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Kentuckians Have New Tool to Find Scarce Supplies of Monoclonal Antibodies

J. Tyler Franklin

Kentuckians can now go online and find the nearest medical facility that has monoclonal anti-bodies to help treat COVID-19.

The treatments can be very effective for those with mild symptoms and no underlying health conditions. The lab-created anti-bodies boost the immune system and can keep some patients from being hospitalized. 

With the surge of the Delta variant, monoclonal antibodies grew in demand, resulting in a nationwide shortage. 

Now, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is limiting how many treatments states receive each week. 

During a news conference on Thursday, Kentucky Public Health Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said each state’s allotment depends on certain criteria.

“We have to utilize 70 percent or more of the antibodies shipped or else any state that uses less than that risks having a reduction the following week," explained Stack. "That’s done to make sure the antibodies are going places where the demand is most and they’re getting into patients as quickly as possible.”

The number of treatments states receive also depends on their weekly case count and the number of people hospitalized with the virus. Kentucky received 802 fewer treatments this week than it did last week. 

Before the shortage, the commonwealth had 139 sites offering monoclonal antibodies, but that’s been reduced to 51 regional locations.  The Kentucky Department for Public Health is now posting those locations at kycovid19.ky.gov.

Lisa is a Scottsville native and WKU alum. She has worked in radio as a news reporter and anchor for 18 years. Prior to joining WKU Public Radio, she most recently worked at WHAS in Louisville and WLAC in Nashville. She has received numerous awards from the Associated Press, including Best Reporter in Kentucky. Many of her stories have been heard on NPR.
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