If you're positive for COVID-19, state health officials are encouraging you to talk to your doctor about antibodies. Experts say the monoclonal antibody treatment has proven to be 75-89% affective in preventing hospitalization.
Dr. Dan Edney, the state's Chief Medical Officer, says the laboratory-made proteins mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off the virus.
"If they're infected and have severe illness, they may not survive long enough to amount an immune response," said Edney.
"And so by giving the artificial antibodies early in their course of therapy, they're providing them a chance to combat the viral infection while their normal immune system sees the virus and starts responding to it."
Covid-19 patients who are at risk of severe disease are eligible to receive a single dose of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. The treatment has become more widely available at hospitals and clinics across the state.
In order to keep the state's healthcare system from becoming overwhelmed, Edney says it's important for physicians to quickly determine whether a case falls within the guidelines for treatment.
"Physicians decide when it's appropriate or not. We even have a tool on our website for physicians and providers that they can go and determine if someone is eligible and in need of antibody therapy and where they can refer a patient to receive it."
Edney says different variants are becoming resistant to some antibody treatments. He says they're working to keep physicians up-to-date on the best options for their patients. More information about the treatment and it's availability is on the state health department's website.
