Governor Greg Abbott travelled to Lubbock on November 19 to hold a briefing with local officials and provide an update on the distribution of bamlanivimab, the Eli Lilly & Company monoclonal antibody therapy. The Governor was joined by DSHS Commissioner Dr. John Hellerstedt, TDEM Chief Nim Kidd, UT System Executive Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs Dr. John Zerwas, and Texas Tech University System Chancellor Tedd Mitchell.
The HillCo report below is a summary of remarks intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics discussed. This report is not a verbatim transcript; it is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.
Governor Greg Abbott
- Thanks medical professionals for being on the front lines; here to provide good news
- First medical treatment for COVID-19 has now arrived in Lubbock and across the state; bamlanivimab
- Like the drug taken by the president
- Best use for patients in the early stages of COVID-19; aims to keep people out of hospitals to reduce the burden of COVID-related hospitalizations
- References charts for bamlanivimab and overviews how it is administered; takes an hour for the drug to be administered like an IV drip
- Lubbock has already received its first allocation; additional allocations will be provided to Lubbock on a weekly basis
- Looking to get clearance for Regeneron , another treatment that the President took
- Aim to prevent more people getting COVID-19, anticipating two vaccines to be approved in December 95% effectiveness rate for this vaccine
- Governors have been working to plan on how to administer those vaccines when we get them
- State has provided 327 medical personnel, 950 Lubbock and Amarillo, 1000 more on standby
- 1 million masks have been distributed and hundreds of thousands of gowns
- Have set up auxiliary units here; these may be used to deliver the antibody therapeutic drugs
- Overviews the three testing sites in Lubbock
- There is an increase in COVID-19 cases, need to continue to use proven steps to slow the spread as the pandemic is not over; notes cases were increasing more in July
- Next steps/strategies for hospitals in the Lubbock region:
- Identify those who would qualify; must be in early stages and 65 or older
- Hospitals would be able to administer in auxiliary units, or mobile ambulance units, or in nursing homes
Nim Kidd, TDEM Chief
- This therapy is not an excuse to stop listening to the recommendations of public health partners; should not be reckless due to bamlanivimab
- Notes there are 42 locations in Lubbock to get a COVID-19 test
Dr. John Hellerstedt, DSHS Commissioner
- The therapy is promising, but is not magical; overtime it will decrease hospitalizations
- Aim to distribute bamlanivimab to other areas experiencing high COVID-19 hospitalizations
- Prevention is far more important than this therapy; highlights the importance of wearing a mask
Dr. John Zerwas, UT System Executive Vice Chancellor of Health Affairs
- Despite we are making process with vaccines/therapies, we are continuing to see a surge on hospital beds
- Overviews the treatments that have been released and will be released
- Vast majority of us are still susceptible to this disease; masking is still important
Tedd Mitchell, Texas Tech University System Chancellor
- Need to take care of healthcare personnel and ourselves
Audience Questions
Q: How many units are available now? When will they be administered to other regions in Texas?
- Abbott – Currently being administered to all regions; amount is added on a weekly basis
- Abbott – Have enough for several days
Q: What is the risk of this treatment?
- Zerwas – Could have an infusion reaction, could cause anaphylaxis; incident level is low
Q: Local leaders want to do more to mitigate the spread, since another shut down is not coming, why not allow city/county authority to have stronger health orders?
- Abbott – Will not have another statewide shut down; there is an overestimation of what the shutdown will achieve
- Abbott – Are severe medical, emotional, and financial consequences of a statewide shutdown
- Abbott – COVID has been spread through private get togethers
- Abbott – Are plenty of tools in the city/county’s toolbox, references most recent order as to authority local officials have; some are not using the tools available to them
Q: Questions regards the $14 million in CARES Act funds, and only 20% has been received for reimbursement for certain smaller cities
- Abbott – Are certain large cities that had immediate funds, and smaller localities’ funding went through the state
- Abbott – Created committees to determine how much these smaller localities would receive
- Abbott – Money has not been fully disbursed because of the acceleration of COVID-19 in this region, the state is using CARES Act funds to aid communities
Q: Why are people not wearing masks?
- Abbott – There is COVID fatigue and there is a perception that people will not get it
Q: Rural hospitals are having a tough time, what can be done to assist them?
- Abbott – One of the goals of this drug is to take the burden off hospitals by decreasing hospitalizations
- Abbott – Will be able to assist rural hospitals and assume there is hospital capacity in urban settings
Q: How do you see the ideal distribution of bamlanivimab?
- Abbott – In El Paso and Lubbock, there are alternative care facilities/auxiliary units for the purpose of administering this drug
Q: Question regards large indoor gatherings, like games, lunches, dinners, etc.
- Abbott – Communities are self-regulating and responding due to COVID-19 challenges
- Abbott – Depends on the setting where we are seeing a reduction of indoor/outdoor activities
Q: Who is enforcing statewide parameters?
- Abbott – Seeing more communities who are working; not seeing much enforcement other than TABC
- Abbott – Working with Lubbock officials to handle those who do not comply
Q: Going in to the holidays, what should we do to combat this virus?
- Abbott – People should not put themselves in danger; was no meaningful medical defense until bamlanivimab was released
- Abbott – Notes upcoming released of Regeneron and two vaccines in December; have been able to quickly develop medicine
Q: How long it will the treatment take to relieve the hospitals of capacity?
- Abbott – Will take several days to see relief; aims to help with future hospitalizations
Q: Question regards 10 businesses in El Paso that have filed a lawsuit against the county judge
- Abbott – Have learned we do not have to choose between total closure of businesses and health/safety of people; local officials need to enforce the health and safety protocols