NBC News and the New York Times reported Tuesday that some hospitals in the New York area are running low on the only treatment proven effective against the omicron variant.
Medical supplies used to administer the Regen-Cov monoclonal antibody treatment at a UMass Memorial. Photographer: Kayana Szymczak.
2021.
Some hospitals have run out of sotrovimab, a treatment that appears to still be effective against omicron, manufactured by Glaxosmithkline and Vir Biotechnology.
NBC News reported that the New York University and Valley Health System in New Jersey plan to suspend treatment until more supplies are sent.
The New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York will stop offering two treatments made by Eli Lilly and Regeneron because they have become less effective.
The Mount Sinai Health System in New York wrote on its website that certain monoclonal antibody treatments are not helpful for patients who become exposed to this variant or for post-exposure prophylactics.
The US Department of Health and Human Services shipped out about 55,000 sotrovimab doses to state and territorial health departments around the beginning of this week, with 300,000 more expected to be available the week of January 3.
The allocation of the last shipment of sotrovimab was based on factors such as hospitalization rates and infections, and ranged from just 66 doses for Alaska to 4,242 for New York.
Doctors are testing hospital staff for coronaviruses in set-up tents before they enter the main emergency department. The photo was taken by Misha Friedman.
The images are from the same company.
The body's natural immune response to the coronaviruses is reinforced with lab-grown antibodies. The risk of serious symptoms or hospitalization is reduced when the blood is infused with the antibodies. Patients with the omicron variant are less likely to be treated with a monoclonal antibody. HHS allowed states to place orders at their own discretion for monoclonal antibody treatment supplies, but as the possibility of a shortage looms more than three months ago, HHS officials asked public health leaders in some states to cut down their orders. The system in which the HHS decides how to give supplies to the states was reverted to in September.
Section title.
In New York, the omicron variant has overtaken the delta variant, which may cause a shortage of sotrovimab.
Hospitals in the New York region have run out of treatment for omicron variant.
Omicron Evades Natural Immunity, Vaccination, and Monoclonal Antibody Treatments.
The New York Times said hospitals scramble as Antibody Treatments Fail Against Omicron.
