SAH to provide monoclonal antibodies to help high-risk patients fight COVID

The Sault Area Hospital (SAH) has announced that it will provide high-risk patients with access monoclonal antibodies for the early treatment of COVID-19.

A news release issued today states that "this treatment will help to address the growing number of hospitalizations in high-risk individuals," including those with chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease (including asthma), metabolic disease, cancer, and others.

"A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that attaches to the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus and prevents the virus from entering and infecting healthy cells within the body," the release explains.

Full text of the SAH news release follows:

Sault Area Hospital, in association with local and regional partners, is providing patients with the ability to access monoclonal antibodies for the early treatment of COVID-19.

This program provides outpatient treatment for individuals with COVID-19 who are at high-risk of progression to severe illness. While the first line of defence against COVID-19 is vaccination, this treatment will help to address the growing number of hospitalizations in high-risk individuals.

Patients who test positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms lasting seven days or less are eligible if they meet the criteria.
    •    Unvaccinated individuals – those over the age of 50 OR those under the age of 50 with the following risk factors: chronic heart disease (including hypertension), Chronic Lung disease (including asthma), Obesity, Metabolic disease (including diabetes), Chronic Kidney Disease, Chronic Liver disease, have cancer or other immune-suppressing conditions/medications or are pregnant.
    •    Vaccinated individuals – those who have cancer on active chemotherapy, bone marrow transplants, solid organ transplants, or are on certain immune-suppressing medications.
    •    Patients need to be able to get to Sault Area Hospital while following public health guidelines by driving directly to the hospital and driving directly home.

Patients accessing the Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Clinic will be provided instructions on how to access the clinic directly and are not to present through an entrance - screening station.

A monoclonal antibody is a type of protein that attaches to the spike protein of the COVID-19 virus and prevents the virus from entering and infecting healthy cells within the body. This therapy may help reduce the risk of progressing from mild or moderate COVID-19 to severe infection that requires hospitalization for high-risk individuals.

Initial studies show that COVID-19 monoclonal antibody therapy reduces hospitalization by 71 per cent and reduces death by 70 per cent in high-risk COVID-positive patients.

The Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Clinic is located at Sault Area Hospital 750 Great Northern Road.

Click here to learn more about the Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Clinic.