“I feel very happy that it’s been possible to have the antibody infusion as I have lost several friends to COVID.”
Paul Woodward, one of the first people to benefit from a new COVID treatment
West Yorkshire man Paul Woodward is 52 and has cystic fibrosis and diabetes.
Paul had a double lung transplant nearly 30 years ago, making him one of the longest surviving transplant patients in the country.
Having caught COVID for the second time at the end of December 2021, and being at exceptionally high risk, Paul was contacted by the NHS and offered one of two new treatments that aim to prevent any further complications.
Since mid-December last year, more than 1,400 clinically vulnerable people like Paul from across West Yorkshire have been assessed for these new treatments which are given at an outpatient unit or in the patient's own home.
Across England, the NHS has set up new services to assess patients with COVID-19 who are at highest risk of becoming seriously ill. These patients are being offered new antibody and antiviral treatments that aim to reduce the chances of hospital admission.
Treatments involve an intravenous infusion of neutralising monoclonal antibodies (nMABs) or oral antiviral treatments which are given to high-risk patients aged 12 and over. This includes people who have HIV /AIDS, liver disease, sickle cell disease, those who are receiving cancer treatments or taking medicines that suppress their immune system.
People at the highest risk from COVID will receive a letter from NHS England advising them that, should they test positive for COVID, they will be contacted and assessed for suitability for one of the new treatments available. If no contact is made, eligible patients can contact their GP or ring 111 to access the service.
Information about who is eligible and full details about the two types of treatment are available on the NHS.UK website.