Antibody treatment now available for COVID-19 patients in Sask.
Monoclonal antibody treatment is now available for Saskatchewan residents who have tested positive for COVID-19.
According to a release from the province, the treatment is intended to prevent hospitalization in people who are unvaccinated or severely immunosuppressed.
Dr. Satchan Takaya, an infectious disease specialist and the physician lead for the COVID monoclonal antibody project in Saskatchewan, said the province will be using Sotrovimab, which is one of three treatments that have interim authorization through Health Canada.
The government said the one-time treatment is only effective in the very early phase of infection.
Takaya said giving the treatment quickly could stop the initial viral phase before it progresses to something worse and forces the patient into hospital.
Those eligible include COVID-19 patients who are not vaccinated against the virus, immunocompromised patients, patients 55 years or older, or patients over the age of 18 with a high-risk comorbidity. The treatment must be administered within five days of symptoms starting.
“We are looking for not just people that are unvaccinated but people with that are unvaccinated with a risk factor,” Takaya said.
She added vaccinated people who may not have been able to mount a full immune response to the shot – like transplant patients – are also able to get the treatment.
Eligible patients will be identified through case investigation, says the province. Starting Nov. 1, COVID-19 patients will be able to self-assess their eligibility on the province’s website. If they are able to get the treatments, they will be told how to book an assessment. The final decision will be made by a health-care worker.
The treatments will be available in Regina and Saskatoon at Saskatchewan Health Authority testing sites.
Mark Wyatt, assistant deputy minister at the Ministry of Health, said the province has an allocation of 1,200 doses of the treatment, with 476 of those doses in Saskatchewan right now.
Though unvaccinated patients are able to get the antibody treatment, the province said it is not considered a substitute for vaccination.
Dr. Saqib Shahab, the province’s chief medical health officer, compared the treatment to getting in a crash while driving on an icy road – vaccines would be comparable to wearing your seatbelt, and the antibody treatment would the ambulance that may or may not arrive in time.
“Other therapeutics that may come in the future would be an added tool to use, especially for fully vaccinated immune suppressed, certainly vaccines are our most effective tool that we should all use right away,” said Shahab.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
Senators reject field trip to African Lion Safari amid elephant bill study
The Senate legal affairs committee has rejected a motion calling for members to take a $50,000 field trip to the African Lion Safari in southern Ontario to see the zoo's elephant exhibit.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.