Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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698. To ask the Minister for Health his plans to make the long-acting antibody treatment Evusheld available for the prevention of Covid-19 in immunocompromised patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7672/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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A National Therapeutics Advisory Group has been established by the HSE to evaluate, advise, and provide recommendations on all therapeutics with potential for use in the treatment of COVID-19 in Ireland. This encompasses a range of antivirals and monoclonal antibodies currently awaiting, or having recently received, EMA approval.

In parallel, a Therapeutics Operational Group, to be informed by the recommendations of the Therapeutics Advisory Group, has been established to develop the arrangements for provision of these treatments and work is ongoing to establish and develop the most efficient pathways to identify those patients who may benefit from their use. It is important to note that these treatments are not for widespread use, and the benefit will be limited to particular cohorts of high-risk vulnerable patients.

Disease epidemiology, and development of treatments, continue to evolve rapidly, and as new clinical evidence emerges, additional therapeutics may also be considered, and Ireland intends to participate in all EU initiatives, including EU JPAs, which are considered to be of benefit in the fight against COVID-19 in the future.