Coronavirus infection rates in Mississippi remain at high levels, which have risen the state’s COVID-19 related hospital admissions. After testing positive, health officials say it is too late to get a vaccine to prevent severe illness. However, a monoclonal antibody treatment has been found to be an effective way at keeping coronavirus patients out of the hospital. Debby Runnels, Registered Nurse and Administrator at Medical Associates of Vicksburg, says her clinic has been offering this treatment for months.
“We have given probably close to 300 something doses here," says Runnels. "It is very, very effective. We have only had two cases where a patient after they’ve had the monoclonal antibodies have to go into the hospital. Which I think is pretty awesome.”
After testing positive for COVID-19, officials say it is best to talk with a doctor as soon as possible and get an antibody treatment within ten days. The treatment provides a patient with additional antibodies to help fight infection and can be done through an I.V. or a series of four shots. Nurse Runnels says treatment time can range from 45 minutes to two hours.
“If you look like somebody that is going have to be admitted to the hospital, we want to get you before you have go into the hospital," says Runnels. "That way we’re cutting on the capacity that a hospital has [to bear]. You have to be at least 12 years of age or older. You can be vaccinated, immunocompromised, or you can be not even fully vaccinated.”
99% of all coronavirus patients in Mississippi hospitals are unvaccinated according to the Department of Health. Health officials say if someone is vaccine-hesitant, they should not be antibody hesitant.
