CHARLOTTE, N.C. — As North Carolina continues to see thousand of new COVID-19 cases every day, Channel 9 has learned that around 37% of those new cases are among fully vaccinated people.
While breakthrough cases are expected and do happen there is treatment out there to help, monoclonal antibodies.
But recently the FDA pulled two of those treatments because they don’t work against the omicron variant.
That’s created a shortage and some people are being told they can no longer get the antibodies. That even goes for those who have already made appointments.
Channel 9 reporter Susanna Black spoke with one couple who said they feel like they are being punished because hospital is prioritizing those who are unvaccinated for these treatments.
“They wasted four days when I suffered like a dog,” Tony Horton said.
Tony and his wife Linda Horton have been sick with COVID-19 for nearly two weeks, which is much longer than they thought they would be.
The couple said they were scheduled to receive monoclonal antibody treatment with Atrium Health until the office called to cancel.
The infusion we were going to receive, they were running low on the product and they had to use it on people who had not been vaccinated,” Linda Horton said.
Because both Linda and Tony are fully vaccinated, they said they are no longer qualified.
They said they are both high risk. Tony suffers from congestive heart and kidney failure, while Linda is recovering from major vascular surgery.
Atrium released the following statement about the incident saying in part:
“There is a severe, national shortage of sotrovimab, a medication that the FDA allows to be given for emergency use to treat patients with COVID-19....Atrium Health is complying with the National Institute of Health’s guidance on how to prioritize patients who receive the medication...”
StarMed’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Arin Piramzadian said his clinics are following that same federal guidance and have cut the number of patients they can treat with the medication by 75%.
“At this point, it has come to a tier system. Very similar to what we had with vaccinations. So, it’s immunocompromised patients and it’s people who are unvaccinated who have high risks. What the government is doing, it’s trying to protect its most vulnerable population even though they’ve put themselves in that position to be vulnerable, Dr. Piramzadian said.
The Horton said even with their vaccinations, they wish they could have gotten some consideration because of their risk.
“If somebody made a miscalculation they should stick to their decision at least and grandfather us in or do something,” Tony Horton said.
The Horton said they are on the mend and are feeling better.
Meanwhile, StarMed said they are still treating those who are considered high risk with anti-viral pills.
Those pills have to be taken within the first five days of the illness and is available by appointment only.
(WATCH BELOW: Monoclonal antibody treatments for COVID-19 hard to get, health officials say)
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