Florida lawmakers seek increased allotment of COVID-19 drug

A group of Florida lawmakers recently forwarded correspondence to the Department of Health and Human Services as a means of increasing the state’s COVID-19 drug allotment.

Reps. Donna Shalala (D-FL) and Charlie Crist (D-FL) joined Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) in leading the state’s congressional delegation in urging HHS Secretary Alex Azar to increase the supply of remdesivir. The lawmakers noted the drug has been found effective in reducing the severity and duration of symptoms in COVID-19 infected patients.

“Florida’s hospitals are currently caring for more than 9,500 COVID-19 positive patients, with nearly 2,000 of those patients requiring ICU level of care,” the lawmakers wrote. “Based on the continued increase in hospitalizations, Florida will need an estimated 80,000 vials of Remdesivir to meet the demand and to continue to be able to provide this life-saving drug to patients. We urge you to take steps to expedite the delivery of Remdesivir to remedy this shortage and to implement a process of distribution going forward that avoids any future backlogs in supplying this crucial drug to Florida hospitals.”

Shalala said the number of COVID-19 infections is rising dramatically across Florida.

“Our healthcare workers and their patients need every resource we can muster to help fight this virus,” she said. “Now that Florida is the epicenter of this pandemic, we are asking the administration to increase Florida’s supply of Remdesivir and any other drug, reagent, or equipment necessary to win the battle against COVID-19.”