Local Doctors are Now the Frontline for COVID-19 Response. It ’ s Not Clear They ’ re All Ready.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve as the virus mutates to more contagious forms. Despite the new wave and continuing federal effort to address COVID-19, the pandemic response is shifting to local levels. We also need to recognize that health care providers are and will be playing an increasingly important role in COVID-19 control and treatment, similar to how they manage illnesses like influenza. Tools to fight COVID-19 are freely available to health-care providers, including tests, vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and antiviral medications. The CDC, White House, FDA, state and local departments of health, media, and many medical organizations have provided much education to practitioners through webinars and print material about COVID-19 prevention and treatment. Yet, despite ample tools and guidance to fight COVID-19, many health care providers are not prescribing effective antiviral COVID-19 therapeutics. Many health care providers are not offering protective monoclonal antibodies to immunocompromised patients. Many health care providers are not registered as COVID-19 vaccine providers. It is recognized that the medical community has endured much during this pandemic. It is also recognized that they can continue to step-up. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] COVID-19 remains a serious and highly contagious illness. Since this pandemic began, we have seen waves of new COVID-19 infections globally and in the U.S. We are now seeing new waves of infections ca...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized COVID-19 freelance Source Type: news