KUALA LUMPUR: The Ministry of Health (MOH) will start administering a treatment with the monoclonal antibody drugs Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab (Evushield) in the near future to ensure that high-risk groups continue to be protected from Covid-19 infection.
Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said that currently the Evushield antibody drugs would only be administered in government hospitals, and they could be used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for those who were not yet infected with Covid-19 but were at high risk of becoming infected.
“Studies show that the Evushield antibody drugs can protect recipients against Covid-19 infection for a period of six months after injection,” he said in a statement, today.
Khairy explained that the method of administering the antibody drugs was through two consecutive intramuscular injections of Tixagevimab and Cilgavimab.
He said for immunocompromised patients who had received the Covid-19 vaccine, Evushield should be given at least two weeks after vaccination.
Commenting further, Khairy said the assessment of the patient’s eligibility to receive the antibody medication would be done by the treating physician.
Among the selection criteria were those aged 12 and above; weighing more than 40kg and are among the moderate to severe Immunocompromised group (taking into account the immune response of this group to Covid-19 vaccination which is unlikely to reach a satisfactory level of immunity).
In addition, another criterion was individuals who were unable to take the vaccine completely due to medical reasons or had a history of severe reactions to the Covid-19 vaccine.