State-Run Monoclonal Antibody Treatment Site Opens In Hudson

HUDSON, FL — Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that the state has opened a new monoclonal antibody therapy treatment site in Pasco County.

“Today we’re here happy to be able to announce that we’ll be establishing a site for monoclonal antibody treatment in Pasco County," DeSantis said during a news conference in Hudson. "This is a site that will be open from 9 to 5 for seven days a week right here at the Fasano Center in Hudson. And this is something that’s really, really significant."

The Hudson site at the Fasano Center, 11611 Denton Ave., Hudson, is the eighth state monoclonal antibody therapy treatment site to open. The site has the capacity to serve more than 300 patients each day, and patients will be treated for free.

DeSantis plans to open at least 15 monoclonal antibody treatment sites around Florida.

“The sooner you get a monoclonal antibody treatment, the more effective it will be at keeping you out of the hospital and saving your life,” DeSantis said.

He said the sites are intended to relieve Florida hospitals, which are experiencing record numbers of coronavirus admissions.

"The antibody treatment sites support Florida hospitals and provide access to critical, early intervention for Floridians," he said. "If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with COVID-19, these sites are a great resource to access this therapy."

“In conjunction with the Florida Department of Health and local county emergency agencies, the Florida Division of Emergency Management is working around the clock to get these monoclonal antibody sites up and running,” said Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie. “At Gov. DeSantis’s direction, in less than a week we have opened up seven state locations, with many more to come. By building out this capacity and providing this life-saving treatment, we will be able to reduce the pressure on our hospitals.”

“Sixty-five percent of eligible Floridians have been vaccinated,” said FDEM Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kenneth Scheppke. “We need to keep up this stride to prevent illness. But we also need to make sure we have safe, proven treatment solutions ready if and when our most vulnerable Floridians contract COVID-19. That’s how monoclonal antibodies will save lives.”

Monoclonal antibody treatments can be prescribed by health care providers to people 12 years old and up who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and are at high risk for severe illness and hospitalization.

However, at DeSantis’ direction, the state surgeon general has signed a standing order that allows patients to receive this treatment without a prescription or referral if administered by an eligible health care provider.

Referrals are not required at any of the state of Florida monoclonal antibody treatment sites.

The antibodies help the immune system recognize and respond effectively to the virus. According to the treatment guidelines, they should be administered as soon as possible after diagnosis.

The governor said the state-run centers will use the monoclonal antibody treatment produced by Regeneron pharmaceutical company, giving priority to the elderly and those who are immunocompromised.

The treatments take 30 to 40 minutes. Patients then must wait an hour at the treatment center to ensure there is no negative reaction to the treatment.

“You know, there’s been a lot of people admitted over the last month who probably wouldn’t have been admitted if they’d gotten the early treatment," he said.

Health officials have discovered that the delta variant of the coronavirus is infecting people who are already vaccinated, although hospitals report that 80 to 90 percent of the coronavirus patients they're seeing have not been vaccinated.

To make an appointment at the state treatment site click here.

The treatment is also available through all major hospital groups in Tampa Bay, including AdventHealth and BayCare.

To find other monoclonal antibody sites, click here.

While providing the monoclonal antibody treatments to aid the ability of vaccinated residents to battle the coronavirus, DeSantis is also encouraging Floridians to get vaccinated.

According to the Florida Department of Health, 65 percent of Florida's 19,119,043 have been vaccinated. Nevertheless, the number of coronavirus cases in the state is rising sharply with 151,415 new cases reports Aug. 6 to 12. The state currently has a positivity rate of 19.3 percent.

Pasco County reports 3,871 new cases of the coronavirus during the same period, giving the county a positivity rate of 25.6 percent.

About 60 percent of Pasco County residents have been vaccinated.

To find a location, click here.