This post was written based on an interview with Jeffrey Boord, MD, Chief Quality and Safety Officer, Parkview Health, and Abby Todt, manager, Pharmacy, Parkview Regional Medical Center, with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Parkview Health currently offers monoclonal antibody infusions to help reduce the severity of mild-to-moderate cases of COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight harmful antigens such as those presented by the coronavirus. These proteins are designed to prevent the spike protein from attaching and making entry into human cells.
Monoclonal antibody therapy options
We currently offer monoclonal antibody therapy, which has been given Emergency Use Authorization by the FDA. This means that, while not fully FDA approved, clinical studies that evaluate efficacy and safety have proven that the benefits far outweigh any risk for patients. Monoclonal antibody infusions studies have been reviewed by the FDA and are deemed safe.
Parkview has dedicated a large amount of resources to making the monoclonal antibody therapy available at our Allen County and community hospital locations seven days a week, for patients who qualify.
Who qualifies?
The intent of monoclonal antibody therapy is to prevent hospitalization or severe COVID-19 illness. To qualify, patients must:
- be 12 years of age or older
- weight at least 88 pounds
- have a mild-to-moderate case of COVID-19, meaning they do not require oxygen therapy, or if they require baseline oxygen therapy that their oxygen need has not increased due to COVID-19
- have not had symptoms longer than 10 days
- be considered high risk
- not be hospitalized
The earlier you seek treatment for COVID-19, the better the antibody treatment will work. If you have been experiencing symptoms for less than 10 days speak to a health care provider to see if you quality for the therapy.
Parkview Health would like to remind the public that the most effective way to prevent serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19 is to become vaccinated. If you received monoclonal antibody therapy, you will need to wait at least 90 days before receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, if you did not receive it prior to the antibody treatment.
