We have had many posts recently, one of which I started, about Monoclonal Antibody Infusions or Shots, and these treatments can be the difference between life and death for all of us on this site.
As such feel it is important enough to let all of you know about a new movement in Florida that could spread to other States. This movement is the emergence of free clinics popping up in 21 sites in Florida to give Regeneron Shots, and they gave already treated 45,000 individuals.
The article I'm providing a link to is from the Florida Sun Sentinel, the largest Newspaper in South Florida, so I imagine it will work for all of you; in other words, I doubt you need a subscription. The article is great, in that it gives in layman's terms an understanding of the Monoclonal Antibody Infusions and how they work. Hopefully a great number of our Members will get to see this.
For those who are not in Florida, or one of the other five to nine states I believe will soon see these clinics popping up (see cdrmaguire.com), be knowledgeable that you too can get Regeneron at the local hospitals that have been given supplies by the government. The difference between going to one of the Free Clinics and your local hospital, as explained in the article I'm providing the link to, is that with the hospitals you need an authorization from a physician based on multiple qualifying criteria (I believe all of us on this site would qualify at the hospital). The Free Clinics are not requiring a physician authorization, and will provide the shots to anyone who requests them.
Carl, it's definitely good news that the Regeneron is being made widely available, but the article doesn't exactly say that the shots will be given to anyone who request's a shot.
It seems like conflicting statements in the article about eligibility:
"If you are unvaccinated and exposed to coronavirus, or if you’re high-risk, exposed, and fully vaccinated, you may qualify for monoclonal antibodies."
"If you decide you want Regeneron, timing is critical. You will need to show proof of COVID, so you want to get tested as soon as you notice any possible symptoms."
Good point; I didnt read it as carefully as you have. One of the other Members called New York has posted about just getting the shots at a Florida Maguire site, and he clearly said he didnt have a positive result; nor, was he showing any symptoms.
That's me. They did not require proof. I told them I was immunocompromised and listed CLL, HBP. I told them my kids are at a school with covid almost everyday. I told them my wife was PCR positive two weeks ago. All verbal. These were nice nurses. Not looking to interrogate. If you have low immunity and are exposed or in a congregate nursing facility you qualify.
These free clinics waste resources. There are limited Regeneron courses - that have not previously been used due to enormous red tape to actually get one.
Often states with high Covid rates are now opening up these free clinics to lower their mortality statistics- even though their Covid practices are very lax. They often do not require masking and do very little to prompt vaccinations. That is why they will give them to virtually anyone who suspects Covid. The Federal government paid for the Regeneron infusions so the states have no problem giving their allocations away.
This leads to: even more vaccine hesitation, as it provides a very expensive alternative if someone were to get Covid.
This also uses up a finite life-saving resource. These courses are produced for people like ourselves who cannot or do not mount an adequate immune response. Basically it is giving away lifeboats instead of life jackets - when life jackets are all that is needed.
Up until now, the Federal government has paid for all of these infusions - but not committed to paying for more if needed. It takes a while to make lots of monoclonal antibodies for infusion - so it isn’t easy to replenish the supply.
The only company that has produced a monoclonal that has not been sold to the Federal government is AstraZeneca. Their product is quite good, but I recall their cost to consumer was to be about $3300 per infusion (plus infusion costs). This is not a cheap, endlessly supplied endeavor.
We here - need products like this to survive. Many people being given infusions at clinics could have been vaccinated but chose not to. It’s not a good practice - and perpetuates the low rate of vaccination in the US, and even lower vaccination rate in many areas of the US.
Your words ring true; unfortunately, they as usual in real represent no opportunity to change the course of ultimate disaster. I too am frequently guilty of this self gratifying logical drive through the mountains. Beautiful scenery but unfortunately no end location in the real world.
In essence what I am saying is that I agree with your logic and truth, but understand due to progressing a bit further in logical destination analysis that it lacks substance. What I am trying to convey to you is this. You can spout all you want about the states that are led by Governors whose philosophy is diametrically opposed to your own, and you can say that these free clinics are a waste of resources, and you are totally correct. The problem is my friend that those Governors control the States who are wasting those resources, and your logic won't change a single iota of truth and reality. You can anguish and complain and do what you will do, and it will accomplish absolutely nothing.
If you can understand, and better yet accept what I am elucidating you on, then you will look at the free clinics and access for us CLLrs to Monoclonal Antibody Infusions as a really good and life saving thing.
While I am in your camp, and despise those Governors for not leading their flock to masks and vaccinations, I also am smart enough to understand the reality of the situation. If we can change the dynamics of who is in control, then of course things will be that much better. In the meantime, if you are in a State where free Monoclonal Antibody Infusions are provided, then be really greatly thankful
I can get a free monoclonal antibody infusion if I need it. My CLL Dr has told all his patients what to do.
But that’s just my point - we are all “extremely high risk” CLL patients. We are not a bunch of anti-vaxxers — or people just too lazy to take control of their life and get vaccinated.
And my state does not give out monoclonal infusions like candy to give everyone the illusion that masks are useless as are vaccines. That’s the attitude of about 1/2 dozen southern states in the US.
The reality of all of it is that monoclonals cannot be produced to keep 330 million people safe every month. They are hard to make and very time consuming.
I know, because back in the day — I have made monoclonals on a lab scale. It is not easily scaled up, which is why Regeneron must charge the US govt 3K a dose for them. It probably took Regeneron a very long time to make the million or so doses that the US govt. purchased.
Everyone who can benefit should get vaccinated—or be forced to do so. We can’t make enough monoclonals for all the people for whom the vaccine will not work — immune compromised, elderly, etc.
And P.S. - it is only a matter of time before the US Govt cuts off free access to Mabs used so freely. Our supply is running out fast and we could never synthesize enough to use it at the current rate in FLA.
What we need is a large supply of meds that inhibit viral replication - such as those in trials by Merck and Pfizer(?). Once made, we probably could keep up with the demand. This would stop the pandemic in it's path - if we found the right leadership in all countries and the world to make them available. Right now, I see a lot of FDA red tape BS - and when people are dying left and right - a risk is sometimes warranted. Just my opinion, though.
So we are helping people live who made the bad judgment of not getting vaccinated. Better to punish them for their stubborness! I'm not sure antivaxers are rushing to get 4 shots of MABS...your speculation belies your hostility to anti-vaxers...which may be deserved. Just saying I don't see a shortage of Regeneron. Are you in favor of removing unvaccinated patients from ICU when vaccinated patients need that ICU spot? Do you have the same hostility to anti flu vaxers, smokers, obese, alcoholics? They all make bad judgements that we pay for. BTW the lowest vaccine rates in US are for population of blacks and hispanics.
Does anyone have statistics on how effective these monoclonal antibody infusions are working as hoped in Florida? It appears that Florida’s death rate is still very high.
You can't expect the infusions to change the death rate anytime soon. As far as the effectiveness, I've read that it is about 80% Effective in preventing hospitalizations or death.
The reason I said it won't affect the death rate very soon, even though it helps prevent hospitalizations and death, is because I'm sure that the percentage of those recently infected that are getting the infusions is miniscule compared to the total that are being infected. If the infusions were 80% of those getting infected, then the avoidance of death or hospitalization would likely be close to 80%.
As far as the success rate if given early enough, I'd have to go back and research some more (which I don't want to do this Morning); however, I thought it was around 80%
I understand your feelings about the waste of Regeneron on those who are absurd and refuse to be vaccinated. When the "Fake Virus" has them in its claws, then they will run to an Infusion Center. It all could have been avoided if the brainwashed would only get vaccinated and/or wear masks in appropriate places. Still as New York says we can't simply let Society go down the drain, because a Minority Percent of the total population is too mindless to do the right thing. So we need to kill the virus in them before it then spreads to more of those who are doing the right thing. Oh well, that is life as I tried to explain in a prior reply to your other post. Don't disagree with you, just dealing with reality.
By the way you are 100% Correct about the only thing that will stop these Covid Pandemics. It will only come from a medication or cocktail of medications that will prevent the virus from growing but not kill it. That is how the last major threat to all mankind called AIDS was stopped, and it is the only true hope with this virus too. I learned this from my brilliant physician Brother, who has had communications with another brilliant physician who actually works in the field trying to find the next Holy Grail Cocktail for this virus. My Brother Matt said: "Carl this virus is the same virus that causes the common cold, and we've never had a vaccine for the common cold". The cold virus or Covid as it is scientifically called simply mutates so fast that it would be impossible to have a vaccine that would keep its efficiency for too long. That is why they are now authorizing Boosters, and that is why we will need totally new vaccines, like with the Flu, every year.
The only hope we have to ever go back to what we used to know as normal life, is the discovery and utilization of medications such as Jonquil referenced at the end of his last post.
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