New Anti-viral treatments are here!

[2534]

I have received a letter from the NHS which tells me I might be suitable for anti-virals if I get Covid. I was hoping for this because I have vasculitis and take RTX which the (Octave?) study showed to be the cohort with the least protection from the vaccination programme.

I received a PCR test with a red cardboard return box. I think the red is important to identify it as a priority for anti-viral delivery. They aim to give anti-viral as promptly as possible. The idea is if you get symptoms, they rush you the meds to your home or get you to a hospital which gives you an infusion.

All I need now is to get symptoms!

Take care all

[Chipper03]

Very interesting to hear that this is actually happening, and you must feel so reassured that everything is being done to reduce impact. I’ve asked my GP whether/when I will receive this, but so far not had a reply. I previously received letters that I must shield so presume I am eligible because of immunosuppression. I live in Wales, not sure if that makes a difference.

[EGPAGuy]

Yeah I got one as well. Everyone who was on the CEV list should get a letter and access to these drugs I believe. A fellow sufferer of EGPA I know did get covid (she is being treated with RTX) and was admitted and effectively treated with Renopreve which is not one of the 2 drugs listed in my letter. I am on Mepo and 10mg Pred. I have also heard that us immune suppressed should have a 4th booster 3 months after our 3rd dose but that may just be rumours. Lev

[HiveMind in reply to EGPAGuy]

Yes the protocol should be to get a Booster 12 weeks after the 3rd Primary jab.

[Mooka]

I was really surprised to have my pcr test delivered on Boxing Day. The criteria seems to be a bit mixed Not everyone on the cev list is being contacted. Let’s hope we don’t get to use them.

[RFNK]

Info about it here gov.uk/government/publicati...

[juli-pa]

I am not holding my breathe of receiving one. I never received shielding letters as Gp didn’t have me as high risk even though I am on Rituximab.

[Fay13]

So I unfortunately tested positive on Christmas Day by lateral flow, I had a Pcr the following morning which confirmed it. ( I have vasculitis)The system seems to be working fantastic as I was contacted yesterday morning and offered the antivirals and they were delivered by taxi to my home within a few hours. I live in wales.

[citygirl1234]

I have also been unlucky / lucky enough to test positive for COVID, become unwell and be contacted and receive one of the new treatments. I have GPA and also tested positive on Christmas Day but became unwell on the 22nd. (Lateral flows were negative for me). For anyone who hasn’t received a letter yet, try checking your email junk / spam mailbox, as that is where I found my original email (and the one telling me my PCR was positive and would be contacted for triage).

They should have put a flag on your NHS number so if you request a PCR test, put in your NHS number and test positive it should trigger a CMDU to get in touch and for you to get another email. I got a test at a test centre.

I was very pleasantly surprised as I was expecting to be forgotten because of it being Christmas (plus the back to back bank holidays) and me not being at home. (Being out of area has always been a faff before). I live in England.

If you aren’t contacted following a positive PCR and you are in England, you can call your GP (or 111 if out of hours) and they can refer you to your local Covid Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) for triage and treatment if suitable.

I had a sotrivimab infusion at a community hospital and they also took bloods at the same time, including an antibody test. I don’t know the results yet, but the nurses said everything is being reported back centrally for research. They also said they have a 24 hour target from triage (by the CMDU) to treatment. I was hit for six pre infusion but am continuing to improve after it. The doctors are also still checking in post treatment to see how I’m doing. Fingers crossed you don’t get it, but it’s nice to know there are options if you do.

[Groovykindoflove1992 in reply to citygirl1234]

I received a priority PCR kit before Christmas. I felt unwell and had a positive lateral flow test on the 29th, so did the PCR test and hubby posted it at the priority postbox in time for the 3pm collection. Received a text and an email at 7am on the 30th (wow!). Received 3 different undecipherable voice messages on my mobile on the 31st, but was able to work out that they were all regarding the anti-viral medicines, so phoned the CMDU number from my original email and was told I was still in the queue for a nurse to contact me. Heard nothing since, but am fortunately now on the mend!

[Chipper03]

On Friday I received an NHS Wales letter to me as a clinically extremely vulnerable patient, advising caution and so on, but no mention of getting a PCR kit in advance……it just says if I have symptoms to book a PCR and then I may be eligible for antivirals. Sadly this may be an instance of care in Wales being different. I’ve read the NHS website and it clearly says we should get a kit in advance. I plan to write back to the Welsh Chief Medical Officer, and enquire about this.

[PaulinemcC]

I received one of those too I also see consultants at Addenbrooks hospital been with them for 12yrs now .