Biden administration guidance prioritizes race in administering COVID drugs Kyle Morris
Guidance issued by the Biden administration states certain individuals may be considered “high risk” and more quickly qualify for monoclonal antibodies and oral antivirals used to treat COVID-19 based on their “race or ethnicity.”
Older age, obesity, pregnancy, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease are among the multiple medical conditions and factors associated with what are considered “high risk” individuals by the FDA.
Some states, including New York and Utah, have made it clear they will prioritize certain racial minorities over other high–risk patients when it comes to the distribution of particular COVID treatments.
Last week, New York’s Department of Health released a document detailing its plan to distribute treatments such as monoclonal antibody treatment and antiviral pills.
The plan includes a section on eligibility for the scarce antiviral pills that people must meet to receive the treatment, including a line stating a person needs to have “a medical condition or other factors that increase their risk for severe illness.”
One such “risk factor” is being a race or ethnicity that is not White due to “longstanding systemic health and social inequities.”
“Non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be considered a risk factor, as longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19,” the memo reads.
In guidelines issued by the state of Utah for the distribution of monoclonal antibodies in the state, residents who are “non-white race or Hispanic/Latinx ethnicity” receive 2 additional points when calculating their “COVID-19 risk score.”
“Race/ethnicity continues to be a risk factor for severe COVID-19 disease, and the Utah COVID Risk Score is one approach to address equitable access to hard hit communities,” the Utah guidance stated, adding a reminder that national guidance from the FDA “specifically states that race and ethnicity may be considered when identifying patients most likely to benefit from this lifesaving treatment.”
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