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Opinion | COVID-19 vaccine status has unexpected and costly consequences | Richard Ransom

The Tennessee Health Department wants to deny monoclonal antibody treatments if you're vaccinated and only give them to those who are not.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — In Tuesday’s Ransom Note: growing tension between the vaxxed and the unvaxxed.

We've told you about monoclonal antibody treatments and how they can sometimes save the lives of the sickest COVID-19 patients. Well, because of the surge --and because people in states like Tennessee did such a bad job of getting vaccinated-- those treatments are running low. They are so low, in fact, the Tennessee Health Department now wants to deny the treatment if you're vaccinated and only give them to those who are not.

That means if you did the common sense thing, followed the science, and got your shot, but become a breakthrough case, you won't get the treatment so that somebody who ignored the science and decided to extend this pandemic can. The state has the backing of the National Institutes of Health, but this recommendation is angering many and I get it.

By the way, each monoclonal antibody treatment costs taxpayers $2,100, and each vaccine shot costs about $20. If you still haven't, please get the COVID-19 shot.

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