MARYLAND- While America waits for vaccines to be approved, the FDA approved the use of an antibody in emergency situations back on November 9.
Bamlanivimab is coming to Delmarva with TidalHealth being the first to receive it on the Eastern Shore. The drug was used to treat President Trump when he tested positive for the Coronavirus.
TidalHealth Senior Director of Pharmacy Services John Jordan says the IV infusion will slow down viruses from taking effect in the body.
"There is a spike protein that is on the surface and this antibody kind of attacks that protein," Jordan said. "It prevents the molecule or the virus at that point from interacting with the host that it would replicate."
The antibody is not for everyone. Children under twelve and people who have already been hospitalized will be unable to receive it because tests have shown it will not benefit them. Those who are able to receive it must have it prescribed by their doctor and meet certain health conditions.
"Somebody who might be overweight, maybe somebody with Diabetes, or an elderly patient over the age of 65," Jordan said. "Those are some of the features that we have found increase risk of severe COVID disease. And so, what they can do at that point is refer you for this therapy."
The antibody is available starting tomorrow at TidalHealth's emergency department. The healthcare system says since it’s only being used in specific cases at the moment, it has a couple hundred doses. But, they will receive more if there is a need for it.
