Wondering if a special antibody treatment can protect you or your loved ones from severe COVID-19?

We have all lived with the COVID-19 pandemic for quite some time now. During these years, we have learned many different ways to stay safe from this virus. Getting your vaccines is one of the main ways to protect yourself.

At the same time, researchers worldwide worked hard to find special treatments. These treatments help stop COVID-19 from turning into a severe illness if you catch it. Today, we will talk about a special treatment designed for people who have a higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.

What Are Casirivimab and Imdevimab?

These two names might sound a bit unusual and hard to say at first. Simply put, Casirivimab and Imdevimab are a mixture of two different monoclonal antibodies combined into one medicine.

When a virus enters your body naturally, your immune system builds antibodies to fight it off. Think of these natural antibodies as tiny soldier troops inside your body protecting your health.

However, not everyone has a strong and healthy immune system. Some people cannot make enough antibodies on their own to fight a new virus. To help fix this, scientists create artificial antibodies in a laboratory that specifically target the COVID-19 virus.

Monoclonal antibodies are these lab-made protector proteins. When you receive this medicine, it gives your body a huge boost of extra strength to fight the virus right away.

Doctors mainly use this specific medicine for two reasons:

• To treat patients who are not in the hospital yet but face a high risk of severe COVID-19 symptoms.
• To help prevent infection if an at-risk person has close contact with someone who has COVID-19.

The most important benefit is that this treatment helps reduce your risk of severe illness, hospital stays, and death.

This medicine does not yet have full, permanent approval from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However, during public health emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic, health agencies grant an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) because the benefits clearly outweigh the known risks.

Who Should Receive This Treatment?

Doctors do not give this medicine to everyone who gets sick with COVID-19. Your doctor must carefully check your health status to see if you have a high risk of severe illness.

Doctors usually consider you part of a high-risk group if you fall into one of these categories:

• You are aged 65 years or older.
• You live with severe obesity (a high body mass index).
• You have diabetes mellitus requiring regular management.
• You suffer from chronic kidney disease.
• Your immune system is weak due to medical conditions or medicines like cancer treatment or organ transplant drugs.
• You have chronic heart conditions or high blood pressure.
• You suffer from chronic lung diseases like severe asthma or COPD.
• You are a younger person aged 12 or older with one or more of these health risks.

If you test positive for COVID-19 and belong to one of these groups, talk to your doctor right away to see if this treatment is right for you.

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What to Tell Your Doctor Before Treatment

Before your doctor decides if this medicine is safe for you, you must share your complete medical history. Tell your doctor about the following important details:

• If you have any allergies to medicines, foods, dyes, or other substances.
• If you suffer from any other serious medical conditions.
• If you have already received any COVID-19 vaccines in the past.
• If you are currently pregnant or planning to become pregnant soon.
• If you are a mother who is currently breastfeeding your baby.

Your doctor will use this vital information to decide what extra safety steps you might need during your treatment.

How Doctors Give This Treatment and Possible Side Effects

You cannot take this medicine at home by yourself. A trained doctor must give it to you safely inside a hospital, clinic, or specialized infusion center.

Doctors usually give this medicine in one of two ways:

1. Intravenous (IV) Infusion: A nurse puts a small needle into a vein in your arm, and the medicine flows slowly into your bloodstream like an IV drip.

2. Subcutaneous Injections: A doctor or nurse gives you multiple quick shots into the fatty tissue just beneath your skin.

The medical team will keep you under observation for a short time during and after your treatment. They do this to watch for any sudden allergic reactions.

What Happens If Someone Gets Too Much Medicine?

Because doctors give this treatment in a controlled medical setting, accidental overdoses rarely happen. However, if you or a family member ever feel that too much medicine was given, inform your medical team right away.

If you are at home and notice severe emergency signs, call your local emergency services like 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. You can also visit your nearest hospital emergency department (ER or A&E) right away.

How Does This Relate to COVID-19 Vaccines?

This is another crucial rule you need to remember about your health care.

If you receive this monoclonal antibody treatment, you must wait at least 90 days before getting any COVID-19 vaccine dose (first, second, or booster shots).

If you already received your first vaccine dose and then needed this treatment, you must still wait at least 90 days from the day you received the antibodies before getting your next vaccine shot.

This waiting period matters because the lab-made antibodies from this treatment could stop your body from building its own natural vaccine response. Always consult your doctor to plan your vaccine schedule safely.