EEH: Antibody infusion offers immunity boost to fight COVID-19

While the vaccine remains the best protection from COVID-19, antibody infusions can help lessen the chance of severe illness and hospitalization for those who contract the virus.

The human body naturally makes antibodies to fight infection. But with the newness of the coronavirus, the immune system may not recognize the disease and could lack the antibodies needed to fight infection. Additionally, underlying health conditions could complicate how quickly the immune system makes antibodies to fight the disease.

An antibody infusion (also called monoclonal antibodies or mAb treatment), when delivered within the first few days, can provide a temporary boost to help prevent serious infection from COVID-19.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization for antibody infusions to be used within 10 days of the onset of COVID-19 symptoms. The infusion can be used for those who are unvaccinated and those who have been vaccinated or received one dose of a two-dose vaccine.

It is important for those who qualify for the infusion to receive it sooner rather than later, as COVID-19 can progress quickly and the antibody infusion typically loses its effectiveness once symptoms worsen.

“Really, the earlier you get it, the better,” says Jonathan Pinsky, MD, medical director of infection control at Edward Hospital, adding that the effectiveness of an antibody infusion diminishes each day you wait after the onset of symptoms. “If you wait, the virus could worsen and it may be too late.”

Through June 9, 2021, Edward-Elmhurst Health has given 1,010 antibody infusions with only a 0.1 percent rate of subsequent hospitalizations, says Dr. Pinsky. Based on hospitalization records from Edward-Elmhurst Health, patients who contracted COVID-19 but did not receive an antibody infusion were 20 times more likely to be hospitalized or re-visit the emergency room than those who had received the infusion.

Antibody infusions help individuals with certain conditions that may put them at higher risk for complications from COVID-19. Your doctor may recommend an antibody infusion if someone:

• Is over the age of 65
• Is obese (BMI of 25 or above for ages 18 and older, or BMI above the 85th percentile for age and gender for ages 12-17)
• Has diabetes, chronic kidney disease, certain heart conditions (such as congenital heart disease or hypertension), chronic lung disease (such as COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, cystic fibrosis or pulmonary hypertension), sickle cell disease, immunosuppressive disease or neurodevelopmental disorders (such as cerebral palsy)
• Is dependent on mechanical medical technology (such as a tracheostomy)

Though antibody infusions are mostly given intravenously, an injection form of the antibody treatment made by Regeneron has received FDA approval in the hopes of making the treatment easier to administer and more accessible. Other forms of antibody treatment are in development stages.

People receiving antibody infusions should plan on spending about two hours at the clinic, which includes the infusion time and a brief observation.

Physicians will want to follow up after the infusion to track symptoms and recovery. Infusion recipients will likely be asked to do daily temperature and oxygen checks (using a pulse oximeter) and to report any changes in their health.

People who receive an antibody infusion and have not yet been vaccinated will need to wait 90 days before they can receive the first dose of a vaccine. Those who have received the first dose of a two-dose of vaccine and require an antibody infusion before the second dose will need to wait 90 days before the second vaccine dose.

Learn more at www.eehealth.org/coronavirus.