Coronavirus
Texas runs out of federally issued antibody treatment effective against omicron
On Dec. 17, HHS allocated just 2,694 doses for Texas, noting the government's supply was "extremely limited:" Gov. Abbott fires back at Biden admin
December 28, 2021 4:45pm
Updated: December 29, 2021 4:13pm
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) announced on Monday that the state has exhausted its supply of sotrovimab, the monoclonal antibody which is believed to be effective against the omicron variant of the coronavirus, The Hill reported.
Noting that “The federal government controls the distribution of monoclonal antibodies,” DSHS released a statement saying that infusion centers in Austin, El Paso, Fort Worth, San Antonio and The Woodlands will be unable to offer the treatment until "federal authorities ship additional courses of sotrovimab to Texas in January."
"Other monoclonal antibodies have not shown to be effective against the Omicron variant, which now accounts for more than 90 percent of new cases. The infusion centers will continue to offer those antibodies as prescribed by health care providers for people diagnosed with a non-Omicron case of COVID-19," the statement further read.
Health officials across the country began stockpiling doses of the monoclonal antibodies in December after studies showed that it was effective against the now dominant omicron variant.
On Dec. 17, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) allocated 2,694 doses for Texas, noting that the government's supply of the antibody treatment was "extremely limited" and additional units would not be available until the first week of January.
According to HHS guidelines, states should reserve sotrovimab for use in the highest risk outpatients, including patients over the age of 65 and those who are immunocompromised.
After the DSHS announcement, Gov. Greg Abbott took to Twitter to blast the Biden administration for hoarding the lifesaving medicine.
“Biden vows full federal support to help states combat COVID. But he’s not. Biden is hoarding the anti-body therapeutic drugs & denying states independent access to that medical treatment. Now, he has stopped providing any of that medicine to Texas,” the tweet read.
Biden vows full federal support to help states combat COVID. But he’s not.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) December 27, 2021
Biden is hoarding the anti-body therapeutic drugs & denying states independent access to that medical treatment.
Now, he has stopped providing any of that medicine to Texas. https://t.co/e0D36ulIpJ
