You Vote: Is FDA monoclonals halt about public health or saving one-size-fits-all vax strategy?

FDA says COVID-19 antibody drugs from Regeneron, Eli Lilly should no longer be used because don't work against Omicron variant.

Published: January 25, 2022 1:52pm

Updated: January 25, 2022 4:38pm

The Food and Drug Administration on Monday revoked emergency authorization for COVID-19 antibody drugs made by Regeneron and Eli Lilly.

The FDA said it made the decision to halt use of the monoclonal antibody treatments because they don't work against the Omicron variant, which now accounts for nearly all new COVID-19 infections in the U.S.

Antibody treatment is not meant to be a substitute for COVID-19 vaccines, but it's similarly meant to prevent severe disease and death.

The FDA's announcement comes amid a growing number of questions about the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines.

Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla said recently his company's own vaccine provides "limited if any" protection against Omicron, while Bill Gates criticized the performance of COVID-19 vaccines. A CDC report from earlier this month found natural immunity from previously being infected is better protection against the virus than the vaccine.

One analysis of the government's Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System, primarily used by healthcare professionals, claims that COVID vaccines have prompted more reports in a year than all other vaccines combined going back to 1990. 

However, federal and state health officials say that vaccines and boosters can keep most patients from getting the most serious cases of COVID-19 leading to hospitalization and death and that serious vaccine reactions are fairly rare.

With all this in mind, here's your chance to weigh in:

Is the FDA decision to halt monoclonal antibody treatments about protecting public health or saving a one-size-fits-all vaccination strategy?

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