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Scott Madow, a heath services manager at a University of Washington Medicine clinic, poses for a photo as he holds a box of AstraZeneca's Evusheld, the first set of antibodies grown in a lab to prevent COVID-19
OTTAWA – Health Canada has approved AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 antibody combination to prevent symptomatic infection for immunocompromised people.
The drug, named Evusheld, is intended for people who cannot receive a typical vaccine or for whom vaccines alone won’t provide enough immunity.
AstraZeneca says the drug is not a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19 for most people.
The antibodies are delivered as two separate injections, prior to COVID-19 exposure.
Drug trial data released in November showed an 83 per cent reduction in the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19, compared to a placebo.
Canada has already signed an agreement with AstraZeneca to receive 100,000 doses this year.
The Canadian Press
