A new report by Astrazeneca sheds light on the roughly two percent of the global population that are immunocompromised. These individuals have weakened immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections from bacteria and viruses. Titled “The Forgotten Millions: Mapping Immunocompromised Patients in the Middle East and North Africa,” the report details the needs of this high-risk population and emphasizes the crucial importance of protecting this group. According to the report, there is a lack of comprehensive data and understanding of immunocompromised individuals in the Middle East and North Africa, leaving millions vulnerable and disrupting efforts to curb the pandemic. Medical conditions such as cancer and diabetes are highly prevalent in this region, and urgent action is needed to increase understanding of the scale and needs of medically vulnerable people, protect and support them now, and into the future. The report suggests that policy makers should accelerate the collection of centralised data on high-risk groups, including the creation of national registries, to better map the scale and spread of the vulnerable population. Measures to protect high-risk patients from COVID-19, such as public health measures, vaccines, and therapies, should be prioritized. Collaboration with patient groups and civil society organizations is important to ensure that the voices of immunocompromised individuals are included in decisions that impact them. The report was co-authored by medical experts from AstraZeneca and the Egypt National Cancer Institute.
