AUSTIN (WBAP/KLIF) – Governor Greg Abbott announced on Tuesday that the State of Texas has prepared allocation plans to swiftly distribute medicines and vaccines that are now becoming available to treat COVID-19.
According to the Governor, Monday was the first day of what will be many announcements in the coming weeks about the availability of medicines and vaccines to combat COVID-19.
On Monday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the immediate use of the first medical treatment developed for people who contract COVID-19. An antibody drug by Eli Lilly & Co., called bamlanivimab, has been shown to improve the symptoms of people who contract the virus and prevent hospitalizations. The FDA said the drug is authorized for patients at high risk of progressing to severe COVID-19, including people 65 and older, or who have certain pre-existing medical conditions. Lilly is expected to immediately ship approximately 80,000 doses across the country, including Texas, at no cost to the states. Lilly should have up to one million doses by the end of the year.
Similar to the Lilly antibody treatment, the Governor said Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. also has requested FDA emergency use authorization of its own COVID-19 antibody medical treatment to treat patients before they become seriously ill and aid in reducing hospitalizations, with an announcement of the FDA’s decision expected soon.
These medical treatments are in addition to a recent announcement by Pfizer that its COVID-19 vaccine candidate achieved incredible success in an early analysis, demonstrating over 90% efficacy in preventing COVID-19. It is expected to become available as soon as late November.
According to Governor Abbott, Texas has already prepared to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines and medical treatments.
“Swift distribution of vaccines and medical treatments will begin to heal those suffering from COVID-19, slow the spread of the virus, and aid in reducing hospitalizations of Texans,” said Governor Abbott. “As we anticipate the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments, the State of Texas is prepared to quickly distribute those medicines to Texans who voluntarily choose to use them.”
He said The Department of State Health Services has already developed a Vaccine Distribution plan and is working with health care providers to enroll in their immunization program to be eligible to administer the vaccines once available. Over 2,500 providers have already enrolled in the program.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management is prepared to assist the swift distribution of COVID-19 vaccines and treatments.
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