There’s a free treatment for COVID-19 in San Diego County

In San Diego County, there are free treatments that can significantly minimize the severity of COVID-19 and even prevent death, but officials say enough people aren’t using it. ..

Drugs containing coronavirus monoclonal antibodies are increasingly demonstrating the ability to pick off pathogens before they have the opportunity to cause a serious case of COVID-19.

The County Health Department, which opened a free monoclonal clinic in April in collaboration with the state and San Isidro Health in Chula Vista, one of California’s most devastated cities, has treated only 49 patients in the last 30 days. I have not. This is less than expected, given that a similar arrangement in Escondido administered 247.

The surge in fully vaccinated residents over the past few months has been associated with an overall reduction in monoclonal use. Fewer people will be infected with COVID, and those who get sick after vaccination are less likely to be seriously affected.

Nonetheless, San Diego has averaged 154 new positive coronavirus test results per day over the past two weeks, and the hospital continues to accommodate more than 100 COVID-19 patients daily. Dr. Jennifer Tutur, Deputy Chief Medical Officer of San Diego County, shows that the low number of monoclonal treatments means that many are not taking advantage of treatments that can be of great benefit.

“I’m less than I think I’m eligible for treatment, so I want to make sure I’m informed,” says Tuter. “We say,” Oh, well, I don’t think my patients need to go there. They really aren’t sick enough to treat. “

That attitude has frustrated Dr. Christie König, medical director of the county’s emergency medical system, because it ignores the points and benefits of monoclonals. Runny nose, slight cough or malaise.

“They are what we want,” König said.

Monoclonal antibodies are a manufactured copy of the protective antibody found in the blood of patients who have successfully combated coronavirus infection. These microproteins are just the right form to attach quickly to the virus when it enters the body and provoke a rapid response from the immune system.

“We want to attach these antibodies to the virus as much as possible before the virus begins to invade the cells,” König said. “You really want to get to them as soon as possible.”

San Diego’s Family Health Center, the region’s largest federal-qualified community clinic network, has been treating approximately 300 patients at Hillcrest and Chula Vista’s monoclonal infusion centers since late December, said it was responsible for population health. One Christian Lamars said.

“Sure, the number is declining as the rate of cases in the county declines, but recently the eligibility criteria have expanded and the majority of qualified people are lacking due to low awareness. I feel that, “says Ramers.

The medical community was initially cautious about using CoV-2 monoclonals. The National Institutes of Health and the Infectious Diseases Society of America have withheld full support because they said they lacked deep evidence of efficacy.But both organizations have since Change their takesApprove these drugs in patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms with risk factors You are more likely to develop a serious illness.

Has been updated the study Of the 518 patients who received a cocktail of two monoclonal antibodies, bumlanivimab and etesebimab, only 11 were hospitalized, compared to 36 of the 517 who received placebo. Twenty-nine days after the infusion, no one who received the monoclonal antibody died, but 10 in the placebo group died.

Results were similar with the other two-drug cocktails used, Casilibimab and Imdebimab.

This silver bullet doesn’t hit the mark every time, but studies have shown that frequent connections reduce the chances of a mild infection becoming a full-blown COVID-19 by 70%.

And this ammunition has recently become more widely available than ever before.

On May 14, the FDA expanded its treatment guidelines for monoclonal antibodies and added them to the list of potential overweight patients. During pregnancy; have cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure; suffer from chronic lung disease, including asthma. This list already includes people with obesity, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and neurodevelopmental disorders. In addition, anyone over the age of 65 is eligible, as well as people over the age of 12 of a race or ethnicity who are imbalanced by COVID, regardless of their underlying health status.

Some people may feel that they don’t have to worry about such drugs if they have been partially or completely vaccinated before the test results are positive. However, monoclonal antibodies are also useful for those who receive the injection.

“If the test is positive and you have symptoms, monoclonal antibodies can help,” says Tuter. “Vaccines are very good, but we know they are not 100% effective.”

Sisson is writing for the San Diego Union-Tribune.