Denmark has ordered four times as many as Norway – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
This article is over a month old and may contain outdated advice from the Authority regarding coronary heart disease.
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– If you give it early, shortly after patients have developed symptoms, it has a super good effect, says chief physician Jan Gerstoft at the Department of Infectious Diseases at Rikshospitalet in Copenhagen to NRK.
He talks about the drug Sotrovimab, which has been in use in Danish hospitals for quite some time already.
The drug is not a panacea for anyone, but for at-risk patients who have a poor effect on vaccines, Sotrovimab can make a big difference and prevent hospitalization.
The drug is a so-called monoclonal antibody and it must be given intravenously as soon as possible after coronary heart disease has been detected.
Friday last week was Sotrovimab recommended by the WHO for the treatment of covid-19 in high-risk patients and the elderly.
Now the superior at Rikshospitalet in Copenhagen is waiting for 5000 new doses, which must be delivered at the end of the month.
– We currently use quite a lot, but we have had supply problems, says Gerstoft.
In Denmark, it may be relevant to give Sotrovimab to several patient groups about the approach to getting better. For example, pregnant women with risk factors.
Norway has just ordered just under 1200 doses which are expected later this week.
– Do not know if it is enough
In Norway, being so far behind Denmark causes the patient association for transplant recipients to react.
– We have a very comparative country in terms of demographics and population base otherwise. I see no point in not doing as Denmark, says information manager Jon Anker in the National Association for Kidney Patients and Transplants (LNT) to NRK.
The treatment is particularly relevant for organ transplantation, because they must use immunosuppressive drugs that also have effects of vaccines.
Anker says he knows of kidney patients who have been offered Sotrovimab recently.
But also that you isolate yourself completely while you are at a record high.
– I know that some of our members will receive this treatment if they are admitted. And I think this is being prioritized for our groups well. But I do not know if that is enough, says Anker.
Sotrovimab provides according to one publishes study 85 percent reduced risk of serious illness, and is primarily relevant for patients with poor immune response to covid-19 vaccines.
– Access is limited
In Norway, Helse Sørøst has so far been responsible for acquiring Sotrovimab. About 150 doses have already been purchased, and by the end of this week, another 1150 doses are expected.
Deputy CEO Jan Frich says that they must be covered for patients who are already being treated in the specialist health service.
An assessment must be made of which groups to refer to this treatment. We must take that discussion and the Norwegian Directorate of Health must be a heavy leader in it, says Frich.
– Is it an economic issue?
– No, I do not think so at all. It’s not that expensive. But the approach is limited. This has been purchased through emergency preparedness schemes in the EU, says Frich.
Senior rawdgiver Kirsten Hjelle in the Norwegian Directorate of Health says they will now assess whether Sotrovimab is also relevant for patients in the primary health service, ie in the municipalities and with GPs.
– But when the patient group needs it now, and the big wave of infection is coming now, is it not too late?
– We are where we are. Then we just have to do this in a good way and in as fast a way as possible, is what I can say.
– Do you want her?
– I do not think so. We have assessed it continuously. I have nothing more to add, says Hjelle.