COVID Update: New HHS Reports Released, White House Encourages Use of COVID Treatments

Two new reports issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on long COVID and an update from a White House official on treatments are among this week’s pandemic developments.

HHS Reports on Long COVID According to HHS, an estimated 7.7 to 23 million Americans have developed long COVID, and roughly 1 million people may be out of the workforce at any given time due to the condition. In response to a call by President Biden in April, HHS led the development of two reports that together pave an actionable path forward to address long COVID and associated conditions.

The National Research Action Plan on Long COVID sets forth the first U.S. government–wide national research agenda focused on advancing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and provision of services and supports for individuals and families experiencing long COVID. The plan details advances in current research and charts a course for future study to better understand prevention and treatment of long COVID.

The Services and Supports for Longer-Term Impacts of COVID-19 report outlines federal services available to the American public to address longer-term effects of COVID-19, including long COVID and related conditions, as well as other impacts on individuals and families. This report provides information about federal supports and services available for people experiencing long COVID; resources for healthcare personnel treating patients with long COVID and for those experiencing stress and trauma related to COVID-19; and services for individuals confronting challenges related to mental health, substance use, and bereavement.

Treatment Resources This week, in an American Hospital Association call with hospital members, Senior Policy Advisor for the White House COVID-19 Response Team Dr. Thomas Tsai provided an update on COVID treatments – including antivirals like Paxlovid and remdesivir and monoclonal antibody treatments like Evusheld – and encouraged providers to make use of them.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in June updated its guidelines regarding who is at higher risk of becoming severely ill from COVID. The new recommendations include changes in age-related guidelines. According to the CDC, it’s not just those over the age of 65 who are at increased risk, and Dr. Tsai advised now anyone diagnosed with COVID and aged 50 or older should consider treatment. Dr. Tsai emphasized that supplies are no longer constrained and are now widely available and adequate.

Last month, HHS released a clinical decision aid for outpatient COVID therapeutics, intended to help determine usage of antivirals or monoclonal antibody treatments. HHS also is working to close the equity gap related to COVID treatments, including enhanced distribution of Paxlovid and Evusheld in rural areas and other locations such physician offices, academic centers and immunology clinics.

Dr. Tsai emphasized the important role hospitals can play as anchor institutions, including:

• Ensuring employees understand the benefits of treatment.
• Providing education about COVID therapeutics alongside education on flu.
• Creating test-and-treat access points.

Given that the timing is unclear regarding the potential arrival this fall of a vaccine that’s been updated for the latest variants, Dr. Tsai encouraged anyone currently eligible for a booster, or young children eligible for their first doses, to not delay. Individuals over age 50 should receive their fourth dose of vaccine, he said.

For more on regional pandemic response efforts, contact us.