Lee Heath: Seek COVID-19 treatment early
Monoclonal antibodies need to be administered quickly
On Oct. 4, Lee Health officials reminded individuals seeking monoclonal antibody treatment that it must be administered in the early days of a positive result.
“Monoclonal antibodies (MAB) are an effective treatment for COVID-19 if administered in the early days of infection,” Lee Health President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Larry Antonucci said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we are finding that some people are waiting too long to get treated with it.”
He said it is too late to receive this specific treatment if already hospitalized.
“MAB treatment helps prevent hospitalizations and can lessen the severity of your COVID-19 infection,” Antonucci said. “Patients can receive this treatment at Lee Health with a referral from their doctor or at the state-run location in Bonita Springs without a referral. To receive the full benefits, I recommend seeking treatment as early as possible after a positive COVID test.”
FLORIDA SENIORS, COVID
A report on Oct. 5 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showed that COVID-19 vaccinations might have helped prevent approximately 17,000 new COVID-19 infections and 2,400 deaths among Florida seniors during the first five months of 2021.
Conducted by researchers with HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, the study also found that nationally, vaccinations were linked to a reduction of roughly 265,000 COVID-19 infections, 107,000 hospitalizations, and 39,000 deaths among Medicare beneficiaries between January and May.
“This report reaffirms what we hear routinely from states: COVID-19 vaccines save lives, prevent hospitalizations, and reduce infection,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said in a release. “The Biden-Harris Administration has prioritized getting vaccines quickly to pharmacies, nursing homes, doctors’ offices and even provided increased reimbursement rates for at-home COVID-19 vaccinations, so that seniors and others can easily get vaccinated.”
An HHS release also stated that more than 352,000 lives were lost during the first nine months of the pandemic, and that prior to vaccine availability, nearly 80 percent of deaths were among those 65 and older who were also Medicare eligible.
The study showed that from January to May of 2021 — when vaccination grew from 1 percent to 47 percent among adults ages 18 to 64 and from 1 percent to 80 percent among seniors — there was an 11 percent to 12 percent decrease in weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths among Medicare beneficiaries for every 10 percent increase in county vaccination rates.
To find the ASPE report, visit https://aspe.hhs.gov/reports/covid-19-vaccination-rates-outcomes.
To reach CJ HADDAD / cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com, please email