COVID: More treatment info

Subsequent to the My Turn column regarding Hydroxychloroquine and Convalescent Plasma Infusion treatments, I received numerous questions concerning vaccines, further elective treatments and queries about the drug Remdesivir.

Regarding additional treatments, Eli Lilly recently reported miraculous results with their Monoclonal Neutralizing Antibody research. Unlike the very successful Convalescent Plaza treatment which requires plasma donations from recovered COVID-19 patients, Lilly genetically manufactures the antibody — greatly accelerating treatment availability to hundreds of millions of potential COVID victims.

Another promising treatment is the widely available steroid dexamethasone. Oxford University recently announced preliminary results showing dexamethasone reduced deaths in COVID-19 patients on ventilators by 30%.

Respondents’ questions on vaccines included concerns about vaccine safety and availability. Their fears emanated from a documented report disclosing extensive vaccine data contradictions between the W.H.O. and the C.D.C. Nevertheless, I personally believe the COVID-19 vaccine methodology will be equally safe as our existing influenza vaccine programs. Regarding availability, more than 150 coronavirus vaccines are in development across the world and hopes are high to bring one to market in record time. Another concern was that we don’t politically rush the research.

As to the Ebola drug Remdesivir manufactured by Gilead Sciences, it is advocated by the CDC, FDA and NIAID as an effective treatment for COVID-19. However, research at the University of Virginia and reports from Dr. Peter Bach at Sloan Kettering concluded, “Remdesivir did not significantly improve the time to clinical improvement, mortality, or time to clearance of virus in COVID-19 patients especially those with advanced COVID-19.”

There is a tremendous amount of information out there so do your homework and thoroughly research all data and issues relating to your circumstances. Be safe and well.

JULIUS PEKAR

Coeur d’Alene