AUSTIN (Dec. 28) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) are alerting nursing facilities to the availability of monoclonal antibody therapies that can be used to treat residents who have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
“These live-saving monoclonal antibody therapies play a critical role in our fight against COVID-19, and I urge nursing facilities across the state to take advantage of these treatments,” said Governor Abbott. “Thanks to our partnership with the federal government, these therapeutics are readily available for nursing facilities and other health care settings to help us treat COVID-19 patients and reduce hospitalizations.”
In a letter sent Dec. 27, DSHS Commissioner John Hellerstedt, MD, urges facility administrators to work with their medical directors and treating physicians to consider the use of monoclonal antibodies whenever appropriate. These therapeutics have shown promise in reducing hospital admissions for patients who have been diagnosed with the disease, have mild or moderate illness, and are in a high-risk group for developing severe disease.
Texas receives regular allocations of two different monoclonal antibody therapies from the federal government, which can be directed to nursing facilities and other health care settings.
Facilities can complete a survey to register their interest in receiving shipments. They can also work with their Health and Human Services Commission regional director or director of survey operations to facilitate more urgent delivery.
Wednesday, Dec. 30, Marcia Troehe, manager of Library of Legacies, advised the LeaderNews that their facility has been COVID free since the pandemic started in March.
“All of our patients and the staff received our first dose of vaccine Tuesday, and we’re thankful to have been given the chance to get the new vaccine,” she explained, “but we don’t know anything about this monoclonal antibody therapies the governor is talking about.” She was waiting to read the press release the governor has sent to the Lamb County Leader-News.
A person who answered the phone at Arbor Grace Wednesday, advised they don’t know about these therapies, so they are not doing anything with it.