Currently, Northern Arizona Healthcare is offering only monoclonal antibody infusion as an outpatient treatment for patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
What is it?
Monoclonal antibody is an infusion is a COVID treatment that works like your immune system to fight off infection by blocking the ability of COVID to enter human cells. The goal of this treatment is to prevent people at high risk of severe COVID from becoming sick enough that they need to be hospitalized.
This medication is investigational, and is not currently FDA approved, however, it is authorized for emergency use by the FDA. This means that based on preliminary data, it is considered a reasonable treatment option for high risk patients with COVID in the first 10 days of their illness with the understanding that studies are ongoing into how well the medication works and how well it is tolerated. There are no other FDA authorized treatments for COVID-19 in the outpatient setting except for monoclonal antibody treatment.
Am I eligible for monoclonal antibody infusion?
To receive this medication, a person meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 years of age or older, AND
- In the outpatient setting, AND
- Have onset of symptoms must be less than 10 days prior to treatment, AND
- Have positive COVID viral diagnostic test (not an antibody test), AND
- Meet high risk criteria which includes:
- Age >/=65, OR
- Obesity, OR
- Chronic kidney disease, OR
- Diabetes, OR
- Weakened Immune system, OR
- Age >/=55 AND have high blood pressure, chronic lung disease, or history of stroke
What are the side effects?
The most common reported side effects with Bamlanivimab are nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, headache, itchiness, and vomiting. The side effects of getting any medicine by vein may include brief pain, bleeding, bruising of the skin, soreness, swelling, and possible infection at the infusion site.
In clinical trials of monoclonal antibodies involving nearly 3,000 people, two severe allergic reactions and five serious reactions related to the delivery of the treatment into the vein were reported. All reactions were treated and resolved.
COVID-19 Vaccine must be delayed 90 days from monoclonal antibody infusion.
How can I get treatment?
Please call your primary care physician to be assessed for referral as soon as possible if you think you qualify as this treatment must be given within 10 days of symptom onset. If you do not have a primary physician, or are unable to get a timely appointment with them, please call the Northern Arizona Healthcare COVID-19 hotline and follow the prompts for COVID infusion treatment. 928-773-2301 or 1-833-708-0894
What is the cost? Will insurance cover the treatment?
Monoclonal antibody medication is provided by the federal government at no charge to patients, at this time. Insurance will be billed for any associated provider visit and the infusion administration. Northern Arizona Healthcare will accept all patients in need of this therapy, regardless of insurance, and utilize financial assistance when needed.
Financial assistance information can be can be found at by visiting the Northern Arizona Healthcare Financial Assistance Program page or by emailing careassistance@NAHealth.com for the financial assistance application form.
Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine if I have had antibody treatment?
COVID-19 Vaccine must be delayed 90 days from monoclonal antibody infusion.