Covid jab drug delay ‘over cost’

FORMER Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has accused Ministers of failing up to 500,000 people who do not benefit from Covid vaccination, by delaying whether to green-light a drug that could protect them.

Lord Lansley, who served under David Cameron, feared cost was the reason why Ministers had not approved Evusheld for people with compromised immune systems.

On Friday, the Government confirmed it would not yet buy Evusheld, made by AstraZeneca, due to questions over whether it helps protect against Omicron variants.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will review the drug by next April.

Yesterday, the Tory peer told BBC Radio 4’s Today that more than 20 countries were using Evusheld, with evidence of its effectiveness against Omicron building. He said: ‘It is very difficult to see what the referral to Nice means other than that there is a cost issue.’