Monday, April 4, 2022

Preventative COVID-19 Drug Could Help More Mississippians

Ruth Cummins authored this press release for UMMC. 

Duck Hill resident Kimberly Cooley is determined to do all she can to protect the life-saving liver she received in December 2018 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

That’s why Cooley, on anti-rejection drugs for life that suppress her natural immunity to infection, sought out the drug trademarked as Evusheld to provide COVID-19 antibodies she can’t develop on her own, despite being vaccinated and boosted against the virus.

“Evusheld is the difference between me succumbing to COVID-19, or surviving it,” said Cooley, an independent public relations advisor who remains under the care of the abdominal transplant team at University TransplantUMMC houses Mississippi's sole organ, tissue and bone marrow transplant program.

“Even after receiving the three Pfizer shots, I had negative antibodies,” she said. “I was at square one, with no protection at all from the Omicron variant. Evusheld was my last hope.”

If you’ve had an organ or bone marrow transplant, are receiving chemotherapy or on drugs that suppress immunity, your risk is higher for COVID-19, a potential disaster for someone weakened by a serious or significant medical condition.

That’s why UMMC caregivers are encouraging adults and older adolescents who are immunocompromised to be proactive by receiving Evusheld. It’s a treatment widely underutilized in the state, and the Medical Center has a good stock of the two-dose regimen on hand.

The drug is intended as a preventative for those who have not already had COVID-19, who are not currently infected, and who have not recently had contact with someone who is infectious with the virus. State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs in recent weeks has urged any immunocompromised Mississippian who qualifies for the drug to get it.

“If you have a weakened immune system due to cancer treatment or an organ transplant - please talk to your oncologist or transplant doc about Evusheld,” Dobbs tweeted last month. “MS has over 2k unused doses.”

Although research remains ongoing, experts believe Evusheld can provide up to six months’ protection.

“We have plenty,” said Dr. Stephanie Elkins, medical director of UMMC’s Division of Hematology/Oncology. “It’s intended for prevention of COVID for patients who could not receive the vaccine, or for those who didn’t get a good immune response when they had the vaccine.”

Mississippi was a national leader in providing monoclonal antibody treatments for patients who tested positive for the virus during the COVID-19 Delta wave in summer 2021. Only one monoclonal antibody treatment, Sotrovimab, has been determined to be effective against the Omicron variant, and it’s in short supply in Mississippi and nationally.

There are two oral antiviral medications available in Mississippi, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, for those already infected.

Initially, Elkins said, UMMC had a very short supply of Evusheld. “We were very guarded in who we gave it to,” she said. “Now that we have more, if you fall into the group that’s eligible, we are giving you the two shots.”

Both doses are given at the same time, she said, usually in the patient’s hip and not intravenously. She knows of no UMMC patients who had an adverse reaction to Evusheld, although there are reports nationally of a very small number of patients who had a cardiovascular complication.

Of the thousands of immunocompromised Mississippians who have succumbed to the virus, Evusheld could have helped many “against developing severe disease and death from COVID-19,” said Dr. Bhagyashri Navalkele, an assistant professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases and medical director of infection prevention.

Evusheld is not a replacement for the COVID-19 vaccine. A list of locations across the state that administer Evusheld can be found on the Department of Health website.

“Evusheld is an additional important and effective COVID-19 prevention tool available for those with a weak immune system,” Navalkele said. “People with a weak immune system, irrespective of vaccination status, or those who cannot receive COVID-19 vaccination due to some contraindication should strongly consider Evusheld to well protect themselves against this deadly virus.”

Cooley got her first dose of Evusheld on Feb. 1, before it was determined that a second dose was beneficial. She got the second shot in early March.

She had no adverse effects – “not so much as a sore shoulder,” Cooley said.

It’s frustrating to Cooley that so much of the drug is going unused in the state when it could potentially save lives. “You should get it while you can,” Cooley said. “It’s pointless to have the opportunity to be proactive, and then decide against it and wait until you become infected to get monoclonal antibodies. Then, it could be too late.”

“Myself as a transplant patient, long COVID will always be my biggest fear. I’m going to do everything I can to be as proactive as possible,” she said.

Just because she’s received Evusheld, though, doesn’t mean she will cease the precautions she’s been taking for more than two years. “I move in a calculated manner. I always mask outside my house, and there are no visitors to my home,” she said. “I’m a caregiver for my mom.”

For now, Cooley said, she’s breathing easier.

“I feel significantly better about surviving it, should I become infected,” she said.

 

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I wish her the best. Still sad that we have endured 2.5 years of lies to fatten up the nations elected and their aids, pharma buds , the media and hollywood. Oh wait, y'all have already forgotten and are to busy with Hunter, The gender bender swimmer and Ukraine to care.

Anonymous said...

UMMC suggested something other than a COVID quackcine? The manufacturer of this drug must have one helluva physician kickback program!

Anonymous said...

So. Sick. Of this shit.

Anonymous said...

I thought Covid was over? Where did all the sky screamers go? Oh wait they supporting Ukraine since it’s the hot thing now.

Anonymous said...

No thank you. Even Ole Socrates couldn't haul off all the bullcrap that's been pushed out in the last 2.5 years over this Covid madness.

Anonymous said...

UMMC is on the ropes for real.

Anonymous said...

Technically, the Covid vaccine should prevent organ rejection......since it destroys your immune system and basically gives you AIDS

Anonymous said...

I can't believe y'all haven't heard about this infusion.

But, then ignorance has never been a concern for flat earthers.

Anonymous said...

Wouldn't take a stray dog to that place. Y'all take all you want.

Anonymous said...

Covid was engineered to make folks less smart. The vaccines for Covid were engineered to make folks more stupid. After all this time and proof folks are still in chains. Guess it worked.


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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

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In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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