Q: What is monoclonal antibody treatment, and do we have it on Maui?

Dr. Nicole Apoliona, Physician and Medical Director, Kula Hospital: Monoclonal antibody therapy has been approved by the FDA as a treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19. If given early in the illness, it has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. It can reduce risk of hospitalization by 70 percent. Currently, this treatment is authorized for people with COVID-19 who are considered at higher risk for severe disease. More than 700,000 people across the country received this treatment in August during the delta variant surge.

Monoclonal antibodies are artificial antibodies made in a lab. They mimic the antibodies produced naturally by the body’s immune system. They work by binding to the virus and preventing it from replicating and infecting more cells. Monoclonal antibodies have been used for decades to treat a variety of illnesses, from rheumatoid arthritis to cancer.

Maui Health is currently offering a monoclonal antibody therapy called Regeneron. This treatment is available by physician referral and is done as an outpatient procedure. If you or a loved one is diagnosed with COVID, talk with your doctor about whether you would qualify for this treatment. The treatment must be given in the first 10 days of illness. So far Maui Memorial Medical Center has treated close to 100 patients, and we are looking at ways to expand the number of patients we can provide this treatment to on Maui including offering it at Kula Hospital soon. For more information, visit mauihealth.org/MAB. If you are a physician on Maui, visit the Maui Health Physician Portal or email MHS-Covidmab-requests@kp.org for more information.

Q: What can I do to naturally boost my body’s immunity to protect myself from COVID-19?

Chrissy Miller, Employee Health and COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Manager, Maui Health: First and foremost, the most important thing you can do to boost your immunity against COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Because COVID is a new disease, even the healthiest immune system will have no existing antibodies to fight off an infection. Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to protect yourself.

However, there are still many good reasons to make sure your body’s immune system is healthy and strong. Boosting your immune system can help you avoid regular colds or bacterial infections, and it’s good to know that your body is as strong as possible if you do get COVID. Here are some things you can do to support a healthy immune system:

• If you smoke, take steps to quit.

• Stay physically active, with at least 150 minutes per week of moderate aerobic activity and two sessions of strength training.

• Make sure you’re getting enough sleep (at least seven hours per night, for most people).

• Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

• Take steps to lose excess weight.

• If you consume alcohol, drink in moderation.

• Learn healthy ways to manage stress, such as mindfulness, meditation or talking to a friend.

• Practice good hygiene, including washing hands, keeping surfaces clean and making sure meats are cooked properly.

• In addition to getting vaccinated against COVID, stay up to date on all your regular vaccines, including the flu vaccine.

And lastly, whether you are vaccinated or not, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself and help slow the spread of COVID is to follow infection prevention guidance and be diligent in your everyday actions. I’m sure this advice is starting to sound like a broken record but the fact is — COVID-19 and especially its delta variant are invisible and very contagious. So it is critical that you pay attention to where you go, what you touch, who you are around and how you keep your distance, every hour of every day. Wear a mask at all times when outside your home (even when outdoors and around others that are not part of your household); wash or sanitize your hands often and always before and after going into stores, doctor offices or other places of business; and please avoid large gatherings, especially with the Labor Day holiday next week. We know it is hard to turn down invitations to celebrations and get-togethers, but from what we have seen over the course of this pandemic, spikes in positive cases occur 10 to 14 days after a holiday. Let’s make this one different! Thank you to our community for helping to support and protect our health care heroes and our one and only acute-care hospital on Maui.

* Physicians, providers and administrative staff who practice at Maui Health System hospitals and clinics answer questions from the public in “Healthwise Maui,” which appears on Thursdays. Maui Health System operates Maui Memorial Medical Center, Maui Memorial Medical Center Outpatient Clinic, Kula Hospital & Clinic and Lana’i Community Hospital and accepts all patients. To submit a question, go to the website at mauihealth.org/healthwise.