A medication providing immunocompromised patients greater protection against COVID-19 has been rolled out across Wangaratta and surrounding areas.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) granted provisional approval for the use of Evusheld in February to prevent COVID in people who are at risk of infection but have not been exposed to the virus.
Northeast Health's infectious diseases physician David Turner said the medication was already available in metropolitan centres.
He said Northeast Health was now providing it across its service area.
"It is a medication that is designed to help protect people from COVID who don't get the full effect of COVID vaccines," Dr Turner said.
"Some patients because of their medical conditions or the medications they're on, don't respond fully to COVID vaccination.
"This new medication helps to boost that vaccine immunity to keep them safe, or safer, from COVID in the community."
He said the medication would help patients who had health conditions such as blood cancers or multiple sclerosis.
Crucial time to bring in medication
Dr Turner said it was a particularly important time to provide Evusheld across the region given the recent easing of COVID-19 restrictions.
He said while vaccines had played a huge role in getting to the opening-up stage, the situation was more complicated for immunocompromised people.
"Unfortunately there are people in our community who don't respond as well to vaccines," he said.
"For those members of the community, this opening up and the increased spread of COVID is potentially a really difficult, dangerous time.
"To be able to provide alternatives for these types of patients is just very exciting."
A 'boost' to the immune system
Wangaratta resident Lauren McCully received the first Evusheld medication from Northeast Health on Thursday.
She said she had multiple sclerosis and in order to keep it at bay she had to have an immunotherapy that "knocked out her immune system".
"Even though I've had five COVID vaccinations it doesn't really mean very much for my immune system," Ms McCully said.
"Evusheld boosts that immune system in a different way to the vaccination, so if I do get COVID I will get an immune response where previously I would not have."
She said the medication made her feel more confident that her immune system would deal with COVID more effectively.
"To be able to have it today has been absolutely amazing, especially for myself and my family as well."
