The federal government has allocated almost 44,000 monoclonal antibody treatments and anti-viral medications to Florida. The supplies are almost evenly divided between antiviral medications and monoclonals, the Florida Department of Health said in an email. Department press secretary Jeremy Redfern said, “It includes monoclonals and oral treatment options. The bulk of these options being 21,060 courses of Merck’s Molnupiravir oral treatment.” According to Merck’s website, Molnupiravir is an “antiviral medication that inhibits the replication of certain RNA viruses. It is used to treat COVID-19 in those infected by SARS-CoV-2.” Two new treatment options that were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are in pill form that patients can take at home. Studies have proven Pfizer’s pill Paxlovid and Merck’s Molnupiravir prevent the COVID-19 virus from reproducing. Between the two manufacturers Florida is allocated 26,300 doses. The FDA announced the drug’s clearance for use Dec. 23 on its website. …