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Treatments for Covid-19

Updated 8 August 2023

Many CLL patients and their families are concerned about the risk of severe illness if they catch COVID-19. We set out here our understanding of the developments in the treatment of COVID-19 and how they can be used to treat CLL patients.

Although treatments for COVID-19 continue to improve all the time, we encourage everyone to continue to take precautions to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19, such as being fully vaccinated.

What treatments are available?

The treatments available in the UK for people at the highest risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19 are:
nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid)
sotrovimab (Xevudy)
remdesivir (Veklury)
molnupiravir (Lagevrio)
Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, remdesivir and molnupiravir are antiviral medicines.
Sotrovimab is known as a neutralising monoclonal antibody (nMAb). Sotrovimab is recommended if nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (Paxlovid) is not suitable.
Some treatments come as capsules or tablets that you swallow. Others are given to you through a drip in your arm (infusion), usually in a hospital or local health centre.
These treatments can help some people manage their COVID-19 symptoms and reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill.
You’ll be told which treatment, if any, is most suitable for you.
It’s important that you let everyone know what medication you are using, as some of the Covid treatments may interfere with them. Don’t be afraid to mention this to your doctor.

Who is eligible?

All blood cancer patients should be eligible for treatment , but access to treatment has changed as follows:
From 30th June 2023 you will no longer be automatically contacted by the NHS following the registration of a positive test. Instead, patients are required to refer themselves to their GP, secondary care team or health board following a COVID-19 positive test.
This information applies to England. There may be similar changes to the process in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but we are awaiting confirmation. In Wales the process appears to be staying the same.
However, regardless of where you live in the UK, we recommend all patients now make initial contact with your healthcare team to inform them of your positive COVID-19 test and discuss treatment options, rather than waiting for them to call you.
For more information on how to get treatment, please see below.

How can I access these treatments?

From 30th June 2023 you will no longer be automatically contacted by the NHS following the registration of a positive test. Instead, patients are required to refer themselves to their GP, secondary care team or health board following a COVID-19 positive test. Some hospitals are maintaining CMDUs (Covid medicine Delivery Units), and you may be referred for treatment to one of these if an assessment so indicates. This information applies to England. There may be similar changes to the process in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but we are awaiting confirmation. In Wales the process appears to be staying the same. However, regardless of where you live in the UK, we recommend all patients now make initial contact with your healthcare team to inform them of your positive COVID-19 test and discuss treatment options, rather than waiting for them to call you.

What to do if you think you may have Covid:

1. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, take a rapid lateral flow test as soon as possible, even if your symptoms are mild. Only take a test if you have symptoms.
If you’re eligible for COVID-19 treatment, you should keep rapid lateral flow tests at home.
You can order free NHS rapid lateral flow test kits on GOV.UK or by calling NHS 119.  Full information HERE.
You can also use tests you’ve paid for, for example, a test you’ve bought from a supermarket or pharmacy.

2. If your test is positive, call your GP surgery, NHS 111 or hospital specialist as soon as possible if your test result is positive.
They’ll decide if you need referring for an assessment for COVID-19 treatment.
They may ask what other medicines you take or receive, including any vitamins and minerals, so it’s important to have a list of these ready.
If you’re eligible for treatment, it’s important to start the treatment as soon as you can. Treatments for COVID-19 need to be given quickly after your symptoms start to be effective.
The medicine can be collected on your behalf by someone else, such as a friend or relative. Alternatively, the NHS may be able to arrange for the medicine to be delivered to you.
If the treatment needs to be given as a drip in your arm (infusion), you’ll usually get it at your local hospital or in a local health centre.
You’ll get instructions on where to get the treatment and how to get there and back safely.

3. If your test result is negative, but you still have symptoms of COVID-19, you need to do a total of 3 rapid lateral flow tests over 3 days.
For example, if you did your first test today, you should do a 2nd test tomorrow and a 3rd test the day after.