CDC Issues Health Alert on COVID-19 Therapeutics Availability

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this week issued a nationwide health alert to update health care providers, public health departments, and the public about the availability and use of recommended therapies for COVID-19 and to advise against using unproven treatments that have known or potential harms for outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19.

The CDC notes that for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are not hospitalized and who are at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes, several treatment options, including antiviral medications and monoclonal antibodies, are now widely available and accessible. According to the CDC, systemic corticosteroids are not recommended to treat patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 who do not require supplemental oxygen. Antibacterial therapy is also not recommended for COVID-19 in the absence of another indication.

Notably, the CDC urges that staying up to date with COVID-19 vaccination is still the best way to prevent serious outcomes of COVID-19, including severe disease, hospitalization, and death.

The full CDC Health Alert is available here.