Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a rare stop in Osceola County Tuesday when he announced the opening of a monoclonal antibody treatment site at the St. Cloud Civic Center at 3001 17th Street.
It’s another bullet in the arsenal in the health war against COVID-19. At the Civic Center, COVID-19 patients will be able to receive REGEN-COV antibodies, that provides a treatment piece as a backup to the vaccines that are the prevention part.
The St. Cloud location, which opened after DeSantis' press conference is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week, is the 22nd antibody clinic to open statewide for the free service. DeSantis said 300 patients can be seen at the Civic Center each day.
Walk-ins will be accepted, but appointments, the easiest way to get treatment, can be made at www.patientportalfl.com.
Monoclonal antibodies target proteins present in coronavirus and block them from entering the body’s cells, which effectively stops the infection from spreading. The antibodies are given through an IV, which lasts about an hour, then patients are observed for 15-30 minutes before being released. Those who have tested positive or those at higher risk for severe symptoms (the elderly, overweight and diabetic) who were exposed to a positive case 10 days prior can get the treatment.
District 42 State Rep. Fred Hawkins (R-St. Cloud) worked with the Governor's office during August to eliminate Osceola County as an "island" with antibody clinics in Orange, Brevard and Lake counties, a significant drive away. Osceola County Emergency Management Director Bill Litton said the state accepted his office's request for a clinic on Friday morning.
DeSantis said the goal is to alleviate hospitalizations.
“We’re happy this is something people have had success with it. We want people to know this is here. Vaccinations are still the No. 1 way to mitigate this. But the vaccine doesn’t treat the disease. Once you are infected, you need treatment.
“A lot of people who were infected were expected to stay home and hope they didn’t get worse. We’re here to say that in Florida, we’re not going to hope, we’re going to act. We’re happy to have a site here at the St. Cloud Civic Center. Know that it’s here if you do come down with COVID.”
