In this section you will find a list of success stories that have been reported to us following the launch of the International COVID-19 Blood Cancer Coalition´s (ICBCC) Joint Patient Impact Statement on 21 February 2022.
We are listing examples of countries where changes have been observed that can – at least to some degree – be attributed to the coalition´s joint Statement.
It´s great to see that the Statement is making impact and showing success!
At the bottom of the page, we are also listing Access Updates related to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis or (PEP), and antivirals. These are not directly related to the release of the coalition´s joint Statement.
Thanks for sharing your updates with us by sending an e-mail to info@clladvocates.net. We will make sure to add your story to this hopefully quickly growing list of inspiring success stories.
ICBCC SUCCESS STORIES
USA: The CLL Society Team, 5 March 2022:
“CLL Society is overjoyed to see that the immunocompromised community was explicitly mentioned by the President of the United States, Joe Biden, in the State of the Union Address on March 1, 2022. To see the immunocompromised community recognized in this esteemed public forum in relation to ensuring the most vulnerable are protected against the risk of contracting and preventing severe COVID-19 is truly remarkable.
“And we’re launching the “Test to Treat” initiative so people can get tested at a pharmacy, and if they’re positive, receive antiviral pills on the spot at no cost.
If you’re immunocompromised or have some other vulnerability, we have treatments and free high-quality masks.
We’re leaving no one behind or ignoring anyone’s needs as we move forward.”
President Joe Biden, State of The Union Address March 2022
Nonprofits have been working tirelessly over the past two years to increase awareness of the needs of the immunocompromised, including those with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). We would like to think that in some small way all our advocacy efforts together are now being heard at the highest level and are playing a role in decisions being made.
CLL Society is incredibly appreciative that the needs of the immunocompromised community are being recognized and met by the President. It’s looking like those who are immunocompromised will be left behind no longer; their needs will no longer be an afterthought.”
ITALY: Prof Paolo Ghia, President European Research Initiative on CLL – ERIC, 25 February 2022:
“Few days after we completed the Patient Impact statement, I have been involved in an ad hoc committee by the Italian regulatory agency (with which I shared our statement) to advise about the use of vaccine and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and 5 days ago, the agency announced that
- starting March 1st they recommend the 4th dose of covid vaccine to patients with immunodeficiencies (with or without therapy);
- the immunodeficient patients that after 14 days from the 4th dose do not develop an immune response will be eligible for the preventive injection of the AstraZeneca antibodies.
These recommendations include also patients with CLL regardless an active or past therapy.
I am proud that Italy has been the first country to take such action perfectly covering the requests that we all put forward in our statement.”
ACCESS NEWS
ISRAEL (Prof Yair Herishanu)
“In Israel we use I.M. tixagevimab and cilgavimab (Evusheld) for pre-exposure prophylaxis in CLL patients actively treated as well as in those with hypogamablobulinemia or recently exposed to anti-CD20 based regimen (Serology results may also help to select patients).
- Importantly, it is not a substitute for COVID-19 vaccination
- Can be redosed every 6 months.
- If a subject has received a COVID-19 vaccine, evusheld should be administered ≥2 weeks after vaccination
- Please not that it has moderately reduced activity against the Omicron variant. Two days ago the FDA has revised the emergency use authorization for Evusheld. Previously, the authorized Evusheld dosage was 150 mg of tixagevimab and 150 mg of cilgavimab. With this EUA revision, FDA has increased the initial authorized dose to 300 mg of tixagevimab and 300 mg of cilgavimab. A higher dose of Evusheld may be more likely to prevent infection by the COVID-19 Omicron subvariants. Patients who have already received the previously authorized dose (150 mg of tixagevimab and 150 mg of cilgavimab) should receive an additional dose of 150 mg of tixagevimab and 150 mg of cilgavimab as soon as possible to raise their monoclonal antibody levels to those expected for patients receiving the higher dose.”
BELGIUM (Elke Stienissen)
In Belgium, the government decided in January 2022 to give a 4th dosage to patients with immunodeficiencies. They’ve started mid February and a lot of those patients (also patients with CLL) have already had their 4th corona vaccine.
