NY governor prioritizing non-whites for monoclonal antibodies, white people only eligible with ‘demonstrable need’
Maria Wheeler
|
Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul authorized a New York health policy limiting white citizens’ access to monoclonal antibody treatment and the new Pfizer Covid pill while prioritizing any and all non-white people.
“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 policy reads.
Per the New York State Department of Health’s policy, white people who live in the hardest-hit Covid state in the U.S. may be denied the two most promising and arguably most effective treatments for Covid-19.
In order to be considered for treatment if you are white, you have to prove “a medical condition that increase[s] [your] risk for severe illness.” If accepted, white people would possibly be eligible for outpatient clinic care where they could receive monoclonal treatments or Pfizer’s Paxlovid pill.
As outlined in new policy, “longstanding systemic health and social inequities” automatically bump any non-white persons into the eligible category without having to provide any documentation on medical conditions or any other risk factors.
The vaccination rate among New Yorkers is 97% for Asians, 75% for Latinos, 63% for white people, and 58% for Black people.
If taken within the first few days of having COVID-19, Paxlovid has been shown to reduce the risk of hospitalization and death by up to 88%. Monoclonal antibody therapy has also been shown to be very effective against the omicron variant. New York stated that Sotrovimab, a monoclonal antibody treatment, “is the only authorized monoclonal antibody product expected to be effective against the omicron variant.”
The New York State Department of Health said “supplies of Sotrovimab are extremely limited.” They also warned that “a significant surge in cases and reduced effectiveness of existing therapeutics due to the omicron variant,” is causing “supplies of oral antivirals [to] be extremely limited initially.”
This new policy comes as hospitalization in New York has spiked 63% during the past week to record highs. Daily cases peaked at over 74,000 per CDC data. 1 in 50 residents in Manhattan alone tested positive for Covid during the past week.
“NY State Department of Health warns they don’t have enough Paxlovid or Monoclonal Antibody Treatment and white people need not apply,” tweeted journalist Karol Markowicz.
“Woke medical treatment,” commented Ned Ryun.
“One-party, far-left control of Albany has brought forth some truly horrible policies. Prioritizing access to health care along racial lines is right up there with the worst. The people pushing this crap need to be voted out of office starting with @GovKathyHochul,” tweeted New York gubernatorial candidate Rob Astorino.
“Prioritization guidance comes directly from the CDC,” Erin Silk, a spokesperson for the New York Department of Health, told Fox News. Neither “race nor ethnicity would disqualify an individual from receiving treatment,” she continued.
“Systemic poverty, which has clearly proven to be a risk factor in populations in New York State and nationwide, is added to the algorithm of prioritization similar to all other risk factors. It is merely mentioned as a factor that increases risk,” Silk stated.