Graham Stuart, MP for Beverley and Holderness, spoke on BBC Radio Humberside about the importance of speeding up the rollout of Evusheld in the UK.
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. However the government has not yet ordered the doses patients are so eagerly awaiting because tests are currently being conducted to check the treatment’s effectiveness against the Omicron variant of COVID-19. The Department of Health and Social Care has previously indicated that progress could be made this winter or next year, but as Graham told the Prime Minister in his Question to him on the 25th May, and Andy Comfort on BBC Radio Humberside, that is not soon enough.
Graham has received multiple emails from his constituents about this important topic and it would change the life of a couple in particular. One of these individuals is Scott Brigden, who said: “It is going to make life normal again… I have had to take a year off work and Nicola (his wife) has had to do most of the shopping. I’ve not been able to go to any bars or restaurants either so having Evusheld will make my life so much easier.”
During his interview Graham explained: “We have got families all over the country thinking there is a good chance that this drug will make all the difference in the world to them to both protect them and allow them to live a normal life. This is why I am going to keep up the pressure on the system and do what I can to resolve this.”
You can listen to the interview here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0c7944f#playt=3h35m52s
