Alabama physicians on Thursday will discuss efforts to expand monoclonal antibody treatments for those with COVID-19, and the FDA’s approval this week of the Pfizer vaccine.
The Medical Association of the State of Alabama is to host the Facebook Live event at 4 p.m. on the association’s Facebook page Thursday, with Dr. Aruna Arora, president of the association, State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris, UAB’s Dr. Michael Saag, Dr. David Thrasher, a critical care pulmonologist, and Dr. John Meigs, Jr., a family physician in Centreville. Viewers of Thursday’s discussion will be able to submit questions.
According to the association, monoclonal antibodies prevent hospitalization in about 70 percent of COVID-19 patients.
“Injections of the antibodies can be administered in a physician’s office, but getting the treatment early is key,” Dr. Arora said in a statement. “Those who test positive for COVID should immediately talk to a doctor and request antibody treatment. However, this treatment is no substitute for getting vaccinated. If you get the vaccine, you are less likely to get COVID, less likely to get severely sick and much less likely to die.”
Alabama on Tuesday had a net negative 60 ICU beds, meaning there were more patients in need of the critical care than the state had formal ICU beds. There were 2,746 Alabamians hospitalized with COVID-19 on Tuesday, just 295 shy of the state’s record high, set on Jan. 11.
