The COVID-19 vaccine may be readily available but that doesn’t mean that researchers have stopped looking for ways to treat the disease. Since late last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been approving drugs that are specifically tailored to fighting the virus.
These are known as COVID-19 antibody treatments and if you meet certain criteria, you could be next in line.
Why Do We Need This Treatment, Anyway?
Given that vaccines exist, many people are tempted to think that’s where it stops. Unfortunately, the need for an effective treatment exists. The COVID-19 antibody treatment is meant to use the virus’ specific make-up to treat it.
That’s important because of the variations of the virus that can occur as well as the fact that some fully vaccinated persons may still experience bad symptoms if they catch COVID-19.
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While researchers are developing different treatment options, only particular people will receive it for now.
How Do You Know If You Qualify?
The general criteria for receiving the COVID-19 antibody treatment are:
- People who are 65 years of age or older
- Those who have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or higher
- People who have chronic kidney disease, diabetes, immunosuppressive disease, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or a chronic respiratory disease like COPD
- Those who are currently receiving immunosuppressive treatment
- People with conditions that are not being addressed by clinical trials
Generally, the treatment is not recommended for people who are hospitalized with COVID-19 but exceptions may be made for those who have mild symptoms. If you have been hospitalized for reasons not related to the virus, you may also be considered for the treatment.
