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TIME is running out for thousands of Brits shielding from Covid this winter, health experts have warned.
During the peak of the pandemic, close to four million people in the UK were advised to shield.
Evusheld will give the vulnerable some protection against the virus[/caption]
This meant those living with cancers or who were immunocompromised, were unable to leave their homes or have visitors.
For many, this continued when the majority of Brits had little restrictions forced upon them.
In order to give this group a better quality of life during the winter months – and so they don’t have to live with a threat of Covid, campaigners have called on the government to buy a ‘life-changing’ drug.
Charities such as Kidney Care UK and the MS Society, along with 120 experts said time is running out as we approach winter.
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Cases of Covid have been rising in recent weeks and medics have already urged Brits to stay away from elderly relatives if they feel unwell.
Evusheld will give the vulnerable some protection against the virus.
It’s made by AstraZeneca and was approved by the medicines regulator in March.
Since then it’s also become available in 30 other countries.
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Despite its widespread use, the UK government said it won’t buy more doses until it has more data.
This is due to concerns of how well it will work against the Omicron variant that is currently circulating in the UK.
Omicron has been proven in various studies to be milder than other strains – with many people having protection from vaccines.
But many in the vulnerable group were unable to have jabs – making them even more isolated.
Prof Alex Richter, consultant immunologist at University of Birmingham told the BBC that the decision to not purchase the drug is a ‘glass half empty approach’.
“But the glass half-full approach is, it has some activity and it has some benefit. And so for very many patients, actually isn’t it better to do something for them rather than nothing,” he said.
The Department of Health said it’s urgently looking into commissioning a clinical trial for the drug.
While there is no typical time for these trials – they can sometimes take up to 15 years to get through.
However it’s hoped that they will be pushed through with the same urgency as the vaccines were.
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Dr Stephen Griffin, associate professor in the school of medicine at the University of Leeds, told The Times that “the decision not to procure this medicine, which could be life changing for so many vulnerable people, is a profound mistake”.
Campaigners at Evusheld for the UK warned that not getting the drug would cause great harm to the mental health of those shielding.
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