New York Prioritizing Antiviral Pills for 'Non-White' People

Kristina WongDecember 31, 2021

New York state’s Department of Health (DOH) announced recently that non-white people should be prioritized over white people for anti-viral pills in short supply.

The DOH announcement, dated December 27, said limited supply of oral antivirals will “require providers to prioritize treatment for patients at highest risk for severe COVID-19 until more product becomes available.”

Under a list of eligibility requirements for oral antiviral treatment, it said one requirement should be “have a medical condition or other factors that increase their risk for severe illness” and that one risk factor is being a “non-white race or Hispanic/Latino ethnicity should be considered a risk factor, as longstanding systemic health and social inequities have contributed to an increased risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19.”

The announcement also linked to a separate undated DOH document on prioritization that contained the same guidance.

Columnist Karol Markowicz drew attention to the guidelines in a tweet, where she said, “NY State Department of Health warns they don’t have enough Paxlovid or Monoclonal Antibody Treatment and white people need not apply.”

NY State Department of Health warns they don’t have enough Paxlovid or Monoclonal Antibody Treatment and white people need not apply. https://t.co/shbMWDomLJ pic.twitter.com/MwBtjv2pDx

— Karol Markowicz (@karol) December 31, 2021

Journalist and author Abigail Shrier called for a constitutional challenge to the guidance. “If the state can discriminate racially for medical treatment, then the 14th Amendment truly has no meaning. There needs to be a constitutional challenge to this IMMEDIATELY,” she tweeted.

If the state can discriminate racially for medical treatment, then the 14th Amendment truly has no meaning.

There needs to be a constitutional challenge to this IMMEDIATELY. https://t.co/198DhzO8jM

— Abigail Shrier (@AbigailShrier) December 31, 2021

Former Trump administration adviser Stephen Miller placed blame on the signal sent by the Biden Administration. He tweeted:

On his 1st day in office, Biden signed EO making “racial equity” (invidious racial discrimination) the organizing principle of his Admin. The left took heed. Now, NY is rationing lifesaving meds based on race. This is our totalitarian future if we don’t defeat the equity crusade. https://t.co/y2mYdTITGA

— Stephen Miller (@StephenM) December 31, 2021

Political commentator Dave Rubin tweeted: “Systemic racism, brought to you by progressive Democrats…”