Medical News in Brief
February 8, 2023
Updated COVID-19 Guidance for People Who Are Immunocompromised
Emily Harris
JAMA. Published online February 8, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.1176
In late January, the US Food and Drug Administration announced that Evusheld (the combined monoclonal antibodies tixagevimab and cilgavimab) is not currently authorized for emergency use because it’s likely ineffective against more than 90% of SARS-CoV-2 variants now circulating in the US. Evusheld had been used as COVID-19 preexposure prophylaxis among certain patients who are immunocompromised.
In light of this change, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new recommendations for people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised. Up-to-date vaccination, including with the bivalent booster, remains the best option for preventing infection and serious illness, according to the authors from the CDC COVID-19 Emergency Response Team. The report emphasized the importance of wearing an N95 mask, improving indoor ventilation, having a personal COVID-19 action plan, and other strategies.
“Persons who are immunocompromised should discuss a treatment plan with their doctor and identify which COVID-19 treatment would be best for them,” the authors wrote. “Some persons with COVID-19 who are immunocompromised or receiving immunosuppressive treatment might benefit from a convalescent plasma treatment.”