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>https://combatcovid.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Talking-With-Patients.pdf
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Q: What are monoclonal antibodies?
A: Monoclonal antibodies are laboratorymade proteins that mimic the immune
system’s ability to fight off harmful viruses
like SARS-CoV-2. Monoclonal antibodies
attack the virus and reduce its ability to
spread through your body.
Talking with Patients about
Monoclonal Antibodies for COVID-19:
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
English: CombatCOVID.hhs.gov • 1-877-332-6585 S
Q: How do I get treatment?
A: If you have had symptoms for 10
days or less and have tested positive
for COVID-19 and you are high risk,
I can refer you to receive treatment.
The infusion itself will take from about
15 minutes to an hour, and you will be
at the facility for two to three hours.
Q: Where can I get treatment?
A: We can locate the nearest treatment site by
using the information provided by the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services,
which is carefully tracking distribution on
their website at: https://protect-public.hhs.
gov/pages/therapeutics-distribution.
You can also reach them over the
phone at 1-877-332-6585 (for English
Q: Are there side effects?
A: Some side effects are possible.1, 2
An infusion of any medicine may cause
brief pain, bleeding, bruising of the
skin, soreness, swelling, and possible
infection at the infusion site. Allergic
reactions may happen during and after
an antibody infusion. Trained healthcare
staff will monitor you for allergic reactions.
While side effects are possible, antibody
treatments do not contain any live virus.
There is no risk you will get COVID-19
from monoclonal antibody treatments.
Q: What are the chances it will work?
A: Patient data from clinical trials showed
that high-risk COVID-19 patients treated
with monoclonal antibodies had a 70%
reduction in relative risk of progression to
severe disease or hospitalization compared
to patients who did not receive monoclonal
antibodies.3
The treatment is most effective
when given shortly after symptoms appear,
so it is important to get tested and treated
as soon as possible.
Q: If I receive monoclonal antibodies,
do I have to isolate?
A: Yes. You must still follow isolation
requirements to protect yourself and others.
Q: Can I still get the COVID-19 vaccine
if I receive monoclonal antibodies?
A: Yes, but you should wait 90 days after
treatment to get the vaccine.
Q: If I have received the vaccine, can
I still receive the monoclonal
antibody treatment?
A: Yes. Patients who develop COVID-19
infection despite vaccination may receive
monoclonal antibody treatment.
Q: How much will the treatment cost?
Is it covered by insurance?
A: Because the federal government has
purchased a supply of monoclonal antibody
treatments, there is no cost to the patient
for the antibody product itself. Depending
on your insurance coverage, you may
or may not need to pay for a provider to
administer the infusion. For many, infusion
administration will have no cost.
In particular:
• Medicare is covering all infusion costs.
Learn more about Medicare coverage
of the treatment at: https://www.cms.
gov/files/document/covid-infographiccoverage-monoclonal-antibodyproducts-treat-covid-19.pdf
• Medicaid coverage of infusion cost
varies by state.
• For patients covered under commercial
insurance plans, costs of infusion may
vary, but many large insurers are waiving
all costs. Check with your health plan.
• If you do not have insurance, you
should ask the treatment facility if
there are charges
References
-
Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers Emergency
Use Authorization (EUA) of REGEN-COV™
(Casirivimab with Imdevimab) (Revised version, March 18, 2021)
https://www.fda.gov/media/145611/download
-
Fact Sheet for Health Care Providers Emergency Use Authorization
(EUA) of Bamlanivimab and Etesevimab (Revised version, March 18, 2021)
https://www.fda.gov/media/145802/download
-
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER). (2021). Emergency
Use Authorization (EUA) for Bamlanivimab 700 mg and Etesevimab
1400 mg IV Administered Together, Center for Drug Evaluation and
Research (CDER) Review. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
https://www.fda.gov/media/146255/downloa