The Maui News

The Molokai Community Health Center will offer monoclonal antibody therapy at its facility as another tool to fight COVID-19.

The one-time therapy is highly effective in preventing severe disease and hospitalization caused by the coronavirus and can be given up to 10 days after the first onset of symptoms or positive test in high-risk COVID-19 patients, according to a news release from the health center.

In November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued emergency use authorization to Regeneron Pharmaceuticals for the use of monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of COVID-19.

Molokai, which has seen far fewer cases than other islands throughout the pandemic, nearly doubled its count in a month, going from 81 on Aug. 1 to 159 as of Monday. The five new COVID-19-related deaths reported by the state Department of Health on Saturday included the first death of someone from Molokai.

“We are continuing to see our people test positive for COVID-19 across the state at (a) record-breaking rate day by day. Molokai is one of the most vulnerable areas in our state right now and is at great risk of severe hospitalization and even death from this virus,” the health center’s CEO Helen Kekalia Wescoatt said in the news release. “We have something here and now for our patients and families who are directly impacted. We encourage high-risk patients who test positive for COVID-19 to seek out monoclonal antibody treatment.”

The medication is also approved to be used by high-risk patients who have not tested positive for COVID-19 after a known exposure.

The treatment is given by a one-time injection and authorized for individuals 12 years and older with mild to moderate COVID-19 who are not hospitalized, who don’t need supplemental oxygen and meet full criteria for therapy. The criteria are broad, and many people are likely candidates who would benefit.

Receiving treatment earlier in the course of illness may help prevent the development of more severe symptoms that would otherwise require hospitalization.

“With hospitals reaching crisis standards of care, every measure needs to be taken to prevent development of severe COVID which then leads to hospital admission. Our best tool to prevent COVID remains vaccination and this needs to continue to be the No. 1 priority of everyone,” said Dr. Scott Link, the health center’s chief marketing officer. “However, with a large number of unvaccinated people remaining, and with the threat of breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals, effective treatment of COVID in its early stages is also a top priority.”

Link added that monoclonal antibody therapy is safe, effective and is “another essential tool” in the treatment of COVID-19.

However, it is not a replacement for vaccination, according to the health center.

There is no cost to the patient and treatment is offered regardless of patient status or health insurance.

For more information or to be screened to see if you are a candidate for monoclonal therapy, call the health center at (808) 553-5038, ext. 1.