Feds Increase Monoclonal Distribution After FL Surgeon General Ladapo’s Demands

January 2, 2021 Updated 4:39 P.M. ET

WASHINGTON (FCV) – On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its decision to permit states to order various kinds of monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 “based on allocated amounts for clinically appropriate use.”

The decision means that states can choose to order up to their capped amounts of monoclonals, as defined by the federal government. In effect, states like Florida, who still have considerable amounts of Delta variant cases, can now receive Regeneron and Eli Lilly monoclonal shipments once again.

Tuesday, in a letter to the Biden Administration, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo requested that the federal government allow states to order monoclonals based on clinical needs and to not predetermine numbers, which consequently creating shortages.

Although a win, the federal government did not entirely give in to Ladapo’s demands. While more monoclonals are going to be distributed, Florida still needs more.

The letter came after the federal government decided to “pause any further allocation” of various kinds of monoclonal treatments that Florida needed:

Then, on December 29, distribution of treatments like Regeneron were entirely paused where the Omicron variant is 80% or more prevalent based on federal data. This makes it harder for people to find available treatment if they are not infected with the Omicron variant.

Omicron has been demonstrated to likely be less severe than other variants like Delta, albeit more transmissible.