DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is expanding access to monoclonal antibody treatment by sending buses to provide outpatient care for COVID-19.
“The treatment is provided either intravenously or through a series of shots, either of which occur
during a single appointment. The whole process, including post-treatment monitoring, will take 1-2
hours,” Val Smith, Ph.D., communicable disease supervisor at the Weld County Health Department, said.
Monoclonal antibody treatment helps decrease the severity of COVID-19 by blocking the virus from entering cells. This makes it harder for the virus to reproduce.
These qualifications must be met to be eligible for the treatment:
- Symptoms started within the last 10 days
- Not hospitalized or on oxygen due to COVID-19
- Risk of getting very sick without treatment
- People who are 65 years old or older
- People who are obese or overweight, including children children age 12 to 17
- Pregnant people
- People with certain underlying medical conditions
The monoclonal antibody is not a substitute for vaccination against COVID-19. Vaccination remains the best defense against getting sick with COVID-19, according to the CDPHE.
Find a CDPHE treatment bus location online.