A.G. Gancarski
Gov. Ron DeSantis said Thursday the state was ultimately undaunted by the White House decision to “cut severely” shipments of monoclonal antibody therapy while the delta variant raged in Florida.
“Fortunately now, our infections are so low and the demand is so low for early treatment that even reduced amounts will get us to where we are now,” DeSantis said. “That wasn’t necessarily the case a month … a month and a half ago.”
Previously, supplies weren’t so certain. DeSantis noted that just weeks ago, the state had to source an alternate supply of monoclonal antibody therapy doses from Glaxo Smith Kline.
“(A)s we got into the middle of September, the Biden administration decided to cut severely the amount of Regeneron monoclonal antibodies that was being sent to the state of Florida, as well as Texas and some other disfavored states. That was something, you know, we were very concerned about because we knew there was a demand for it,” DeSantis said.
Indeed, the Governor spent much of September slamming what he called a “punitive” decision by Biden to lower Florida’s allocation of the Regeneron therapy. But events have allowed for a softening of the sharp rhetoric.
Hospital admissions are down 80% from the summer peak, with Florida in the bottom five of cases.
“We’ve now done, I think, over 135,000 treatments of individuals since the middle of August,” DeSantis said during a press conference in Fort Myers. “We’ve saved thousands upon thousands upon thousands of people from being admitted to the hospital.”
The state was providing up to 5,000 treatments a day, DeSantis said, but numbers are now in the 700 to 800 range.
With cases in decline, and capacity going unused, changes are coming to the state-run sites.
“We’re going to look and see how we may change our footprint coming up over the next few weeks,” DeSantis said, suggesting a potential shuttering of sites with low usage may be coming.
Speakers who had benefited from monoclonal therapy extolled the availability of the life-saving therapy and had sharp words for the White House.
“The Biden administration has done everything to thwart your lifesaving initiative,” said one speaker, Michelle Albergo.
Doris Cortez offered a similar sentiment, saying that “without our Governor and what he has done, my husband would not be standing here today.”
44 comments
PeterH
October 14, 2021 at 2:52 pm
Let me see if I can summarize tHis article in fewer words:
The governor’s office has politicized Covid for the past two years and turned his back on the numerous red states who were suffering with the six month Delta Covid surge. DeSantis wanted the prophylactic Regeneron cocktail for his supporters who refused to get vaccinated…….. at the expense of his red state governors who were also seeking the temporary remedy.
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 6:08 am
As usual peter h you are a pathetic liar. That is a gross and extreme mis characterization.
For you to allude that somehow he or any Governor can force people to do so is ignorant.
He unlike Biden or any other Governor made a extra effort to offer a legitimate alternative.
You and your Manchurian fake narratives are deranged. Liar.
Angela
October 15, 2021 at 7:45 am
I worked at one of these state runner sites and Biden did indeed limit our access to this valuable medication. Shame on our president. Thank god we have a governor that looks out for the people in Florida
Lisa
October 15, 2021 at 7:51 pm
Thank you Angela and I too have seen my family members saved by our Governors willingness to fight for us. Thank you for stepping up! I am vaccinated and would run for a monoclonal treatment if I was positive or exposed!
SolaFide
October 15, 2021 at 2:07 pm
His “supporters”? Meaning Floridians, those who voted for or against him or one of tens of thousands of folks who moved here that hadn’t had opportunity to vote yet?
Lets Go Brandon
October 17, 2021 at 5:39 pm
Nothing wrong with not getting vaccinated—monoclonal antibodies save lives. Why are you so against them if they save lives?
Merv
October 18, 2021 at 9:27 pm
What’s real is there’s a treatment available that works! Not just the vaccine. Last just as long as the vaccines. Have a head ache take a aspirin. Same concept. I’m living proof. And befor you start, yes! I had two children in the hospital for covid. With this treatment I didn’t end there.
Tom
October 14, 2021 at 3:53 pm
DeSantis created a false narrative regarding the reduced shipments of monoclonal antibody therapy drugs and how it would negatively affect Floridians. He created a false Bogeyman (fear) knowing that the demand for Regeneron monoclonal antibodies was not going to be a problem for Floridians.
Frankie M.
October 14, 2021 at 4:54 pm
Some people aren’t happy unless they’re complaining. Next thing you know chicken little will be bitching about a shortage of nurses or God forbid teachers. Like that’ll ever happen. If anybody can’t get the monoclonal antibodies there’s a surplus of horse tranquilizers and drano on the black market.
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 6:31 am
Again, all you fundamentally corrupt hater Manchurians want is tyrannical lockdown rule.
You have no resolution or offer no therapeutic alternative like Regereon.
Lockdowns warm your hearts.
Tom
October 16, 2021 at 6:34 pm
Take a few of each and leave a few for Alex, you A-hole! Enjoy.
Tom
October 14, 2021 at 11:46 pm
Hardly liar Alex.
Go scratch.
From Real Tom.
Tom
October 14, 2021 at 11:46 pm
Hardly liar Alex.
Go scratch.
From Real Tom.
Ed
October 14, 2021 at 11:55 pm
False boogeyman fear, isn’t that what the Biden Administration has done with this push for a vaccine. Over 40 million infected and 700k dead. If you do those numbers, well you have a 98.6% survival rate……hmmm the world is ending unless you get vaccinated. Who is pushing the true boogeyman fear? And those numbers are found on CDC website.
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 6:35 am
Hardly liar Alex, Frankie, weasel peter h, Bernice, Wanda, Palmer and Enrique.
Just pathetic liar Manchurians.
Carol
October 15, 2021 at 1:41 pm
Why are you not telling the truth? I guess because it’s what you’re used to…but here’s a source you may possibly believe.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/coronavirus/article254397879.html
Let's Go Brandon
October 17, 2021 at 5:43 pm
Psaki literally said Florida wouldn’t receive any more shipments than Oklahoma for “equity” purposes… LOL. Let’s use our heads here, Florida obviously has been requiring more treatments due to their large case count, so let’s take away their treatments and give them to Oklahoma which is 20% the population of Florida😂
Biden administration are a bunch of dumb-asses, there is no false narrative here.
Frankie M.
October 14, 2021 at 4:58 pm
Follow-up for Murika’s Governor: Does this mean the homeless can have their library back?
Tom Palmer
October 14, 2021 at 5:44 pm
Another DeSantis lie (Sounds like Trump, doesn’t it?) that didn’t prove out.
Let's Go Brandon
October 17, 2021 at 5:44 pm
Enjoy another four years of DeSantis when he easily wins reelection.
Wanda
October 14, 2021 at 6:15 pm
DeathDesantis don’t care or need any more of this drug it doesn’t work any he is trying to bash Mr Biden Republicans are a bunch of lying asses that’s all they know always lying to get re-elected I am a Republican I wouldn’t vot for Ron he is a want to be dictator and so jellos that Biden kicked Trump orange ass out the White House I laughed so much when Trump was with his bunch of morons saying he was robbed Trump is so stupid no to realize how stupid he looks people don’t want him as the president he is a loser nut job so stupid dumb
Roberta Packard
October 15, 2021 at 8:38 am
I can tell you right now idiot that my Governor DeSantis saved my life by making the infusion treatment available which by the way does work. I have mild COPD,& I know for a fact if I wouldn’t have gotten it, I would have been in the hospital,& possibly die!!
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 9:08 am
God Bless you Roberta!
It’s wonderful that Floridians have a Governor like DeSantis.
I’m glad you found recovery.
Say a prayer for him and his wonderful wife, First Lady. As she battles her health challenge.
The haters are relentless!
Tjb
October 15, 2021 at 4:13 pm
And if you had the Covid vaccine, you probably would have never gotten the covid virus, and if you did, it would have been a mild case.
Ruth
October 15, 2021 at 10:32 am
Your just as stupid as your president
Let's Go Brandon
October 17, 2021 at 5:45 pm
Fauci himself advocates for monoclonal antibodies dumbass. So please tell me more about how they don’t work.
Enrique Castro
October 14, 2021 at 11:00 pm
He’s just another fool out in the noonday sun, let him roast his dried out raisin of a brain.
Tom
October 14, 2021 at 11:45 pm
All of you are pathetic liars.
You stand on lies that have no credibility.
Only pathetic and fundamentally corrupt partisans, would attack someone who has provided help on his own initiative. Not the incompetent WH or POTUS. They didn’t even know they had it, just like they covered up the Merck therapeutic.
When you have a 83% decrease in the past 20 days, of course you do not need the same amount. Are you so mentally handicapped that your hate can only create contempt.
America’s Governor, Gov Ron’s Kahones are larger than all of you combined. 50
GOP net House seat pickup.
DeSantis defeats any clown you nominate.
You have no issues, none.
Go scratch Losers!
tjb
October 15, 2021 at 8:47 am
Perhaps the drop has been because more people are getting vaccinated. Also, show me how the WH covered up Merck therapeutics.
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 9:03 am
Stats are down cause yes, people have access to vaccine and therapeutic. It’s a win win.
Due your research. Common discussion that Merck was avail for approval this past spring.
Withheld by FDA, just like DeSantis had to get the Regeneron circulated cause this WH didn’t want it promoted.
Weasels like PeterH and Alex could scream vaccine.
Biden’s incompetence now at 55% in polling.
It’s outrageous, continued no FDA commish 11 months in. JD says it’s to hard to be potus. Yes, this guy & team are inept. They make Trump look good.
Merck was avail for therapeutic access. Do you tom a tons ever question anything non Trump.
This team has done nothing, besides demagogue vaccine they didn’t initiate and covered up Pfizer announcement til after election, week later. Shameful, Pfizer took money for mass production not research.
That’s all they due is ridicule people instead of winning them on science.
Shameful.
tjb
October 15, 2021 at 10:38 am
Floridians are still dying at a faster percentage rate than any other state.
Tom, for a guy who often states that polls are BS, you sure like to quote polls,
Even more BS from you — who demagogue vaccine?
To answers your questions, do I ever question anything non-trump … yes, I like to fact-check both sides of the discussion using many legitimate sources.
Also, are you a troll for the Russian or Chinese?
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 10:35 pm
LMAO.
So if you are pro freedom, pro America, pro Liberty, you are a troll?
Are you serious? Come on man.
Even if I disagree with you, I don’t question your love of country.
I’ve never read anything from you or the rest of you guys that’s questioned in FP big govt. Come on man!
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 10:57 pm
So the Dem pollsters are BS?
How so?
Bernice
October 15, 2021 at 1:13 am
DeSantis is not being honest. COVID-19 or Delta Variant is spreading all over Florida. He stop the hospitals from reporting the high cases to the news stations. If Covid and/or Delta Variant is down in Florida then why can’t you get in the Emergency room at any hospital in Miami Dave County. All the EM’s are full of Delta Variant patients. The hospitals have so many Delta Variant patients they are no longer doing surgery. DeSantis you are so evil and dishonest you should be thrown in jail.
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 6:12 am
Another mental meltdown from a liberal extremist.
Are you Ill? Even the media says Florida has decreased by over 83% on Covid.
You haters really are obsessed with hate.
tjb
October 15, 2021 at 10:48 am
Tom,
So if someone does not agree with you …then you often call them hateful, communist Manchurians, and idiots (these are only a few of the vitriol descriptions you use).
Vitriol speech and statements are the fuel for dividing Americans …the Russians and Chinese want this and they thank you for your help.
Tom
October 16, 2021 at 8:31 am
tjb it’s incredibly ignorant to suggest someone is complicit with world powers and is cooperative with their efforts to subvert. I find it offensive and child like to suggest in either example as you did.
Apology is warranted but you likely won’t do so. It does once again reflect the liberal cocoon you and the rest of your extremists reside in. You can’t deal with substance and real issues.
What do you find questionable about Quinnipiac finding that Biden’s incompetence is 55%. How about his miserable approval being 25% on border and similar on Afghanistan. How about 39% approval on economy.
Please, you hiding behind China & Russia is hysterical and a big lie.
You ate just trying to change subject and attack messenger with smears.
Pathetic tjb.
Tom
October 15, 2021 at 2:05 pm
Hi, anything I share is substantive and yes is broken down for the view of the Dem.
I don’t convey hate as most of the Manchurians do. I disagree on the substance and I share the passion.
Why don’t you and the others deal with the substance.
No FDA Commish. More Covid deaths in 21 than 20. How about Hunters graft and Bush and Obama ethics directors calling it out. How about complimenting the Gov on saving Florida’s economy? Schools open, How about leading the country with seniors vaccinated, per HHS.
How about 5% unemployment.
You all close your eyes to the absolute mess in play. It’s several things. Not just one or two.
Overwhelming.
Blaming me is juvenile compared to the horrendous vitriol from Alex, PeterH, Frankie, JD, Lorraine, Sonja, Hoffmann, Palmer, and so many others. Do you actually read them?
I’ve take in coming from multiple directions.
I can dish it out pretty good.
Sorry as I can’t agree with you.
Like I say, Dums Love to dish it out but hate to take it. I’ll teach them to do so.
martin
October 15, 2021 at 4:24 pm
Gov. Ron Desantis defines the word: “leadership”. Thank the good lord that meth/crack addict and male prostitute worshipping fool from Tallahassee didn’t become Gov!
Let's Go Brandon
October 17, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Thank fuck Gillum wasn’t nominated. Imagine the lockdowns and restrictions we’d have with that clown. Thank god for freedom!
FP Monitor
October 16, 2021 at 12:09 am
It’s a big mistake is to respond to anything Tom posts. He’s an ignorant Trumpster hack simply looking for attention. Do yourself and all of us a big favor …… ignore all of his return comments. Maybe the internet troll will go away.
Tom
October 16, 2021 at 8:18 am
FP Loser Monitor:
It’s important to ignore FP monitor.
He and his Manchurians can’t defend anything so he has to attack someone personally. Truth hurts. Losers
Let's Go Brandon
October 17, 2021 at 5:49 pm
Trump isn’t president anymore, still living rent-free in your head though it seems.
TGH
October 20, 2021 at 10:41 am
I have a question to the paranoid and union labor spewing what they are being told to spew. Robots who repeat what they are told and then scream louder when disagreed with and believe they are more entitled, enlightened and simply know what is best. Regulations is scary look at the Patriot act which is more control and being abused, look at supreme court ruling that corporations are made up of people and can donate, look at anyone that wants control to keep power vs. do the right thing to help people. I am a libertarian and I don’t want anyone making decisions for me. I don’t want rules that help “labor” as the democratic party has become the “labor” party….at least the republican party is pro capitalism and individualism. It is Labor that wants to “classify” everyone into buckets and protect the bottom 1/5th of the workers….the lazy, the takers, the slackers, the thieves. Capitalism which made this great country is about individualism, choice and “real” freedom. COVID has benefited too many….Politicians, Media, Big Pharma, Big Tech, Medical (How much does a hospital get for a COVID death vs. a heart attach?) do you know? Private Equity deal creation….Free money for the people; look at inflation you dope…and when this collapses it is going to be massive…as soon as interest rates go up and our currency is not the world standard we are going to have a great depression and that is not that far in the future….pay attention these are all distractions. Do you think FBI, Capitol Police and Secret Service would allow protestors to get into the Capitol? Now about the Red Neck with the flag that got into Nancy P’s office? I have been to Nancy P’s office….3 doors to get into it….it was staged! But people like the Democratic/Labor party love fear, decisiveness and breaking the country apart….when i was a kid I remember seeing a corvette drive by and i said WOW! My dad said to me if you work hard and study hard….. Follow the money you dope union supporter. Think for yourself. This is all about control and using fear to control everyone. No diff
Comments are closed.