The Hernando County Health Department announced this week that monoclonal antibody (MAB) treatments are now available. Monoclonal antibody treatments can prevent hospitalization or death in high-risk patients with COVID-19. Individuals 12 years and older who are high-risk that have contracted or been exposed to COVID-19, are eligible for this treatment. Treatment is free and vaccination status does not matter.
Hernando County does not currently have a MAB state-supported site, however in nearby Hudson, a state-supported MAB site can be found at the Fasano Center, 11611 Denton Avenue, Hudson. Open daily 9 AM to 5 PM To register for this treatment, please visit http://www.patientportalfl.com/
Additional information:
Florida Health: https://floridahealthcovid19.gov/monoclonal-antibody-therapy/
Pasco County Information: http://pasco.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/infectious-disease-services/COVID-19/monoclonal-antibody-therapy-treatments.html
Further Information
Monoclonal Antibodies are not new, and have been in use prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve probably seen advertisements on TV for Humira, a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Humira is the injectible’s trade or brand name, and it’s generic name is Adalimumab. The ending of a drug’s generic name can sometimes give a hint to its type and function, such as -cillin usually implies an antibiotic derived from penicillin, such as Amoxicillin or Piperacillin.
Drugs ending in -mab usually indicate a monoclonal antibody therapy. Monoclonal antibodies are man-made proteins that act like human antibodies in the immune system. There are several types of MABs, and are used in the treatment of arthritis, cancer and multiple sclerosis.
Most recently there is a monoclonal antibody therapy for COVID-19. Regeneron, its trade name, contains the two monoclonal antibodies — casirivimab and imdevimab.
