Governor Bill Lee is responding for the first time since the state came out with new guidelines on who should receive the monoclonal antibody treatment.
State leaders recommend clinicians prioritize those who are unvaccinated.
This comes after the federal government announced a national shortage of the treatment, but the Governor says that may not be the case in Tennessee.
Gov. Lee is not backing down on his team's decision on who should be first in line for the monoclonal antibody treatment.
“The good news is the supply that we’re receiving from the federal government exceeds our demand for it right now and has so for the last several weeks. We believe that will continue because our case counts are dropping and our need for monoclonal antibodies will drop as well,” says Governor Lee.
While Governor Lee doesn't see supply being an issue for the state, some hospitals, like Vanderbilt University Medical Center, are following the new recommendations.
“If there isn’t short supply of the antibody treatment in the state, why is the state following the guidelines prioritizing those who are unvaccinated?” asks FOX17 News’ Amanda Chin.
“The state gives guidelines to clinicians, but clinicians make that decision, so the state has not directed that clinicians follow the guideline. They’ve given and passed along the national institute of health guidelines. But, the good news is those decisions are not having to be made,” says Governor Lee.
The recommendations have come with some criticism from doctors and hospital leaders who say the vaccinated shouldn't be pushed to the back of the line for treatment.
Cookeville Regional Medical Center is following previous guidelines for now.
“I personally do not think it should be categorized like that at all. I think if you qualify period, whether you’ve been vaccinated or unvaccinated, then you need monoclonal antibodies to help keep you out of the hospital,” says Ricky Shelton, Chief Strategy Officer for Cookeville Regional Medical Center.
“Do you feel the unvaccinated over the vaccinated when it comes to receiving this treatment?” asks Chin.
“I think doctors and clinicians have to make decisions about treatment for those that are ill based on their understanding and their practice. That’s really a clinical decision,” says Governor Lee.
The white house vaccine coordinator says treatment supply will be based on the amount of cases in each state.
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