Trump Spreads More Wrong COVID-19 Information Causing Lupus Patients to Suffer

ProPublica Reports: Lupus Patients Can’t Get Crucial Medication After President Trump Pushes Unproven Coronavirus Treatment

Trump recently claimed that hydroxychloroquine could be used to treat COVID-19. This has caused Americans to hoard the drug, putting many Lupus patients at risk. Anna Valdez is just one person suffering as a result of Trump's false claims.

Late last week, as she sheltered in place at her home outside Santa Rosa, California, Valdez called her local pharmacy and ordered a refill to treat her autoimmune disorder, thinking a 90-day supply would help her ride out the coronavirus outbreak.

But the pharmacy told her it had only 10 pills left. Valdez called other pharmacies. They, too, had run out.

Trump has been claiming that Plaquenil, also known as hydroxychloroquine, is a potential treatment for the coronavirus. Yet, this has not been approved and there is little evidence that shows if this drug can treat the virus. Trump's false claim has led Americans to stock up on the drugs, which has left many Americans suffering. Those with Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis suddenly cannot find their prescriptions. Lupus alone impacts 1.5 million Americans.

What happens if she runs out? “I am likely going to go into a flare or I am going to have to increase other, more dangerous medicines to keep me out of a flare. I take a bunch of medicines to keep my immune system from working so it doesn’t harm me. If I have to replace it [Plaquenil] by increasing my CellCept, which is a more powerful immune suppressant, I am basically putting myself at a higher risk. I am basically increasing my risk of having very serious complications of coronavirus. I already have that risk.