Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the Government's decision not to procure Evusheld, what steps she will take to help ensure that immunocompromised people are protected from covid-19 this winter.

The Government has decided not to procure Evusheld for prevention through emergency routes at this time. This is a decision based on independent clinical advice by the multi- agency initiative, RAPID C-19 and a national expert policy working group. These groups considered a range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro analysis and emerging observational studies and concluded there is currently insufficient evidence of benefit to recommend deployment. The Chief Medical Officer for England is content that the correct process for providing clinical advice has been followed and agree that this should now be referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for further evaluation. The Department intends to publish further details of the clinical advice received shortly.

Immunocompromised patients are a priority cohort for COVID-19 treatments. Sotrovimab, a neutralising monoclonal antibody and antiviral drugs are available for patients in the community at high risk of progression to severe COVID-19, hospitalisations or death. Individuals aged five years old and over with weakened immune systems will be offered an autumn booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine.