Infections from Covid-19 are increasing and it becomes increasingly urgent to think about the protection of the most fragile. We are talking about about 150 thousand people in Italy, including the elderly, patients who have undergone transplants, onco-haematological or with serious rheumatological diseases. All of them could benefit from additional anti-Covid prophylaxis to the vaccine.
What does prophylaxis consist of?
This is the first monoclonal antibody therapy, tixagevimab and cilgavimab, to be administered before infection occurs. “Strongly immunosuppressed people who cannot get vaccinated or who do not develop sufficient anti-Covid antibodies despite vaccination”, explains Roberto Messina, president of Senior Italia FederAnziani. According to the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the combined administration of these two monoclonal antibodies reduces the risk of developing symptomatic Covid by 83%.
A resource that risks being wasted
“There are efficient treatments available that can strengthen the immune system and must be used as soon as possible”, Messina continues: “Many doses, however, are about to expire and it is important that those who know they are entitled to do so report it to their doctor” . In fact, of the approximately 20,000 doses distributed so far, the first 10,000 will expire at the end of July, while the others will expire in December. “The infections from Covid-19 are growing again at a rapid pace – concludes Messina – As FederAnziani we are urging all local and regional health institutions to accelerate the administration of antibodies after the initial delays”.