1 September 2022

Pharmac has announced that it has secured Evusheld – a treatment for pre-exposure protection against COVID-19. This will provide for those who have not caught COVID-19, but who are at severe risk, to take Evusheld ahead of time to prevent COVID-19.

From 25 August 2022, Evusheld will be available through hospitals to those people who are not expected to mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination or COVID-19 infection, and who are at risk of severe illness.

Of relevance to people with CF, the criteria for access to Evusheld include those who have had a heart or lung transplant (at any time), and those who have had a solid organ transplant e.g. liver, kidney, in the last 12 months. The full access criteria can be found here >

Separately, CFNZ has again asked PHARMAC to widen access to COVID-19 antiviral treatments. CFNZ previously submitted to Pharmac seeking access to these treatments for anyone with CF, regardless of transplant or vaccination status, age, or ethnicity, but this was not implemented. CFNZ has now made a further request to Pharmac to widen access to COVID-19 treatments for anyone with CF. We await a response from Pharmac.