A digital representation of a Covid-19 antibody treatment fighting against the virus.
Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that Florida is setting up monoclonal antibody treatments for those infected with COVID-19. A mobile treatment distribution center was opened in Jacksonville, and monoclonal antibody treatments are available in other parts of the state.
Amid a surge in COVID infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in Florida, estimates are that 99% of those hospitalized or dying are unvaccinated. Although DeSantis acknowledged that the overwhelming majority of people admitted to Florida hospitals with COVID have not received the vaccine, his goal is to prevent infected patients from having to go to the emergency room.
Regeneron, which produces the monoclonal antibody treatment administered by infusion, has limited Food and Drug Administration emergency-use approval in lower doses for mild-to-moderate COVID-19 infections in people 12 and older.
According to the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, evidence indicates that the treatment can lower the viral load in patients, which leads to milder symptoms. The treatment may help people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have had symptoms for no more than 10 days and those who are at high risk of more serious symptoms.
The body naturally makes monoclonal antibodies to fight infection but might not have antibodies that recognize a new virus such as COVID-19. A vaccination triggers the body’s natural immune response but can take weeks to develop enough antibodies to prevent a viral infection. A Regeneron infusion, by contrast, uses monoclonal antibodies manufactured in a lab to fight a particular infection.
To receive a monoclonal antibody treatment if you test positive for COVID-19, get a referral from a health care provider, or call 877-332-6585. Infusion locations include Wellington Regional Medical Center, Palm Beach County Firefighters Wellness Center in West Palm Beach, and Bethesda Hospital West in Boynton Beach. Click here to find a complete list of infusion locations.
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