’t have time to read the CDC reviews daily. There are hospital and insurance guidelines that they are required to follow.

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They are a distributor of life saving monoclonals. Someone has read the criteria. A memo can inform all PCP's of the CDC guidelines and the Mayo Clinics guidelines. The PCP can tell the patient they do not currently meet Mayo Clinics guidelines due to short supply. I was told I didn't meet the criteria because I tolerated the vaccines and was not allergic to it. There was no clarification as to who's criteria this referred to. Prioritizing is good. But it is essential to understand the CDC guidelines as distributors of therapeutics. I'm left not knowing if my PCP is aware I should ever receive Evusheld if it becomes more widely available. That is and issue.

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hello1234 | @hello1234 | Jan 4, 2022

The purpose of Evusheld is to give some covid antibodies to patients that are unable to create antibodies from the vaccine due to severe immune suppression. An example would be an organ transplant patient on immune suppression drugs who had three or four doses of the covid vaccine and still has zero antibodies when tested. Evusheld is currently 77% effective. Evusheld is different from the vaccine. The vaccine offers much greater protection, but when the immune system is unable to respond to the vaccine, giving Evusheld is currently the next best thing.
There is currently a very limited supply and it should be prioritized to protect the very specific population of vulnerable high-risk immune suppressed individuals that are unable to respond to the vaccine and have no protection.
Vaccines are still number one in protection. If you responded to the vaccine, you have the greatest protection and you will not receive Evusheld. The vaccine (with booster) offers the greatest protection. Hope this helps! 😊

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2 replies
athenalee | @athenalee | Jan 9, 2022
In reply to @codered032 "I had a huge problem with my PCP and my nephrologist with getting referrals for antibodies..." + (show)
@codered032

I had a huge problem with my PCP and my nephrologist with getting referrals for antibodies testing and Regeneron infusion. I think they are following the insurance recommendations and not the CDC recommendation. It took me over 2months to finally get a referral for Regeneron even though I met the criteria. I informed my nephrologist of EVUSHELD and after researching it, I was told that it with be in high demand and will be authorized based on priority of need or those more immunocompromised first. Keep in mind that the doctors are as overwhelmed as we are with all of the changes. They don’t have time to read the CDC reviews daily. There are hospital and insurance guidelines that they are required to follow.

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Our State Health Commission office has authorized it for immunosuppressed people. So, you might contact them directly.

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1 reply
tjdog | @tjdog | Jan 10, 2022
In reply to @athenalee "Our State Health Commission office has authorized it for immunosuppressed people. So, you might contact them..." + (show)
@athenalee

Our State Health Commission office has authorized it for immunosuppressed people. So, you might contact them directly.

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What State?

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1 reply
codered032 | @codered032 | Jan 10, 2022
In reply to @hello1234 "The purpose of Evusheld is to give some covid antibodies to patients that are unable to..." + (show)
@hello1234

The purpose of Evusheld is to give some covid antibodies to patients that are unable to create antibodies from the vaccine due to severe immune suppression. An example would be an organ transplant patient on immune suppression drugs who had three or four doses of the covid vaccine and still has zero antibodies when tested. Evusheld is currently 77% effective. Evusheld is different from the vaccine. The vaccine offers much greater protection, but when the immune system is unable to respond to the vaccine, giving Evusheld is currently the next best thing.
There is currently a very limited supply and it should be prioritized to protect the very specific population of vulnerable high-risk immune suppressed individuals that are unable to respond to the vaccine and have no protection.
Vaccines are still number one in protection. If you responded to the vaccine, you have the greatest protection and you will not receive Evusheld. The vaccine (with booster) offers the greatest protection. Hope this helps! 😊

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Thank you for sharing this information. It explains a lot more than my doctor telling me that I didn’t meet the criteria.

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