There are some at-risk patients that don’t get the full benefit of COVID-19 vaccines. The answer for said patients is a drug called Evusheld for protection against the virus.
Evusheld is a monoclonal antibody given to at-risk patients with immunosuppressing conditions that might prevent them from getting the full benefit of a vaccine. It is given before infection as a preventative measure.
“There are some people who just don’t respond to the vaccines,” said UNC Health infectious disease specialist Dr. David Wohl. “Their immune systems don’t allow them to mount the antibodies to protect them, but we can give people antibodies that stick around in their systems for months.”
Since the emergency-use authorization began in December 2021, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has received 24,264 units of Evusheld and has only dispensed 9,720 units to 101 providers across the state.
NCDHHS said 2,895 units of Evusheld have been administered, which is about 12% of the state’s supply.
“We have a bunch of Evusheld,” Wohl said. “We want to give it to people. This is something you have to get through your doctor.”
Before Feb. 24, patients received one 300-milligram unit, given as two 150 milligram injections into the muscle of each buttocks. After Feb.24, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration updated protocols to give patients two 300 milligram units, given as two 300 milligram injections into the muscle of each buttocks.
While NCDHHS says its reporting system does not allow them to track the total number of patients who have received the treatment, a WRAL analysis of units administered before and after Feb. 24 found that about 2,400 people in North Carolina have received the treatment.
Why are so few people getting the treatment?
Only 101 providers are administering the drug across the state. Patients are required to schedule an appointment at a specialist or medical center. Doctors say the drug is safe, but the limited data shows there is likely a reduction in effectiveness with the omicron variant.
Rebekah Moehring, who is an infectious disease specialist at Duke, said vaccines are still the first line of defense.
“These are the folks we don’t expect would have a good response to the vaccine,” Moehring said. “We consider using this drug for them to give them a little bit more protection should they become exposed to COVID in the future.”
Moehring said Duke Health has administered Evusheld to about 500 people since January.
Duke Health and UNC Health both offer the treatment to people 12 and older. Wake Med tells WRAL it does not currently offer Evusheld injections.
