President Trump issues emergency authorization for use of plasma to treat COVID patients
On Sunday, President Trump announced the emergency authorization of using convalescent plasma for treating COVID-19 patients.
This was announcement was made on the eve of the Republican National Convention, and will make it easier for some patients to obtain the treatment.
In the treatment, blood plasma is taken from patients who have recovered from the novel coronavirus and given to those who are sick. The plasma is rich in antibodies which help fight off the disease. But the evidence so far has not been conclusive about whether it works, when to administer it, or what dosage is needed.
The chief scientist for the FDA, Denise Hinton, stated: “COVID-19 convalescent plasma should not be considered a new standard of care for the treatment of patients with COVID-19. Additional data will be forthcoming from other analyses and ongoing, well-controlled clinical trials in the coming months.”
The Mayo clinic reported earlier this months that blood plasma from recovered patients has given strong evidence of helping those who are ill, but this is still not considered proof. So far, there is no solid evidence.
