We May Develop Medications Effective Against COVID-19 but Can We Distribute Them Equitably?

摘要

There has been significant press regarding possible pharmaceutical agents with efficacy against the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These medications may provide critically ill patients a greater chance of recovering from the virus. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate in the United States, concerns have been raised that persons of lower socioeconomic status, especially in urban environments, may be at greater risk of complications.1 These concerns are certainly valid; lower socioeconomic status is associated with a greater incidence of chronic illnesses and poorer access to health insurance and to medical care.2–4 Considering the risks that face underprivileged urban communities, these proposed medications could provide a vital lifeline to a particularly at-risk population. Getting these medications to this group, however, highlights additional disparities that must be addressed for there to be meaningful chance that these medications can help this at-risk population.