The Biden administration and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took heat online this week after the FDA announced the removal of emergency use authorization for two monoclonal antibodies, which effectively shut down treatment sites statewide in Florida.
The FDA said in its statement that it is removing the authorization because the treatments “are highly unlikely to be active against the omicron variant.”
“Florida disagrees with the decision that blocks access to any available treatments in the absence of clinical evidence,” the Florida Health Department blasted in a press release. “To date, such evidence has not been provided by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) similarly blasted the Biden administration over the FDA move.
“Without a shred of clinical data to support its decision, the Biden Administration has revoked the emergency use authorization for lifesaving monoclonal antibody treatments,” the governor posted to Twitter.
“Floridians have benefited from the state’s treatment sites and their access to treatment shouldn’t be denied based on the whims of a floundering president,” DeSantis wrote.
Floridians have benefited from the state’s treatment sites and their access to treatment shouldn’t be denied based on the whims of a floundering president. https://t.co/Y5nmAV1LCs
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 25, 2022
Others piled on.
“The FDA is trying to make it so that people in Florida die of Covid,” charged Mike Cernovich. “They’ll kill people to harm Republicans. Steel yourselves for the evil that is being unleashed.”
The FDA is trying to make it so that people in Florida die of Covid. They’ll kill people to harm Republicans. Steel yourselves for the evil that is being unleashed. https://t.co/hP55vngVbh
— Cernovich (@Cernovich) January 25, 2022
“Unconscionable,” reacted Republican Rep. Jim Jordan (OH).
Unconscionable. https://t.co/NzeRuLcebt
— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) January 25, 2022
“Monoclonals saved so many lives. What is going on [President Joe Biden]? [FDA]?” questioned politico Marina Medvin.
Monoclonals saved so many lives. What is going on @POTUS? @US_FDA? https://t.co/Fo6GC2Jvf8
— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) January 25, 2022
“This move by the FDA is short-sighted–all options should remain on the table to ensure quick intervention,” wrote Florida Rep. Bill Posey.
This move by the FDA is short-sighted–all options should remain on the table to ensure quick intervention. https://t.co/5ZPXT5XceQ
— Bill Posey (@congbillposey) January 25, 2022
“This is a nonsensical decision meant only to spite Floridians who have been benefiting from these treatments!” said Florida congressional candidate Willie J. Montague.
This is a nonsensical decision meant only to spite Floridians who have been benefiting from these treatments! https://t.co/QyYytgxUUx
— Dr. Willie J. Montague (@RepMontague) January 25, 2022
“Vaccines (pre-treatment) and monoclonal antibodies (post-treatment) are not mutually exclusive. It’s not a zero sum game,” explained DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw. “In cutting off monoclonals, Biden has effectively said you can only drink water before you exercise, but you cannot have any afterwards.”
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
Tom Fitton commented, “The extremists controlling the Biden administration are vindictive and vicious.”
The extremists controlling the Biden administration are vindictive and vicious. https://t.co/xKEQE1jFXU
— Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) January 25, 2022
As highlighted by The Daily Wire, the Biden administration announced in September that they’d be rationing supply of the treatment, effectively cutting supply from COVID-positive Floridians.
The move was made to apparently limit potential shortages elsewhere, though there aren’t any signs of a treatment shortage.
The takeover was widely criticized and even deemed an act of “partisan payback” by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL).
“Antibody treatments aren’t a substitute for vaccines. But they have prevented thousands of hospitalizations including in breakthrough cases,” Rubio posted to Twitter. “Now in a move that reeks of partisan payback against states like Florida, the Biden administration is rationing these treatments.”
At the time, DeSantis worked around the Biden administration and secured additional doses of the treatment for Floridians.
Related: FDA Blocks Florida From Using Monoclonal Antibody Treatment, Sites Shut Down Statewide
Related: The Highly Effective Covid Treatment Joe Biden Won’t Tell You About
Related: DeSantis Secures Antibody Doses On His Own, Skirting Biden’s Reduction Of Lifesaving Treatment