Get Evusheld for Jo

I'm raising money to buy a drug for my best mate Jo.

Following a diagnosis of a primary immunodeficiency in December 2020, Jo was added to the shielding list, advising her to limit her life as she was at higher risk than the general public if she contracted covid.

Shielding is no longer recognised by the government but there are 500k people who remain at increased risk because they have little to no response to the covid vaccines.

Although Jo is no longer strictly shielding (she goes out for walks and sees very close family in controlled situations using tests to mitigate risk), her life and mine are hugely limited. Our mental and physical health are the worst they have ever been. We are desperate for an escape from living alongside the risk of disability or death that Jo might face if she caught covid. Living on high alert every day is exhausting, unfair, and since March, avoidable.

In March, the government approved Evusheld for use but has refused to make it available on the NHS. It’s a drug designed to protect clinically vulnerable people against Covid in cases where vaccines don’t work. To date, 32 other countries, including the rest of the G7, are providing Evusheld to their most vulnerable-to-covid citizens. Clinicians from 17 specialities, including Jo's immunologist, published a National Clinical Expert Consensus Statement in July advocating for the use of Evusheld 'in a timely manner' to their patients. 19 charities wrote to the secretary of state asking for Evusheld in August. Since then, a grassroots national campaign has built which is cross party and has had charitable backing from all major national newspapers. The cover photo on this fundraiser shows a young girl Jo has never met at a Vigil in Parliament Square holding a placard of Jo representing her and the #Forgotton500k who are still waiting for protection.

There is loads of real world data including this statistic: 'people who took Evusheld were half as likely to become infected with Covid, and 92% less likely to be hospitalised and/or die.'

Astra Zeneca, who make Evusheld, has offered the government a full refund should Evusheld not be effective, and still, they have refused to buy it. Astra Zeneca has now, reluctantly, made it available privately. Imagine having to pay thousands for your vaccines and boosters. Jo and I believe this should be available on the NHS and will continue to campaign, and we hope you will join us in making this happen.

But in the meantime, I want you to help me gift Jo a Christmas of slightly less fear. Evusheld is not a silver bullet and new variants are developing all the time which means it will not be as effective as it would have been if given a year ago but this dose would give Jo a little reprieve and after 2.5 years she deserves whatever we are able to gift her whilst the government refuse.

Below is a breakdown of how I arrived at £3000 as a target & here’s a poem Jo recently wrote which she has allowed me to share.

Small Things in Autumn

I miss the smell of perfumes mingling in the theatre

But on my walk, I saw a flock of starlings swarm against a pale orange sky.

I miss touching soft jumpers I can't afford to buy

But on my walk, I noticed the leaves beginning to turn.

I miss the words "are you ready to order?" "who's next?"

But on my walk a cat followed me all the way down the road.

I miss stepping into a warm café on a cold day

But on my walk, I saw the clouds along the horizon and remembered that the Earth is round.

I miss brushing elbows with a stranger in a bar

But on my walk, an acorn fell on my head. I turned to see a man watching and we laughed.

I miss small talk with acquaintances, unplanned visits, my nephew, museums, trains, birthdays, first days, colleagues, supermarkets.

The seasons change.

Hope remains, it has to.

Cost Breakdown

As there is no standardised pathway in private healthcare, this is an estimate based on word of mouth from other people in the community who have received the drug.

£1600 for a double dose lasting 6 months

£1000 for prescription and administration

£400 contingency and travel

Any remaining money will be returned, saved for the next dose or a new more effective drug, or donated to the campaign for NHS rollout.