(WEAR) -- Three Northwest Florida doctors are speaking out against the FDA's decision to withdraw the use of two monoclonal antibodies.
The FDA and CDC say those treatments were very effective against the Delta variant of COVID-19. But they do not work against the Omicron variant.
Florida and other states had no choice but to close monoclonal treatment sites this week.
How do we know what variant people have? Do the antibodies work despite what the FDA says?
Channel 3 spoke to local doctors to get their take on things.
"I think these are crimes against humanity," Pensacola Dr. Deborah Vigilione said.
Dr. Viglione and two other local doctors all say the same thing about the monoclonal antibody treatment sites closing in Florida.
People went and got these antibodies and got better," Dr. Vigilione said. "Now it wasn't 100 percent, but I heard back from many of them and they said it was lifesaving."
The FDA announced Monday the treatments, Regeneron and Eli Lilly, are not effective against the Omicron variant.
Some doctors such as Theresa Mahaffeey from Pace are asking questions.
"Where are the studies who is doing the studies?" Mahaffey said.
The Florida Department of Health agrees.
"Florida disagrees with the decision that blocks access to any available treatments in the absence of clinical evidence," FDOH states.
Channel 3 contacted the FDA Thursday.
The FDA referred us to the press release they issued this week saying an independent panel of national experts recommended against the use of the two antibody treatment drugs because of "reduced activity against the Omicron variant."
According to reports, even the makers of Regneron and the Eli Lilly antibodies say its not working against the Omicron variant.
The CDC says the Omicron variant is responsible for over 99 percent of all new COVID cases right now.
But the local doctors say they're not sure which variant their patients have.
Channel 3 asked Dr. Mahaffey how they know what variant COVID patients have.
"We don't," Dr. Mahaffey replied. "But there's no way they are not differentiating the variants."
Some suggest the FDA's move to stop use of the antibodies is part of the COVID related disputes between President Biden and Governor DeSantis.
"Our governor led the initiative in getting the treatment centers," Mahaffey said. "It's well known he and our president don't get along."
The FDA, CDC, and medical groups all say the best way to avoid all of the debate, and the COVID virus is to get vaccinated.
The vaccines have proven to be very effective against serious sickness, hospitalizations, and death.