Providers can now order and administer Evusheld for immunocompromised patients in all risk categories. The medication can be stocked and administered within clinics.
Evusheld (Tixagevimab/cilgavimab) is indicated as pre-exposure prophylaxis for the prevention of COVID-19 infection in adults and pediatrics 12 years of age and older weighing at least 40 kg.
Patients must be moderately to severely immunocompromised, such that they are unlikely to mount an adequate immune response to COVID-19 vaccination, or have a history of severe adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccine. Patients cannot be currently infected with COVID-19 or have a known recent exposure to the virus.
This medication has been available under emergency use authorization since December 2021. In order to ensure the most at-risk patients received the medication first, a multidisciplinary team designed a risk matrix. From December 2021 to August 2022, patients in risk categories 1 and 2 were offered this therapy. The therapy is now available for patients in all risk categories.
The medication is administered as two intramuscular injections, one in each gluteal muscle. Injections have been well tolerated based on experience to date. The patient must be monitored for one hour, in the waiting area, after receiving the medication. The medication itself has been purchased by the federal government and is free to patients; however, a $375 administration fee is billed to their insurer.
Current clinical evidence indicates that the medication should be administered to eligible patients every six months. Clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of this agent can be found on the EVUSHELD Health Care Providers EUA Fact Sheet.