- April 19, 2024
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Gov. Ron DeSantis is continuing to increase access to monoclonal antibody therapy treatment, and on Thursday, Aug. 19, he announced the opening of a treatment site at the Ormond Beach Senior Center.
The governor expressed his confidence that the state will see a reduction in hospital admissions with the introduction of these treatment sites, particularly naming the treatment by biotechnology company Regeneron. At the time of the press conference, DeSantis had announced the opening of monoclonal antibody therapy treatment sites in Jacksonville, Orlando, Merritt Island, Pembroke Pines and West Palm Beach.
“It’s our belief that if this is something that everybody understands is available, and it’s utilized, that you will be able to reduce the admissions into hospitals, and I think hopefully in a pretty significant way," DeSantis said.
The new sites come as Florida COVID-19 hospitalizations continue to rise, with the Florida Hospital Association reporting hospitalizations are now 164% higher than they were during the state's previous peak in July 2020. Two-hundred new hospitalizations were reported on Wednesday, Aug. 18, bringing the total to 16,721 since the start of the pandemic, according to FHA. The association reports that 55% of adult ICU beds in Florida are currently occupied by COVID-19 patients.
The announcement came a day after the Associated Press reported that Regeneron is one of DeSantis' top political donors.
As of Monday, Aug. 16, Halifax Health reported it was caring for 162 COVID-19 patients, with 47 in the ICU. Of those in the ICU, only 7 were vaccinated. In AdventHealth's Central Florida division, which includes Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk, Volusia and Flagler counties, there are about 1,620 people hospitalized wit COVID-19 as of Thursday, Aug. 19, with some of their facilities' entire amount of ICU beds taken by COVID-19 patients.
The monoclonal antibody therapy treatment isn't meant to replace COVID-19 vaccinations. Vaccines have been the "centerpiece" of the state's efforts to fight the spread of COVID-19 since December, the governor said, but they aren't meant to treat the virus; only prevent an individual from contracting it in the first place.
"Obviously we worked very hard in Volusia County and throughout the state to be able to provide easy access to vaccines, focusing on seniors first," DeSantis said. "We brought it to communities here in Volusia, retail pharmacies, of course the hospitals, the whole nine yards, and we’re happy to have done that. The data in Florida for hospitalizations still is that the people who are admitted to hospitals in Florida for covid and are being treated, particularly people who end up in the ICU, tend to be people who were not vaccinated.”
Dr. Kenneth Scheppke, Florida Department of Emergency Management chief medical officer, said Regeneron monoclonal antibody therapy treatment is the best tool the state has to combat COVID-19. He stated the treatment works for all COVID-19 variants, and could be used as a post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19.
“So if you’re sick, or if you’re unvaccinated and you’re exposed, and you’re a high-risk individual, this is something that will treat you right now, which is very important," Scheppke said.
On Aug. 10, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration revised its emergency use authorization for Regeneron's monoclonal antibody therapy treatment to allow it to be used as a post-exposure prophylaxis for COVID-19 in adults and children 12 and older "who are at high risk for progression to severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death," according to the FDA.
It is not authorized as a prevention measure before an individual is exposed to COVID-19, and the FDA further explains it is not a substitute for a vaccine.
DeSantis said his goal is to have between 15 and 20 monoclonal antibody therapy treatment sites in the state by the end of the week. Each site, including the one in Ormond Beach, is able to perform over 300 treatments daily. The move by the state to add these sites is meant to boost what health systems already have in place.
“I think this is expanding access, but also increasing awareness, which will be good," DeSantis said.
Treatment is free for patients, as the federal government is bearing the cost, the governor explained.
How did the treatment site end up in Ormond Beach? Jenn Elston, spokesperson for the city, said in an email that the Volusia County Emergency Operations Center, on behalf of FDEM, requested use of a facility in Ormond Beach to host a state-run monoclonal antibody treatment site.
The Ormond Beach Senior Center is located at 351 Andrews St., and the treatment site will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, according to a city press release, but appointments are encouraged and can be made at patientportalfl.com
