The Bad Side Of UK National Healthcare

[DanBro1]

I believe in National Healthcare. People don't choose to get sick, but when they do become ill, healthcare should be available without sending a family into bankruptcy and homelessness. That being said, there is a dark underside to having bureaucrats and bean counters determine your medical treatment fate rather than highly skilled physicians. I have had FOUR Moderna Covid vaccinations. One month after injection, my body produced ZERO Covid antibodies. My oncologist at MD Anderson, San Antonio prescribed Evusheld injections to give me antibodies. Evusheld worked. Five months later, my Covid antibody test came back POSITIVE for antibodies. I have a life, now!! I do not fear going to HEB Grocery or Walmart (I still wear a mask in those locations). A friend sent me the link to this BBC article...... how can the UK deny life-saving medication to a select group of citizens?? The world is getting crazier and crazier.........

bbc.com/news/uk-england-oxf...

[bennevisplace]

The argument of the UK government is that there is insufficient evidence that Evusheld is effective against the Omicron variant. The problems with this argument are:

1. The government has not published any review of the evidence for Evusheld's ineffectiveness, against Omicron BA.1, .2, .4, .5 or .4.6.

2. It has now handed review to NICE, guaranteeing a report that will never conclude

3. There is evidence of reduced vaccine efficacy in immunocompromised individuals

4. Government apparently cancelled a pre-order for 1 million doses of Evusheld almost a year before Omicron emerged in the UK

5. The UK medicines regulator MHRA approved Evusheld after Omicron emerged in the UK

6. Every other G7 country is using Evusheld to protect its immunocompromised population.

[RogerPinner in reply to bennevisplace]

Well said, It's crazy and totally disingenuous of the government. But I can't see Terese Coffey changing the policy.

Roger

[Eucalyptus22]

Hi DanBro.

The campaign group Evusheld for the UK would love to read your words. It is exactly the evidence they are building from across the world. With your permission can I send what you have just written to them? So delighted to hear that Evusheld gave you antibodies. Fills my heart with hope.

[DanBro1 in reply to Eucalyptus22]

Permission granted. I have been participating in an antibody study sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. They measured by blood antibody levels after each of my four Moderna vaccinations (ALL came back "no detectable antibodies") and five months after my Evusheld vaccination ("Positive" for antibodies). Evusheld has a six month effectiveness and I receive my six month "booster" next week. I found this cost estimate at Drugs.Com: "The cost for Evusheld intramuscular solution (150 mg/1.5 mL-150 mg/1.5 mL) is around $10 for a supply of 3 milliliters, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Prices are for cash paying customers only and are not valid with insurance plans." Medicare covers my Evusheld injections 100% because they are administered in a hospital setting.

[Eucalyptus22 in reply to DanBro1]

Thank you so much DanBro1. I have been in touch with the campaign group and they are delighted that you have given your permission. All individual experiences from across the world helps gather an important picture for us all. Really pleased to hear that Evusheld has worked well for you and given you some of your life back. More importantly, reduced a constant living with fear feeling.

[prbs2707]

I couldn't agree more. The crazy thing is that the cost of treating an immuno compromised patient who has contracted covid in hospital - possibly in ICU at £1000 per day far outweighs the cost of preventing the illness in the first place with 2 shots of Evusheld at less than £100 each! Once again we are left feeling forgotten as the world moves on. Hey Ho. Take care. Patrick

[Ghounds]

That's only part of the story... it's next to impossible to see a doctor and ambulances are queuing outside emergency departments unable to offload patients. Our system seems utterly broken with no easy solution.

[noeagaman]

It must feel great to know that you now have antibodies from Evushield! I had a bad reaction to the first round of Evushield so wont be getting any more. Oh well... I will still be going to HEB and Walmart here in San Antonio.

Chris

[annmcgowan]

Hi glad to hear evusheld worked for you. Thank you for sharing this information. I am in the same boat you were in no antibodies after 5 covid vaccines. I can’t believe the U.K. government are treating us so badly. It is discriminating, short sited and not even cost effective, as prbs 2707 stated, it would cost so much more for us to be hospitalised than to receive evusheld!!!

Ann

[Big_Dee]

Hello DanBro1

I see both the good and short comings of insurance pay and national health care. Look at it this way, those bean counters have to make a discission along with defense money, government services and feeding 10,000 starving people or saving one person with transplant which may or may not solve their health issues. I don't envy their job. in the US Medicare is nationalized health care and they could well decide that I don't need a second or third treatment for CLL. Just like you get 5 days hospitalization through Medicare and if you're not improving they ship you out to nursing home.

[Pageboy]

There are still rumours it will shortly become available privately as AZ tires of the UK Government’s stance and doctors press to get access to it. This will be at a substantial cost to the individual of course. It’s not only morally very wrong if this happens but short sighted too.

[KMac1969]

I think some of it has to do with emerging research, that is awaiting peer review, that shows the newest variant escapes Evushelds protection.

google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.co...

[Unglorious]

I whole heartedly agree with you, everyone should have access to Evusheld. I live in British Columbia, Canada, I was fortunate to receive my shots of Evusheld, but unfortunately the dosage is only half of the dosage given in the USA. I am due to receive another round in February, I am hoping that the dosage in Canada will be increased. My life is one of constant isolation.

[BeckyLUSA]

I agree DanBro, I have done lots of soul searching about the differences in our health care system, and while I appreciate some aspects of nationalized healthcare, it is appalling that they are not taking this issue as seriously as they should. I just called my CLL specialist’s office today and they scheduled my Evusheld shots for right after my IVIG on October 5. They will be covered by Medicare.

This is lifesaving medicine that is not that expensive. Shame on the powers that be that they will NOT authorize this treatment!

Sorry we cannot help you guys out with this!!!

BeckyL USA