Immunosuppression: Coronavirus

(asked on 7th February 2022) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support his Department is providing to immunocompromised people to protect them against covid-19.


Answered by
Maggie Throup Portrait
Maggie Throup
This question was answered on 16th February 2022

Guidance for people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious outcomes from COVID-19, is available at the following link:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk/covid-19-guidance-for-people-whose-immune-system-means-they-are-at-higher-risk

NHS England and NHS Improvement has written to general practices and hospital trusts in England to raise awareness of this new guidance.

All those who are severely immunosuppressed are eligible for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine as part of their primary course, and a booster (fourth dose).

From 16 December 2021, the National Health Service is offering new monoclonal antibody and antiviral treatments to people at greater risk from COVID-19. These treatments are a further measure in addition to vaccinations, which remain the best way to protect everyone. These treatments are licensed for use in non-hospitalised patients to reduce the risk of hospitalisation and death. This includes the two oral antivirals procured by the Antivirals Taskforce, as well as the monoclonal antibody treatment. There are two routes to accessing new COVID-19 treatments for non-hospitalised patients this winter. The first route allows those whose immune system means they are at higher risk from COVID-19, who test positive for the virus, to directly access COVID-19 treatments, through new COVID Medicines Delivery Unit.

The second route has made oral antivirals available through a national study called PANORAMIC, run by the University of Oxford in close collaboration with General Practice hubs. It is for United Kingdom patients at risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

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