What If You Don’t Qualify?
Even if you don’t meet the above criteria, it’s possible to get the treatment at certain clinics or designated health centers. One way is to ask about clinical trials.
While the criteria for each trial will differ, they tend to be designed for people with specific chronic illnesses or persons who are experiencing severe COVID-19 symptoms.
It’s important to note that these clinical trials might give you access to different types of treatment options. These options include new medications as well as different delivery systems for the medications.
If you’re not interested in clinical trials, then some clinics are authorized to offer compassionate care on a limited basis. In this case, you may get access to what is known as investigational therapy. This is a type of treatment that has not yet been approved but is being investigated for the approval process.
Typically, you’ll only be accepted for compassionate care if you’re in serious condition or your COVID-19 infection is considered to be life-threatening.
Whichever route you decide to take, make sure that you understand what you’re in for. There’s a tight timeline for getting treatment but there’s always time for discussing what you should expect while being treated.
If you’re unable to have that conversation, ensure that someone accompanies you.
Bear in mind that the FDA is constantly revising its guidelines for the use of the COVID-19 antibody treatment so things can always change. It’s good to check the FDA’s website regularly to see the most recent modification so you know where you stand if you ever need treatment for the virus. The important thing is to get treatment as quickly as possible because the recommended timeline is within 10 days of seeing the symptoms.