Massachusetts
Crush COVID
NEW TREATMENT FOR COVID-19 AVAILABLE AT UMASS MEMORIAL MEDICAL CENTER
If you recently tested positive for COVID-19, there is a one-time treatment that can prevent your symptoms from getting worse and keep you out of the hospital. Monoclonal antibodies, or mAbs, are human-made proteins that help your body fight off the virus that causes COVID-19.
Monoclonal antibody therapy is offered at UMass Memorial Medical Center, in partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Located on our Hahnemann Campus, our temporary mobile clinic provides immediate treatment to patients who have tested positive for COVID-19.
This promising mAb therapy has been shown to keep high-risk COVID-19 patients out of the hospital. In accordance with federal guidelines, the treatment is free, safe and easy to administer. If administered within ten days of onset of COVID-19 symptoms, the one-time therapy is highly effective in neutralizing the virus and preventing symptoms from worsening.
Worcester COVID 19 treatment antibody treatment UMass Memorial
July 16 — As COVID-19 cases rise and the delta variant makes its way into the state, UMass Memorial Medical Center on Thursday unveiled a new weapon in the fight against the pandemic: monoclonal antibody treatment.
“We hope as few patients as possible will need this facility, but if they do, we will be ready,” said Dr. Michael Gustafson, president of UMass Memorial Medical Center, at the unveiling of the treatment trailer, which is parked at the Hahnemann campus.
Monoclonal antibody treatment is a synthetic antibody treatment that mimics the body’s natural response to COVID by blocking the virus’ spike protein from attaching to and infecting other cells, Dr. Sandeed Jubbal explained at the unveiling.
Thus it basically works by stopping the COVID infection in its tracks, preventing a mild case to progress to a serious illness.
It has been shown to be effective in reducing serious illness and death from the virus by up to 87%, Gustafson said, and it is available for COVID patients with mild to moderate cases but who are at risk for serious cases due to comorbidities or age. It can be administered within 10 days of the onset of COVID symptoms.
The mobile unit is one of only 17 such units — including only one other in New England - providing the service in the U.S.
“This is going to be an important tool in our arsenal to keep those people out of the hospital and keep more people alive,” City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. said.
The treatment itself is a 30-minute infusion followed by an hourlong observational period, and is done in a mobile clinic parked at the Hahnemann campus.