Two years since the first COVID case in the USA, the number of infections are at an all-time high. I appreciate Director Donald Kauerauf of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services coming to meet with me this week to discuss the crisis.
The first issue we tackled was monoclonal antibody infusions. This treatment helps save lives and prevent hospitalizations, and is most effective when used before a patient is seriously ill. There are different types of monoclonal treatments, all of which are in short supply and rationed by the federal government to the hospitals who request them.
It is important that the monoclonal be matched with the COVID variant affecting the patient. The director noted that taking the wrong monoclonal would not benefit the patient.
Unfortunately, it is not easy to determine which variant is infecting a patient. As a result, the treatment is based on the dominant variant in the population at large. Currently, the federal government is shipping both kinds of monoclonals to Missouri, where the Omicron variant represents 60% of infections. When the Omicron variant exceeds 80%, they will only send one type of monoclonal.
One question I asked was whether the state and Poplar Bluff were being treated fairly on monoclonal distribution and the director said he would research that question.
Another issue we discussed was President Biden’s declaration that treatment be based on race. When I asked the director how the state was treating this, he replied that each doctor makes their own decision on who should get treatment. Personally, I wish and pray that we had enough for everyone but right now we must reserve it for the truly needy. I agree it is best for doctors, not President Biden or the federal government, to make those decisions.
New oral medications are available, which I believe could be a game-changer. The Pfizer pill is 90% effective while the Merck pill is only 30% effective. The problem is that drug companies are not producing enough. When the crisis started, President Trump used the Defense Production Act to require companies to produce vital supplies and I encourage President Biden to the same. If he had done it three weeks ago I believe we would have the necessary medications already online.
President Biden said he will ship 500,000 home tests. The director said the State of Missouri had in place an order for these rapid test kits. After the President’s announcement, this supply chain stopped. I blame President Biden for the test shortage.
When Gov. Parson rescinded the State of Emergency, some felt like we were not getting tests and treatment as a result. The director said this is not a case, the limited supply of treatments existed prior to the end of the State of Emergency. Last week, the state had ordered 16,000 monoclonal treatments and only received 3,000.
The director said we don’t have a lot of data on Omicron yet, but early data indicates it is easier to spread and effects the upper respiratory system instead of the lungs. The symptoms appear to be less serious than the Delta variant. Even though it is less severe than Delta, its massive infection rates means hospitals are still under pressure.
The director stressed the best advice is to talk to your physician about the best ways for you to prevent and treat the virus. He added that everyone needs a primary physician to coordinate their health care.
I totally oppose mandates and believe Americans should have the right to make their own health care decisions. We are still a free country, so choices about vaccinations and treatment must be left up to the individual citizen.
I am grateful Director Kauerauf spent an entire hour discussing issues of importance to our state and district.
May God bless and keep you and our great nation.
Hardy Billington represents District 152, which includes parts of Butler and Dunklin counties.