Health Beat

As we continue to see the surge in cases of COVID-19, the push to provide treatment to prevent hospitalizations increases. Included in those treatments is the so called 'cocktail' - the monoclonal antibody treatment that gained attention after President Trump was reportedly treated with it. There are two versions of the drug - one is manufactured by Regeneron and the other by Eli Lilly.

In short, monocolonal antibodies are lab-made antibodies that act a lot like the ones we naturally produce to limit the amount of virus in our body. These drugs are delivered via an infusion done at the hospital or clinic. Local hospitals began providing this treatment in December. There's a small window for the drug to work, usually within 10 days of becoming ill and before the virus lands the patient in the hospital and on supplemental oxygen. At that point, the medication is not indicated. Does it work? Reports from those being treated indicate “yes.” But the treatment hasn't yet received full FDA approval. It's been approved for use by emergency authorization, so it's still considered experimental. There's a list of qualifications to get the drug, but in a nutshell, you have to be 55 or older with underlying health conditions like diabetes and hypertension. So if you become infected with COVID-19 and you're in that group, speak with your doctor about the treatment. The drug itself is provided free of charge, but there may be a charge for the actual infusion time, so check with your insurance company. And, as always, mask up, keep your distance, and wash your hands. To hear a local woman's experience with this treatment check out my health report at wnyt.com.