Texas Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this week said that the Lone Star State has acquired its own supply of the COVID-19 monoclonal antibodies – that is said to be a lifesaving treatment for the virus – despite the Biden administration’s restrictions on the treatment.
“Texas has obtained its own separate allocation of these monoclonal antibody treatments working around the limitations that President Biden has put on us so that we will be able to ensure that anybody in the state of Texas that wants access to these special treatments, that they will be able to get it,” Abbott was quoted as saying by Fox News.
The Republican governor also posted on Twitter that Texans who test positive for the COVID-19 virus and have a doctor’s referral will be eligible to get “these proven, effective treatments.”
Monoclonal Antibodies Are Being Rationed Amid Spread of COVID-19 Variants
The Texas Governor’s announcement came shortly after the federal government decided to limit the treatment despite the spread of new variants of the COVID-19 virus.
Before, distribution sites could order the antibody treatments directly from manufactures. But as soon as the demand for the treatment skyrocketed, the administration instigated changes that compelled states across the nation to go through the Department of Health and Human Services (HH) to get the treatments and giving limits on how many each state can receive.
Texas Obtained 4,700 Doses Of Monoclonal Antibodies
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, it ordered about 4,700 doses from GlaxoSmithKline.
Meanwhile, Texas along with Florida were two of the states with the highest demand for the treatment. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday that seven states across the country made up nearly70% of the requests for the treatment.
Senator Marco Rubio, R-Fla., on Tuesday has introduced legislation that would prevent HHS from ratifying policies that will prevent heathcare providers and hospitals from obtaining monoclonal antibody treatments from distributors and manufacturers.
Also Read: Monoclonal Antibody Infusion Therapy Against COVID-19 Becomes More Popular in Fort Worth
