The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has certified a new Covid-19 antibody drug for people with high-risk health problems or allergies who can’t get protection from vaccination. The antibody-drug is authorised for long-term protection against the Covid-19 virus rather than short-term treatment.

People who can benefit from the antibody drug are cancer patients, organ transplant recipients and patients taking immune-suppressing drugs for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Health experts say that approximately 2 to 3 per cent of the population of the US is into that group.

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The FDA and other health officials have highlighted that antibody drugs are not a replacement for vaccines, the most effective, long-lasting and protection again coronavirus. Antibody drugs are hard to manufacture and cost over $1,000 per dose compared with regular vaccines, usually under $30 per dose.