If you are at risk for serious COVID-19 and have tested positive or been in close contact, you may want to consider monoclonal antibody treatment. Monoclonal antibody treatment can block the COVID-19 virus from entering the cells in your body and limit the severity of the virus, explains OSF HealthCare Holy Family Occupational Health Physician Dr. Robert Ayers:
“Monoclonal, those are a treatment that if I have been exposed and I have a positive test, vaccinated or not, especially if I am unvaccinated and I am at high risk to get really sick; I’ve got diabetes, I’ve got high blood pressure, I’m over 65, I have heart problems, whatever, we can give you these four different injections, pre-made antibodies to try and stop the virus from infecting my cells. Studies were done within 96 hours of my positive test, you can give it up to seven days, but the sooner you get it, the better off you are. If my immune system is not going to stop the virus form coming into my cells, here is some preformed antibodies to block that step. That has actually helped prevent a lot of hospitalizations. It is something that if you are a high-risk individual, it will help you try and prevent getting more ill.”
COVID-19 vaccination clinics continue to be widely available at OSF HealthCare Holy Family and through the Warren County Health Department. The next clinic at the health department is for those 5 to 11 years of age on Tuesday, December 28th by appointment only. To schedule, call 309-734-0823.
**Written by WMOI/WRAM Director of Communications Kelsey Crain and Contributing to the Story Colleen Reynolds, OSF HealthCare Media Relations Coordinator**
