At-risk Manitobans press for COVID medication

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This article was published 10/07/2022 (900 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Two months after the province received a shipment of an approved COVID-19 prevention medication, it is still not available to Manitobans.

In May, Shared Health received 1,100 doses of Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody injection developed by AstraZeneca that works to prevent COVID-19 infection in severely immunocompromised individuals. That includes people who have high-risk conditions and are taking medications, including cancer treatment, that inhibit the production of a strong immune response.

Shared Health, which is responsible for managing hospitals and health-care agencies in Manitoba, hasn’t yet decided who will be eligible to receive the Evusheld shots. It was approved by Health Canada in April to be administered to a very specific group of Canadians 12 and older that doesn’t have COVID-19 infections or symptoms.

“Clinical leadership is currently determining the criteria for administering the drug, with rollout expected in the coming weeks,” a Shared Health spokesperson stated in response to a Free Press inquiry.

Evusheld is already available by prescription in most provinces. In clinical trials, it showed an ability to protect against COVID-19 infection for at least six months.

The medication has the potential to be life-changing for Khalie Jackson-Davis and her family. She and her 16-year-old son are both immunocompromised, and they’ve been waiting for their chance to access the preventative shots. She takes immune-suppressing medications for a rare brain-lesion-causing condition called IgG4. Her son undergoes weekly immunoglobulin replacement therapy because of his common variable immunodeficiency. Both put them at higher risk of infection. Although they are fully vaccinated, they don’t know what level of immune response, if any, their bodies were able to mount as a result.

Jackson-Davis said she’s frustrated with the delay, which to her shows a lack of empathy for high-risk and vulnerable Manitobans.

“Here in Manitoba, there is clearly no rush to begin administering a therapeutic (medication) that has the potential to be life-changing for families like ours,” and could provide an added layer of protection that would allow them to participate in activities again, she said.

Provincial public-health orders were lifted months ago, but life is far from normal for their family, Jackson-Davis emphasized. She still works remotely, the kids remained in remote learning before summer break, and the family doesn’t do any public indoor activities. They still avoid crowds and rely on deliveries.

“The truth is, things are worse for us now — no indoor mask mandates or isolation requirements put us more at risk.”

Making the preventative treatment available as soon as possible should be an “immediate priority,” said Manitoba Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont.

“The truth is, things are worse for us now — no indoor mask mandates or isolation requirements put us more at risk.”–Khalie Jackson-Davis

“It’s a real dog-ate-my-homework excuse. Unless there’s something significantly wrong with other provinces’ guidelines, then there’s no reason not to proceed,” Lamont said, adding “It is absolutely critical that Shared Health get on this.”

The province hasn’t done enough to protect immunocompromised and vulnerable Manitobans, he said, and he’s calling for expansion of fourth doses to health-care workers and high-risk individuals younger than 50 without requiring doctors’ notes.

“Throughout the pandemic, we’ve had people who are immunocompromised who have not been a priority,” Lamont said.

“That’s the great frustration for me; this isn’t something new with Evusheld, it’s something that’s been happening throughout the pandemic.”

A different type of intravenous monoclonal antibody medication became available in Manitoba in December as a post-infection COVID-19 treatment, but this is the first time a COVID-19 prevention treatment has been distributed in Canada.

National supply is limited, and provinces got shipments this spring based on population size. Most other provinces began rolling out Evusheld in May or June. Provinces including B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick have already published their eligibility guidelines.

Provinces set their own strict eligibility requirements, most introducing the same or similar criteria that makes the medication available only to certain people who’ve had organ or stem cell transplants, or are undergoing cancer treatment.

“It’s a real dog-ate-my-homework excuse. Unless there’s something significantly wrong with other provinces’ guidelines, then there’s no reason not to proceed.”–Dougald Lamont

The strict criteria is generally in place to make sure Evusheld goes only to people who are undergoing immune-suppressing treatments or who can’t be vaccinated against COVID-19 because they’re allergic to ingredients in the vaccines.

In a statement, NDP MLA Uzoma Asagwara, health critic for the Opposition, said every tool available must be used to fight severe impacts of COVID-19.

“The PCs should have learned their lesson by now that we can’t drag our feet when it comes to this virus,” they stated. “It’s time to set up the eligibility criteria and start delivering this treatment to those who need it.”

katie.may@winnipegfreepress.com