CAPE GIRARDEAU (WSIL)-- For high-risk people who get COVID-19, the first few days are the most crucial for treatment.
St. Francis Care in Cape Girardeau has treated about 200 COVID-19 patients with a new anti-body infusion.
At the end of January, Don Livingston woke up with a tickle in the back of his throat, and decided to get tested for coronavirus.
"They said 'Mr. Livingston you are positive. You have COVID-19," said Livingston.
Livingston is about to turn 72 years old and is considered to be at high risk.
The woman who tested him thought he would be a good candidate for a new treatment.
"She said 'have you heard of the infusion that's offered at St. Francis Hospital?' And I said 'I don't know what you're talking about, is that something like what the president had? She said 'yes, it's very similar,'" said Livingston.
The infusion is called the Bamlan Antibody Treatment, and it can help lessen the symptoms of COVID-19 and prevent hospitalizations.
"So the goal is to infuse these antibodies early in the disease course, hopefully prevent progression of the disease by binding to the virus and basically lowering the viral load, and protecting your other cells that haven't been infected," said St. Francis Healthcare's Pharmacy Specialist Stuart Greaser.
So far, the infusions have been sucessful.
"That morning I was like, 'wow. I feel good. I feel better. And by that afternoon, I couldn't tell I'd ever had COVID," said Livingston.
Right now, the FDA has only given approval for the treatment for those who are at high risk for COVID-19.
But those at St. Francis in Cape Girardeau are happy with results so far.
"In our experience, we do feel like it has helped people get better faster," said Greaser.
The treatment is not highly advertised right now, but Livingston believes that the treatment needs more recognition.
"I definitely would recommend anybody, especially anybody with any age or with any other health issues, to pursue getting it. Because when I look back, I've lost three family members to the COVID, and I was wondering if they would be alive today," said Livingston.
The antibody infusion is not available everywhere yet.
You can find places in your area that offer the treatment
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