Manatee Memorial Hospital’s Monoclonal Antibody COVID-19 Treatment Center Closes: DOH

BRADENTON, FL — The monoclonal antibody COVID-19 treatment center at Manatee Memorial Hospital has closed, the Department of Health in Manatee County said.

The site opened at the end of August during a coronavirus surge in Florida driven by the spread of the delta variant. At the time, monoclonal antibody centers opened in communities throughout the state thanks to partnerships “with a robust network of community partners,” DOH-Manatee said.

Monoclonal antibodies help the immune system recognize and respond effectively to the COVID-19 virus, the agency said. It’s designed for people who have contracted or been exposed to the virus and can prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death in high-risk patients.

The monoclonal antibody treatment was made available to anybody who wanted it for free at state-supported sites this summer after Florida’s surgeon general “issued a standing order” to open them in many Florida counties, Gov. Ron DeSantis said during a news conference announcing the opening of the Manatee County treatment center.

Previously, this treatment required a prescription from a private healthcare provider, the governor added.

Manatee Memorial Hospital was the only site to open in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Related Story: Omicron Cases Explode In Florida: See Latest CDC Data

With these sites now closing throughout the state, monoclonal antibody treatments will now be available through locally operated providers.

“The Florida Department of Health will continue to allocate doses of monoclonal antibodies to health care providers with high utilization rates and will ensure inventory levels meet county demand,” DOH-Manatee said.

Monoclonal antibody therapy treatment locations can be found at FloridaHealthCOVID19.gov and by using the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ treatment locator.