Dr. Mark McClellan, a former FDA commissioner who now heads the Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke University, says hospitals are taking advantage of available antibody treatments in the fight against COVID-19.
THEY FOLLOW SAFETY PROTOCOLS THROUGHOUT THE HOLIDAY. TO HELP WITH THE INCREASE OF COMPLICATIONS, BACK TO YOU. >>> WHILE THE APPROVAL AND DISTRIBUTION OF A SECOND VACCINES IS PROMISING. AS PRESIDENTIAL ELECT JOE BIDEN SAID TODAY. THE DARKEST DAYS OF THIS PANDEMIC WILL LIKELY BE IN THE MONTH AHEAD. WHITE DR. MARK McKELLEN WANTS US TO REMEMBER THE CORONAVIRUS TREATMENT WE HEARD SO MUCH ABOUT, BEFORE THE VACCINE. HE JOINS ME LIVE TO TALK ABOUT THE STRUGGLES HOSPITALS ARE FACING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND FOR JOINING US TONIGHT. >> GREAT TO BE BACK. THE HOSPITALIZATIONS JUST ONE OF THE HEADLINES IN NORTH CAROLINA HERE TODAY. THE DAILY AVERAGE ABOUT 2800. VACCINES ARE NOT AN OPTION FOR THOSE PATIENTS WE KNOW. TREATMENTS ARE. IN A NEW PUBLICATION THIS WEEK HE SAID THESE DRUGS ARE SITTING ON USED ON HOSPITAL SHELVES. AREN'T HOSPITAL EQUIPPED WITH THE DRUGS THEY NEED THAT COULD BE SAVING LIVES? >> DEBORAH, HOSPITALS ARE STRESS NOW MORE THAN EVER BEFORE IN THE PANDEMIC. NOT ONLY ARE CASES AND RECORD NORMALS. WE ARE ASKING OUR HOSPITAL PERSONNEL TO GET VACCINATED, AND GET READY TO START VACCINATING ALL, STARTING WITH THE HIGHEST RISK GROUPS. IN NORTH CAROLINA. THEY ARE STRETCHED. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE VACCINE WILL PROVIDE RELIEF OVER TIME. RIGHT NOW, IN THIS SURGE THERE IS NUTRIMENT THAT HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR EMERGENCY USE. WHICH ARE INNATE VERSIONS OF THE ANTIBODY THAT THE VACCINES CAUSE YOUR BODY TO CREATE. TO PREVENT HOSPITALIZATIONS AND OTHER COMPLICATIONS. THOSE TREATMENTS HAVE STARTED TO BE AVAILABLE. IT REQUIRES SOME SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN HOSPITAL PRACTICES, NOT JUST HOSPICE, HOPEFULLY CLINICS, NURSING HOMES AS WELL. TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE TREATMENTS. THEY NEED TO BE GIVEN TO PEOPLE'S SOON AFTER THEY ARE INFECTED. OR HIGH RISK GROUPS OVER 65 OR WITH A SERIOUS CHRONIC ILLNESS. IT REQUIRES AN INFUSION THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SEPARATE FROM OTHER PATIENTS. THESE ARE PEOPLE WITH COVID. THAT IS SOME WORK TO GET SET UP. >> WHAT IS THE BIGGEST HURDLE FOR HOSPITALS IN TREATING PATIENTS? >> WE NEED TO CARVE OUT SOME SPACE AND AVAILABILITY FOR THEIR NURSING STAFF, WHICH IS IN SHORT WHAT WHY. TO BE BE ABLE TO PROVIDE THESE TREATMENTS. AFTER PEOPLE ARE DIAGNOSED WITH COVID. WE HAVE SEEN SOME CREATIVE WAYS AROUND THE COUNTRY THE HOSPITALS ARE DOING IT. SOME ARE PROVIDING THIS, NOT IN THE HOSPITAL ITSELF AT AN OUTPATIENT CLINIC. OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. SOME HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS ARE TAKING TREATMENT DIRECTLY TO NURSING HOMES. OTHER PLACES, WHERE THERE ARE OUTBREAKS. WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE AT VERY HIGH RISK. I EXPECT TO SEE MORE OF THAT COMING SOON. HOPEFULLY IN NORTH CAROLINA, AS WELL. WHAT SHOULD LEADERS BE DOING TO HELP HOSPITALS? >> AT THE STATE LEVEL, THERE IS A LOT OF GREAT WORK GOING ON. PROVIDE SUPPORT IN THE FORM OF HOW VACCINES ARE DISTRIBUTED. HELP WITH ACCESS TO TESTING. THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE SEEING IN STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY. INCLUDING, IN NORTH CAROLINA, WHERE THE GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATE LEADERS, IDENTIFY HOSPITALS, AGAIN, IN MANY CASES IN THE COMMUNITY. HEALTHCARE ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE, INFUSIONS AT HOME. THAT ARE HELPING TO SUPPORT THESE EFFORTS. MORE COORDINATION ON THIS TOO. I KNOW IT IS A LONG LIST, ESPECIALLY WITH HOLIDAYS. TO DEAL WITH THE SURGE, TO DEAL WITH THE VACCINATION. WE NEED TO PREVENT AS MANY COMPLICATIONS AS WE CAN. >> NO DOUBT. IS THIS SOMETHING THE INCOMING BIDEN ADMITTED PATIENT IS AWARE OF? >> I THINK YOU WILL SEE FROM THE NEW ADMINISTRATION THE PRESIDENT-ELECT TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK. SOME NEW STEPS AROUND MORE ACCESS TO TESTING. NEW STEPS AROUND MORE ACCESS TO THERAPIES. IN TAKING THE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TOO.
