BRONX TIMES R 16 EPORTER, SEPT. 3-9, 2021 BTR
Monoclonal antibodies
treatment helps Jacobi patients
Estelle Calderon receives monoclonal antibodies, a treatment that has been successful in
fi ghting off COVID-19 symptoms if administered early upon contracting the virus.
Photo courtesy Jacobi Hospital
BY JASON COHEN
While the Delta variant is
wreaking havoc in some parts of
the United States, Jacobi Hospital
is doing its best to ward off COVID
cases by treating patients with
monoclonal antibodies.
Monoclonal antibodies, which
were authorized by the FDA in
February, treat people who have
contracted COVID-19 or were recently
exposed to someone who
has the COVID-19 virus. Treatment
can lower the amount of virus
in the body, reduce symptoms
and help avoid hospitalization.
Treatment works best soon after
COVID-19 symptoms begin.
Since the treatment was approved,
Jacobi Hospital has used it
to treat more than 500 patients, accoding
to Dr. Elana Sydney, chief
of ambulatory medicine at Jacobi,
who spoke with the Bronx Times
about the benefits of monoclonal
antibodies.
Sydney said that after seeing so
many people die during the height
of the pandemic, she hopes anyone
that is eligible for the antibodies
takes them. “We have observed
the antibodies work the best when
you get it early in the disease,”
Sydney said. “The vast majority of
patients have had a positive reaction.”
The doctor, who has worked
at Jacobi for 20 years, described
the monoclonal antibodies as an
“enormous boost” for the body.
She pointed out that the antibodies
have helped reduce the hospitalization
rate of COVID-19 patients
by 70%.
President Donald Trump even
received the monoclonal treatment
when it was in an experimental
stage.
Treatment is authorized for
people who meet the following:
-Tested positive for COVID-19.
-Have had mild to moderate COVID
19 symptoms for 10 days or
less.
-Are age 12 or older and weigh
at least 88 pounds.
-Are at high risk for severe COVID
19 illness, including older
adults, people who are pregnant
and people with certain underlying
health conditions, such as
obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney
disease or a weakened immune
system.
According to Sydney, most people
that take the monoclonal antibodies
typically get better in a day
or two and the antibodies stay in
their body for a few months. She
added, however, that the antibodies
treatment is not a panacea and
people still need to get the vaccine.
“Monoclonal is not a substitute
for the vaccine,” she said.
NO STOPPING