Monoclonal Antibody Infusions available at Med Center Health for COVID patients
An effective treatment option is available for patients who have tested positive for COVID-19 and are considered to be high-risk for possible hospitalization. Monoclonal antibody infusions are available at The Medical Center. To date, The Medical Center at Bowling Green Outpatient Infusion Center has provided more than 500 infusions for COVID patients. The FDA has issued Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) for two types of infusions to treat COVID: bamlanivimab (BAM), or casirivimab/imdevimab. These are administered to patients intravenously (IV) while the patient is under observation. They have been shown to provide significant relief from symptoms for those with COVID.
Not everyone is eligible for the infusion, however. COVID patients already receiving supplemental oxygen therapy cannot get the infusion. But if you have tested positive and have a mild-to-moderate case of COVID –and are at high risk for developing severe symptoms or being hospitalized–your doctor may order infusion therapy for you.
To be considered high risk, you must have one or more of the following:
- BMI greater than 35
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Diabetes
- Immunosuppressive disease or receiving treatment
- Over 65
- Over 55 with cardiovascular disease
- Over 55 with hypertension
- Over 55 with COPD and/or other chronic respiratory disease
- 12-17 years of age and one of the following:
- BMI less than 85th percentile for age and gender based on CDC chart
- Sickle cell disease
- Congenital or acquired heart disease
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Medical-related technological dependence
- Asthma, reactive airway or other chronic respiratory disease that requires daily medication for control.
The infusion takes one hour with an additional hour of observation and only one dose is necessary. Talk to your doctor about whether or not you qualify for monoclonal antibody infusion to help with COVID-19 symptoms, and discuss any possible risks or side effects.
