We should organise a coach trip to France if that’s what it takes 
1 Like
Oh not sure about that one @MANS643 I will copy your post to @BloodCancerUK for you
Well done @davecpep for mobilising Vicky. I’ve talked to her in the past and she always stands up for the disadvantaged. We were both shielding at the time and did a “Tea with your MP” session for Macmillan.
2 Likes
@Franko I can’t take any credit for mobilising Vicky - I just came across this. I am going to write my own MP though - if a lot of us do this it might help keep Evusheld on the agenda. I’ll post my letter here in case anyone wants to use it as a template.
1 Like
I wrote to Savid Javid weeks ago needless to say no response ! I wrote again last week I am not hopeful . Matt Hancock had his failings but this guy is conspicuous by his absence .
2 Likes
Here is the text of the email I have just sent to my MP, which you may find helpful. I will report back how he responds!
Dear Mr Evans
I wrote to you about a related matter last year and your response was very helpful - thank you for that.
I am one of some 1.5 million people in the UK who are considered to be immunosuppressed. In my case, this is due to blood cancer (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia). Unfortunately, the evidence suggests that the covid vaccines may not be as effective, or indeed effective at all, for members of this group. I have had 4 doses, but a subsequent antibody test showed that I have no detectable covid antibodies. As society opens up further, the choice for people in my situation is to further retreat from social contact or to take greater risks, with the possibility of severe illness or death. Whilst there are new treatments available if you test positive, these have a small window of a few days in which they can be effective and they are by no means a guarantee.
There is now, however, a preventative treatment option called Evusheld, produced by Astrazeneca, which provides high levels protection over a lengthy period. Given like a vaccine, it provides covid antibodies directly, without the need for the body to produce them. It has been shown to be effective against Omicron. For the immunosuppressed this would be a really game-changer, giving a similar level of protection and the accompanying peace of mind, as the vaccine does for the wider population. Evusheld has been rolled out in several countries including the US, France, Egypt and Israel. I believe Australia recently approved it also. As yet though, immunosuppressed citizens in the Uk like myself do not enjoy the same protection.
A question was asked in the House recently about Evusheld by Vicky Foxcroft MP and Mark Spencer MP promised to follow up. I would be grateful if you could also make enquiries on behalf of myself and other Ribble Valley constituents who may be immunosuppressed. Just to repeat, Evusheld could be a real game-changer for this group, reducing the daily fear that most of us experience, enabling greater participation and leading to improvements in our mental health. I hope you will be able to help.
Kind Regards
7 Likes
Hi @davecpep, I think your wording of your letter is very clever and just to let you know I have used it as a template and forwarded to my MP which is in Hyndburn. I know we both missed getting Covid when we had it in our households but it certainly does not mean we are safe. Hope you are keeping well.
2 Likes
@Margarett we are Lancashire neighbours! I’m glad that the email was useful - I hope others do the same, to put it in the minds of as many MPs as possible. Yes, we both had close calls! I read your posts on the other thread - it is really good news about your antibodies! None of us really knows how our bodies will respond to meeting the virus. So far, so good but I certainly won’t be refusing Evusheld if and when it is offered! Take care.
2 Likes
Hi, @davecpep i did notice from your post that you are from the Ribble Valley so we are definitely Lancashire neighbours. We need a lot of people to back the fight for us to access Evusheld so that we can hopefully go about our lives feeling a bit more positive. We were both certainly lucky when we had Covid in our households. Let’s hope for some news soon regarding access to the preventive treatment that we all deserve. Now that the country has opened up with no rules we seem to be getting left behind. Please look after yourself and take care.
2 Likes
Hi Dave, Great letter will use it as a template to send to our MP. Don’t understand why the government have bought Evusheld but not approved it. Maybe like Carole says we should organise a coach trip to France!!! 
Stay safe everyone.
3 Likes
This is a great letter. I’ve just used it as a template for emailing my local MP. Thank you so much for sharing it.
3 Likes
Hello Dave
I have written to Savid Javid regarding this treatment and have had no response !
I have today used your letter as a template and written to my MP here in Southport Damien Moore .
Hopefully this and the other letters may raise the profile of the position we have been left in ! Take care everyone
2 Likes
Hi All
Just a update on my progress, I feel much like my old self, all my bloods are as the consultant wants them my paraprotein is undetectable, I have had my first three jabs just the booster to come in a few months, I had my operation for my bowel cancer in April last year(just hoping cancers don’t come in threes) I will see my consultant shortly to talk about a reversal of the colostomy if that is possible and can be done by keyhole surgery I will feel like I have won the lottery.
So for everyone starting out on this fight there is light at the end of the tunnel even if sometimes you cannot see the light
3 Likes
@davecpep - many thanks for the template. I have modified it a bit to fit my circumstances and have sent it to my MP. I also sent it to my sisters fyi and one of them has said she will also write to her MP on behalf of us all.
2 Likes
Further to my post above I have had this response today . Hopefully we might get some more information with his next reply .
Reply:-
Thank you for your email dated 14th March 2022.
I appreciate you bringing this matter to my attention. I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with blood cancer, you have my best wishes and I hope you that you are able to be in remission in the near future.
It is my understanding from your email you would like me to contact the Department of Health & Social Care relating to the drug Evusheld, and when it will be available for people who are immunosuppressed in the UK.
I have asked one of my caseworkers to contact you directly to discuss this matter in further detail.
Lastly, I have a number of contacts at the local hospitals, if in the future there are any issues with your treatment, please let me know and I will contact them on your behalf.
If I can be of any further assistance to you, please get in touch.
Yours sincerely,
Naveen Bhatia
For and on behalf of Damien Moore MP
4 Likes
Hi all, this is my reply received today from my MP who is opening a case to investigate the hold up with Evusheld.
This is an acknowledgement to confirm that I have received your email and my Office has created a unique reference number for your case, below. In order for us to open a case to investigate the matter we need your full name and address, as MPs have to confirm they are only taking on casework from their own constituents.
Once you have kindly given us your address we may need to provide it, in strict confidence, to other organisations or local authorities who we need to liaise with to query a matter for you. If you do not consent to this, please can you mention this in your email when you provide your address.
I am receiving high volumes of casework at the moment, so please accept my apologies if there is a slight delay in responding. If you do need to follow up on any very urgent matters then you can contact my Office, quoting your reference number.
Thank you again for contacting me and I look forward to hearing from you.
Yours Sincerely
Sara
Sara Britcliffe MP
Member of Parliament for Hyndburn and Haslingden
1 Like
Hi all again, I have of course given my MP my name and address along with my consent to use my information to investigate Evusheld. I now have a case reference and will keep you all updated when I have any more information.
2 Likes
Hi @geri147 and @Margarett well at least you have both got positive responses from your MP’s offices
2 Likes
Wow Evusheld (ready made antibody treatment for use as a preventative alternative to the vaccine) has been approved by the MHRA!! Guess we now wait to see what the criteria is to get it . But a good potential step forward for blood cancer patients who are unable to make antibodies to the vaccine.
7 Likes
You just beat me to it @CaroleCW! Great news! Let’s hope it will get rolled out quickly!
5 Likes