HHS Sec. Azar: 'Unbelievable' Surplus of Antibody Treatments Stored, Not Used

There is an "unbelievable" surplus of antibody therapies and convalescent plasma that could be used to keep people with COVID-19 out of hospitals, but they're being stored at hospitals rather than being used because of reports that they're not effective, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar insisted Tuesday. 

"We have these unbelievable tools, these antibodies from Eli Lilly and Regeneron, as well as convalescent plasma that you could use to keep people out of the hospital," Azar said on Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "They are storing them up at hospitals. They are not using them."

Azar said people with COVID-19 should not have to ask their doctors for the treatment, but he's encouraging people ages 65 or older to ask their doctor why they're not being put on antibodies to keep them out of the hospital. 

One of the issues is that there are "major infectious disease societies of physicians" telling doctors that they don't see the evidence that the antibodies work, but there is evidence, Azar said.

"That's why the FDA authorized them with emergency use authorizations," said Azar. "The trends are very clear ... they need to get used. They shouldn't be sitting on shelves."

Azar is joining with other medical workers from the National Institute of Health Tuesday to receive Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. He explained that the NIH workers are getting the Moderna shot because the agency partnered with the drugmaker to develop it. 

He also disagreed with growing criticism from some lawmakers who say they will not get the vaccine before senior citizens and first responders. 

"The CDC isn't telling the governors how to vaccinate or prioritize vaccinations," said Azar. "They are saying they would encourage people 75 and above to be prioritized, as well as critical front line workers like emergency first responders who are most in harm's way."

He also said all scientists he's spoken with have said the vaccines now in play should still be effective against a mutated strain of the virus going through the United Kingdom. 

"First, we have seen literally thousands of mutations of the coronavirus," he said. "That's what these viruses do ... it does not appear that this strain is any more severe."

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