Evusheld Update
Thanks everyone on here for info on Evusheld and sharing experiences with the AstraZeneca monoclonal antibodies injections. I was listed on the University of Wisconsin Transplant list lottery, but used the website https://covidsafe.fyi/evusheld/ to check on my county, Door, to see that we didn't have any doses. Contacted them and they ordered some. Yesterday I got the two injections and have had no reactions. Just to share with others who are wondering about Evusheld. About price. My Medicare Advantage insurer checked and it was $0.50 out of pocket. Probably because the Feds bought 1.7 million doses and must be subsidizing. Hope this is helpful.
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@hello1234 my Evushield appt at Mayo next week was removed from my schedule
Hi @jackiez 😊
Great to hear from you! I guess the disappearing Evusheld appointment says it all!
@joko and others, Mayo is still proceeding with Evusheld appointments for transplant patients. According to our Infectious Disease team, we will still offer Evusheld to patients but will let them know that the coverage for the new strains of the virus is not as good. Patients can decline the treatment if they wish. As for everything COVID related, this information could change today, tomorrow, or any time in the future. Also as with every medication, talk to your doctor or care team to see what they would recommend for your specific situation.
Thanks and hugs for referring to this group, dear Ginger. My heart goes out to each of you.
We hear of Evusheld and search where we can find it. Then we are relieved it seems to cause no side effects and six months later, still full of hope, a search resumes for the next dose.
In Los Angeles County fewer than 40% of the current virus variants are thought to be susceptible to Evusheld and according to my PCP “that number is diminishing daily.” My hematologist now discourages getting the next E injections. A friend with CLL is advised by her hematologist not to renew the injections but to wait for Evusheld news after the new year.
We continue to follow known guidelines. Except for medical visits and grocery shopping, (my PCP advises getting food delivered instead) I am becoming a sequestering recluse; staying in contact with friends only virtually while missing former activities. What is left but hope? I hope for more effective covid vaccines and something better than Evusheld. After these are invented, we may well become the ones on whom they are tested. Sending healing hugs.
I contacted my transplant team at Mayo asking about getting the second round of Evushield, whether or not it was still recommended. Their response was was - yes, it’s still recommended. I got back to my PCP and she agreed and put in orders for me to get the second dose. I just need to call to get an appointment.
I'm scheduled for mine on December 22!
I stand corrected. Apparently, FDA no longer is recommending emergency use of Evusheld. Here's an FDA announcement that says it doesn't work on some variants but you can get it anyway if your PCP and center continue to use it. If you can keep all these variants straight, you're a better man or woman than I am. I tell you. You have to have a program when you go this ball game.
https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-announces-bebtelovimab-not-currently-authorized-any-us-region
This was in an article by Everyday Health on immunocopromised individuals and what we can do to protect ourselves.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/coronavirus/immunocompromised-in-the-era-of-covid-19-your-complete-guide/
WE NEED TO RE-EXAMINE EVUSHELD!
Last night my PCP emailed a website to a two-day old Lancet publication which indicates there have been “serious adverse consequences,” of a cardiovascular nature following the administration of Evusheld. Strongly suggest anyone considering seeking it google the article and read it.
As written here before, we hear about a new medication and, ever hopeful, we seek the new panacea. However, this one is so new that we need to first inform ourselves about newly discovered unintended consequences. I will not be seeking second injections of Evusheld and suggest you may first want to read the new Lancet article before making your own decision to do so.
Wishing everyone well and sending Healing Hugs. @raye
Thank you for posting this @raye. I've tried searching but can't find a link to the recent Lancet article. Can you post a website or link, please? Thanks!
Oh dear. I’d like to but, sorry I do not know how to do that. Just now I googled “Lancet Evusheld” and I think the article was second from the top. Go past the Evusheld sponsored website at the top. Can also google such things as “Evusheld heart attack.” And find that in people who have cardio risk factors (I’m obese and have hypertension under successful treatment) more people who took AstraZenica’s Evusheld had heart attacks than those who didn’t. The FDA granted EUA, Emergency Use Approval to E. Don’t know the recent FDA status.
Though it’s been six months since the first 300ml injections, following my PCP and hematologist’s updated guidance, I will not get the currently due second injections.
Both now advise against it.
You can find these topics on google without difficulty. I just did.
Are you immune compromised? If so, how are you enduring?
Since learning I am I’ve had to cut way back on social activities and I’m missing them very much. Especially during holiday party season when I’m advised to stay home instead. It’s no fun phoning my regrets to hostesses. Missing music concert series and travel. Just grateful for the virtual life made possible by our various magic screens: cell phone, computer, TV. Compared to 1918 we are very fortunate. Today out of town cousins will come and I must insist keeping masks on throughout. Must accept that as simply a new necessity of Life.
Wishing everyone well and sending virtual hugs, @raye