EVUSHELD: Protection for the Immunocompromised

[Jan 26, 2023 Update]  Effective immediately, the FDA has stated that EVUSHELD is no longer authorized for administration in all regions of the US.  The FDA issued the statement in response to the rising resistance of circulating strains COVID to EVUSHELD and that it is no longer able to provide prophylactic coverage to immunocompromised patients.  Bivalent COVID vaccination remains the best way to protect patients against COVID and it is still recommended that all eligible patients get a COVID vaccine.  Due to the FDA’s statement, Atracare will no longer be administering EVUSHELD until further authorization is approved.  Thank you.

 

EVUSHELD (tixagevimab & cilgavimab) is designed to offer protection from COVID-19 infections in patients who cannot mount an adequate immune response from COVID-19 vaccination (or for patients who cannot receive the vaccine for medical reasons).

EVUSHELD is specifically designed for patients that are immunocompromised.  Medical conditions or treatments that may result in moderate to severe immune compromise and an inadequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination include but are not limited to:

  •  Active treatment for solid tumor and hematologic malignancies
  • Receipt of solid-organ transplant and taking immunosuppressive therapy
  • Receipt of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (within 2 years of transplantation or taking immunosuppression therapy)
  • Moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency (e.g., DiGeorge syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome)
  • Advanced or untreated HIV infection (people with HIV and CD4 cell counts <200/mm3, history of an AIDS-defining illness without immune reconstitution, or clinical manifestations of symptomatic HIV)
  • Active treatment with high-dose corticosteroids (i.e., ≥20 mg prednisone or equivalent per day when administered for ≥2 weeks), alkylating agents, antimetabolites,  transplant-related immunosuppressive drugs, cancer chemotherapeutic agents classified as severely immunosuppressive, tumor-necrosis (TNF) blockers, and other biologic agents that are immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory (e.g., B-cell depleting agents)

Interested in an EVUSHELD injection? 

We offer EVUSHELD to the public through our Walk-In Department.  Text us at 302-517-1385 and we can get you scheduled for an injection.  We’ll need to get some documentation showing that you are immunocompromised before the shot can be administered, and we are happy to help you through the process.

What Documents are needed?

We require proof that a patient is immunocompromised and we can accept a variety of documents.  Documents we can accept in order of preference are:

  • A written order or prescription from the patient’s provider for EVUSHELD.
  • A progress note from the patient’s provider showing they are undergoing therapy or treatment that would make them immunocompromised.
  • A prescription with the patient’s name on it for an immunosuppressive medication that is recent.

Who is eligible for EVUSHELD?

Patients who receive EVUSHELD must be at least 12 years of age and weigh 40 kg or more.

Patients that are undergoing cancer treatment or are taking medications for treatment of Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, and to prevent organ transplant rejection all qualify.

Medications for MS include:

  • Ocrevus (ocrelizumab)
  • Kesimpta (ofatumumab)
  • Aubagio (teriflunomide)
  • Tysabri (natalizumab)
  • Lemtrada (alemtuzumab)

Medications that are TNF inhibitors that would qualify include:

  • Enbrel (etanercept)
  • Remicade (infliximab)
  • Humira (adalimumab)
  • Cimzia (certolizumab pegol)
  • Simponi (golimumab)

Medications commonly used for transplant rejection:

  • Prograf (tacrolimus)
  • Neoral (cyclosporine)
  • Imuran (azathioprine)
  • Rapamune (sirolimus, rapamycin)
  • Cellcept (mycophenolate mofetil)

If you are unsure whether you qualify or not, please do not hesitate to fill out the above form and we will have one of our providers contact you to discuss.