Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of measures to safeguard clinically extremely vulnerable kidney patients from covid-19; whether he plans to take steps to (a) evaluate (i) new protective treatments, (ii) modified prescriptions and (iii) existing antiviral treatments and (b) implement other additional measures to safeguard kidney patients.

We have introduced enhanced protections which may benefit the small number of people whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, despite vaccination, which includes free testing and public health guidance on managing this risk. Antiviral treatments are also available, which can be accessed in the community and in hospital. While a small minority may not be able to receive an antiviral, including some kidney patients, as of 28 November 2022, Sotrovimab can be prescribed in exceptional circumstances where other treatments have been deemed unsuitable. The National Institute for Health Excellence (NICE) is currently evaluating the treatments for COVID-19, including existing antiviral treatments, as well as Evusheld as a prophylactic. If NICE finds the medicines clinically and cost effective, the National Health Service will make them available as appropriate. We are also exploring options for an antibody testing study to improve the understanding of risks to this patient cohort. The scope of this study is currently being developed and further information will be available in due course.