Faced with the increase in hospitalizations caused by the SARS-Cov-2 virus, mostly in unvaccinated people, the Secretary of the Department of Health, Carlos Mellado López, stressed today the importance of using monoclonal antibody treatment to combat COVID- 19. At present, over 200 patients have received treatment successfully, preventing hospitalization and death.
Treatment is indicated for patients over 12 years of age who have tested positive for VOCID-19 in antigen or molecular testing and should be given within the first 10 days of symptoms. Similarly, candidates are those at risk of suffering from a severe illness that results in hospitalization, patients who live in the same home and who have had prolonged exposure to a positive case and have risk factors. Similarly, patients vaccinated against COVID-19 at risk of not developing an adequate response to vaccination.
“We need to make use of available treatments that allow us to decrease the number of people hospitalized. Monoclonal is a valuable and effective alternative available to our people. The treatment contains defenses to weaken the virus by preventing the disease from progressing, reducing the likelihood hospitalization and worsening the health of people infected with the virus, “said DS Secretary Carlos Mellado Lopez.
At present 12 facilities on the island have the treatment and it is free of cost for the patients. Monoclonal treatments are available at Hospital Bon Samarità in Aguadilla; Mennonite Hospital of Aibonito, HIMA San Pau de Bayamón; Mennonite Hospital of Caguas; University of Puerto Rico Hospital in Carolina; Advanced Infusion Center in Cataño; Optima Health a Daurat. Also in the municipality of St. John’s at Ashford Presbyterian Hospital, Best Option, Cardiovascular Hospital and the Administration of Medical Services (ASEM).
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According to the incumbent, it is the doctors who can give the medical order to benefit from this alternative. However, epidemiologists can also recommend the citizen with the doctor during the interview that is conducted after seeing a positive case reflected in the DS bioportal.
According to SD statistics, in the past seven (7) days, 67 people have died due to this deadly disease. Of which 56 were unvaccinated people. While 11 of the people who died, despite being vaccinated with at least one dose of the vaccine, also suffered from diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, among others, which complicated the severity of the disease.
For her part, the Chief Medical Officer of the DS, Iris Cardona, explained that until June 21, 2021, the risk of infection for unvaccinated people was 6.9 times higher than among completely vaccinated. Now with the Delta variant, our concern remains the group of people who are not vaccinated. We have continued our vaccination efforts and carried the right and correct message, so that vaccines continue to provide protection. This is shown by recent statistics; vaccines helped prevent 16,505 infections, 1,307 hospitalizations and 367 deaths. “
Mellado López stressed that the Department will continue its health education efforts in both the community and health professionals on the benefits of monoclonal treatment to safeguard the lives of citizens. To facilitate the referral process and coordination of appointments for patients candidates for the treatment of primary care physicians must register with treatment.covidpr.info
The monoclonal treatment obtained a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization. For more information, you can write to [email protected].