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Antibody therapy now available in Windsor-Essex to fight COVID

Windsor Regional Hospital is seen here on April 9, 2021. (Bob Bellacicco/CTV News Windsor) Windsor Regional Hospital is seen here on April 9, 2021. (Bob Bellacicco/CTV News Windsor)
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Windsor, Ont. -

Doctors can now prescribe monoclonal antibody therapy to prevent mild infection from escalating to a severe case.

“This is an out-patient treatment for people with mild illness,” says Dr. Wassim Saad, chief of staff at Windsor Regional Hospital. “It’s a one-time dose and it’s shown to reduce hospitalization.”

Dr. Saad says they gave the region’s very first dose of sotrovimab on Friday, Jan. 7 which he says is very effective against Omicron.

“This is not a drug that’s meant to be used in hospital,” says Dr. Saad.

“It’s meant to be given within seven days of somebody having a COVID infection and it’s to treat mild infection so that it does not progress to the point where somebody is admitted (to hospital).”

Dr. Saad says, however, there isn’t a lot of the therapy available, and the rules for who can get a dose are very “restrictive.”

“It’s really unvaccinated patients over the age of 50, or if you're fully vaccinated and over the age of 70 and have immuno-compromised status, you would be eligible to receive this treatment,” says Dr. Saad.

For more information, patients can speak with their primary care giver.

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