As a senior citizen with comorbidities I have been focused throughout the pandemic on the availability of therapeutics and noticed a lack of transparency concerning their effectiveness. Originally, during 2020 I was focused on keeping myself isolated and practicing social distancing and personal hygiene when I had to be in close contact with people and/or in areas where COVID was likely to be present. Throughout that time, I was encouraged on hearing about speedy development of vaccines and therapeutics. Also, during 2020 I was encouraged hearing that hospitals were learning to treat COVID more effectively and that there were encouraging stories concerning the effectiveness of therapeutics. I was particularly encouraged by the development of monoclonal antibodies and their proven effectiveness and the development of an anti-viral pill. I followed government official’s successful treatment with monoclonal antibodies and other therapeutics, including the successful treatment of then President Trump.
Then all of a sudden in 2021 information on and discussions of therapeutics by the Federal Government all but disappeared. An obsessive focus on vaccination ensued. People who did not get vaccinated were denied employment, schooling, travel, access to public places, etc. I assumed the focus on vaccination was associated with assumption that vaccination would prevent you from spreading or getting COVID. The problem is, very shortly after vaccinations were available, it became apparent that not only did vaccination NOT prevent you from spreading COVID but it also did NOT prevent you from getting COVID 19!
So, in light of this new insight concerning vaccination were there any new discussions of or emphasis on development and use of therapeutics? The answer is NO. I expectantly watched while states like Florida initiated programs to provide its citizens with centers to receive monoclonal antibodies. Nothing happened nation-wide?
Then late last year the Federal Government decided that they would control the purchase and distribution of monoclonal antibodies and the newly approved anti-viral pill. States like Florida found themselves without availability of monoclonal antibodies to distribute at their centers and had to close at least some of them down. To add insult to injury it was soon reported that the Government had failed to order enough monoclonal antibodies and anti-viral pills to treat all those needing them and additionally decided to forbid use of monoclonal antibodies produced by some manufacturers (those which were said to be “not as effective” on the Omicron variant). The result was that during a surge in cases, therapeutics were not available! Not only were therapeutics not available but the test kits needed to get therapeutics were not available either. Treatment with therapeutics required a positive COVID test and early detection so that a patient was not already hospitalized. No therapeutic treatment was allowed without a positive test and no therapeutic treatment was allowed if already hospitalized! The Federal Government had failed anticipate the level of need for testing and had not ordered the tests!
I patiently watched sites that were set up by the Government to provide information on local availability of monoclonal antibodies and anti-viral pills. I again went it to a modified isolation, fearful that I would get the highly contagious Omicron variant while there was extremely limited availability of therapeutics. Luckily when my son who I had been in close contact with got COVID, I did not come down with COVID.
Finally, a few months ago, I felt confident that therapeutics were available in a sufficient quantity that I would be able to get them if needed. I even read an encouraging White House communication that information on therapeutics was going to be widely disseminated. Miraculously I heard an infomercial on COVID therapeutics on the radio last week!
But don’t get too excited before you read the attached White House communication that threatens Congress. It basically says if Congress doesn’t give the White House more money to buy therapeutics people in need will again experience therapeutic shortages this fall.
Nothing can be done about lack of planning in the past by the Federal Government! I am not going to speculate on lives lost due to lack of communication on therapeutic treatment requirements or unavailability of therapeutic treatment. I am going to ask the question. Why are COVID monoclonal antibody and anti-viral pill treatments being controlled by the Federal Government? Why are these therapeutics being treated differently than other drugs? Can’t Medicare, Medicaid, retail pharmacies and clinics handle this? Why can’t States like Florida that want to provide these therapeutics for their citizens procure them? If we are in the endemic stage of COVID 19 then these therapeutics need to be treated like any other medicine and the Federal Government needs to stop holding its citizens hostage (financially, socially and emotionally) in order to be able to receive life-saving therapeutics.
PS As of today even Dr. Fauci has COVID. Further proof that vaccinated people do get COVID. Absolutely no mention has been made of whether Dr. Fauci received a therapeutic and which one. Probably a mute question, I am sure any therapeutic he desired was available to him.