NASH, Texas - Bowie County will have a designated regional infusion center, where COVID-19 patients can receive free monoclonal antibody treatment, as soon as Wednesday afternoon.
County Judge Bobby Howell said the 20-chair center will be at 401 Industrial Blvd. in Nash. The county has provided the location, and the state of Texas will provide everything else, including sufficient quantities of monoclonal antibody drugs developed by pharmaceutical company Regeneron.
Produced in quantity in labs, monoclonal antibodies are similar to antibodies produced naturally by the immune system to recognize and destroy the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.
Patients must have a physician's order and meet one of the following criteria to receive the treatment, according to a news release from the city/county Joint Emergency Operations Center:
- 65 years of age or older
- Obesity or being overweight
- Pregnancy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Diabetes
- Immunosuppressive disease
- Receiving immunosuppressive treatment
- Cardiovascular disease or hypertension
- Chronic lung diseases
- Sickle cell disease
- Neurodevelopmental disorders or other conditions that confer medical complexity
- Having a medical related technological dependence
"The treatment is not authorized for patients who are hospitalized due to COVID-19, who require oxygen therapy due to COVID-19, or who require an increase in baseline oxygen flow rate due to COVID-19 in those on chronic oxygen therapy due to underlying non-COVID-19 related comorbidity," the release stated.
Those who think they may be candidates for the treatment are encouraged to consult their physicians.
The Texas Department of Emergency Management notified Howell and Texarkana, Texas, Mayor Bob Bruggeman about the site choice this week.
A news conference is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday at the site in Nash.