Corona, Corona, go away, don't come back and stay away! Is a medley in my head I keep singing to myself as things continue to progress with this awful pandemic. I miss having certain freedoms that existed in yesteryear. But now this darn virus is mutating and going round for round like Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield in the legendary ear-biting match. Every time you turn around there is another variant sweeping the nations. And if you have gotten the vaccine, that’s good for you. But If you have decided to wait things out for a while; I don’t blame you. Just stay safe and continue to empower yourself with knowledge and I’m sure you will make the best decision for you and your family's health.
But in the meantime, if you have decided to look into the COVID Antibody Infusion Therapy, here are a few things you should know before you make your decision.
What is COVID Antibody Infusion Therapy and how does this work? According to Temple University Hospital, some people who are diagnosed with COVID-19 are more likely to develop severe symptoms and be hospitalized. Your immune system would normally produce antibodies, which are proteins that target the virus and help your immune system destroy it.
But scientists have found that if you receive an antibody infusion treatment early enough the artificial antibodies called “monoclonal” will help jump-start your immune system to create antibodies if it has not started producing them yet.
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Researchers say these antibodies will help your body reduce or prevent COVID-19 symptoms from becoming severe. The COVID-19 antibody test usually requires you to do a blood sample and determines the presence of antibodies in your system to see if you have previously had COVID-19.
Dr. Marson and Dr. Patrick Hsu, an assistant professor of bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley both explained what a positive antibody test means during a "60 Minutes" interview. "We do not know if a positive antibody test means that you have protective immunity," Dr. Hsu says. "It will certainly mean that in some cases, but how much, and for how long, and how many times? We do not yet know. People should not assume that, if you have a positive antibody test that you're immune, [that] you don't need to wear a mask, and [that] you don't need to socially distance [yourself].”
Before you consider taking an antibody infusion treatment make sure you discuss with your doctor if you have any allergies, are pregnant, are breastfeeding, plan to become pregnant, have any serious illnesses, are taking any prescription or over-the-counter medications, or use any herbal products or vitamins.
Temple Health reported in previous antibody infusion trials that some patients stated they had experienced the following side effects: muscle pain/ache, dizziness, rashes, diarrhea, fever, chills, vomiting, nausea, headaches, coughing, wheezing, skin inflammation, throat irritations, drop in blood pressure, and swelling. The hospital reports that “Because the therapies have not been thoroughly studied, other more serious side effects are also possible. As with many medications given through an IV, there is a risk of an allergic reaction, which may be serious.”
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Currently, Regeneron and Eli Lilly antibody treatments are available under an Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA. The hospital says based on the limited trials offered the antibody infusions appear to outweigh the risks for people who are under the greatest threat from COVID-19. However, Temple Health admitted that the Emergency Use Authorization has allowed them to study the virus closely but the “therapy has not been studied for long enough to be granted FDA approval yet [and] we do not have a full picture of how effective it is, whether there are side effects that could be dangerous, or exactly how it works.”
In order to qualify for the antibody infusion the following requirements must be met:
- You must have tested positive for COVID-19 but not have developed severe symptoms.
- Weigh at least 88 pounds and fall in one or more high-risk groups:
- Are age 65 or older
- Have a body mass index (BMI) of 35 or greater
- Have chronic kidney disease
- Have diabetes
- Have a condition that disrupts or suppresses the immune system, such as HIV or leukemia
- Are currently receiving immunosuppressive treatments (after a transplant, for example)
- Are age 55 or older AND with at least one of the following: cardiovascular disease, hypertension or COPD/another chronic respiratory disease
If you do not qualify for the antibody infusion guidelines you can speak with your doctor to see what other options are available to you.
The greatest takeaway from the hospital’s antibody research and treatment is that there are many people who are volunteering and taking risks to further the study of COVID-19 to help eradicate this horrendous virus.
Temple Health says, “We do not currently have enough data to know how effective the vaccine is for someone who was given the antibody therapy, or if the antibody therapy could interfere with someone's own immune response to the vaccine.”
But the CDC suggests that you wait 90 days after receiving the antibody therapy to get a COVID vaccine because studies show that if you received the first dose of the vaccine and not the second you’re less likely to catch COVID-19 within three months of the previous infection.
As more research continues to be released on COVID-19 continue to empower yourself with knowledge and seek your physician about any concerns you have about your health and the coronavirus.
