Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, today asked the Prime Minister to take personal charge of making a new Covid antibody treatment available to immuno-compromised patients who cannot be vaccinated.
1 in every 22 Covid-related deaths is a patient with blood cancer, who are therefore over-represented among those who have sadly died. Patients who have received blood cancer treatment including chemotherapy and stem cell transplants are immuno-compromised, and currently prevented from leaving their homes, working or leading any normal life because the available vaccines are not appropriate for them. Until now, there has been no alternative on offer.
The development of Evusheld by Astra Zeneca has provided more than a glimmer of hope to patients in the UK. The Government has not however moved on from the approval of this medication in principle to ordering the doses patients are so eagerly awaiting. They can see patients in other countries starting to take this antibody treatment and are understandably frustrated to see no movement here. The Department of Health and Social Care has indicated that progress could be made this winter or next year – but MP Graham Stuart says that is not soon enough, and he told the Prime Minister so in the House of Commons today.
During Prime Minister’s Questions Graham said, “When the Prime Minister gets passionate, things get done. Brexit is done, the vaccine rollout is done. So will my Right Honourable Friend personally intervene so that the immuno-compromised like my constituent, Scott, can get access to the British wonder drug, Evusheld, not next Winter, not next year, but now so that they can enjoy this Summer and enjoy their freedom just like the rest of us?”
In response to Graham’s question the Prime Minister replied, “I know that my Honourable Friend has taken a keen interest in this for a while. Evusheld could potentially reduce the risk of infection as he says. We have got to look at the available evidence before we can make a decision about whether it should be made available, but I will make sure that the Department of Health and Social Care keep him updated on the progress we are making.”
