Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to facilitate the availability of Evusheld over the counter at pharmacies rather than by prescription from a GP.

The decision not to procure Evusheld at this time for prevention through emergency routes is based on independent clinical advice by the multi-agency RAPID C-19 and a national expert policy working group. The decision is based on a range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro analysis and emerging observational studies. RAPID C-19 monitors activity in clinical trials for emerging evidence and where treatments are proven to be clinically effective, enables access for National Health Service patients. The Chief Medical Officer for England is content that the correct process for providing clinical advice has been followed and it should now be referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for further evaluation. The Antivirals and Therapeutics Taskforce has published this analysis of evidence, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/rapid-c-19-oversight-group-report-to-chief-medical-officer-review-of-evusheld

A letter was issued to patient groups on 5 September on the evidence and expert analysis for the decision, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/decision-on-evusheld-as-a-coronavirus-covid-19-treatment-letter-to-patient-groups