Early Tuesday Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that without warning the Biden administration cut off lifesaving monoclonal antibody treatments for patients suffering from Wuhan coronavirus. At the time of the announcement 2000 Floridians, the majority of whom are vaccinated, were scheduled to receive the treatment.
"Without a shred of clinical data to support this action, Biden has forced trained medical professionals to choose between treating their patients or breaking the law,” DeSantis released in a statement. “This indefensible edict takes treatment out of the hands of medical professionals and will cost some Americans their lives. There are real-world implications to Biden’s medical authoritarianism – Americans’ access to treatments is now subject to the whims of a failing president.”
Floridians must not be denied access to lifesaving monoclonal antibody treatment - the Federal Government’s decision to suddenly revoke its usage without clinical data is wrong. pic.twitter.com/lhdwxbjpnp
— Casey DeSantis (@FLCaseyDeSantis) January 25, 2022
As a result of the @US_FDA's abrupt decision to remove the EUAs for two monoclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibody treatment sites will be closed until further notice. Full press release is below. pic.twitter.com/RGeWTPwxCs
— Florida Dept. of Health (@HealthyFla) January 25, 2022
At the White House Tuesday afternoon, Press Secretary Jen Psaki defended the move and claimed the treatment is no longer effective against the virus.
Jen Psaki defends the FDA's decision to withhold treatments from Florida, accusing some of "promoting other pseudoscience, sowing doubt on the effectiveness of vaccines and boosters, and now promoting treatments that don't work." pic.twitter.com/LvyHx4HE9S
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) January 25, 2022
Her claims are being challenged by Florida officials who are accusing the White House of having blood on their hands.
We are living in a Black Mirror episode.
— Christina Pushaw ?? (@ChristinaPushaw) January 25, 2022
Vast majority of patients at South Florida monoclonal antibody treatment sites are vaccinated.
The Biden Administration is doubling down on a failed strategy, even if it means more Floridians die. https://t.co/EtDJDReqUC
Why doesn’t the HHS spokesperson understand that the majority of patients seeking monoclonal antibody treatment, like the majority of Floridians, ARE vaccinated? https://t.co/O7ulSEZbnZ
— Christina Pushaw ?? (@ChristinaPushaw) January 25, 2022
Vaccines (pre-treatment) and monoclonal antibodies (post-treatment) are not mutually exclusive. It’s not a zero sum game. In cutting off monoclonals, Biden has effectively said you can only drink water before you exercise, but you cannot have any afterwards.
— Christina Pushaw ?? (@ChristinaPushaw) January 25, 2022
Meanwhile, some anti-viral pills being pushed by the Biden administration are ineffective according to the manufacturer.
Hey @PressSec
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) January 25, 2022
21,000 of those treatments you sent this week don’t work according to @HHSGov.
Why are you sending us treatments that, based on clinical evidence, don’t work for COVID?
Where’s the clinical evidence for the conclusions on bam/ete and REGEN-COV? https://t.co/YKNaUJfSjm
Currently on our schedule 9am call with @HHSGov.
— Jeremy Redfern (@JeremyRedfernFL) January 25, 2022
They just admitted that the Merck pill is ineffective against COVID-19 and understand why nobody wants it.
Any comment as to why Florida is receiving 21,000 doses of an ineffective therapeutic, @IanSams?