A LETTER TO PROBES SIX TEEN DAYS -- PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN 16
DAYS -- PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN 16
DAYS AGO BUT THEY’VE NOT HEARD
BACK.
>>> IT’S ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL WEAPONS TO BEAT
COVID-19. RECOVER FAR MORE QUICKLY AND
RECOVER FAR MORE QUICKLY AND
AVOID WINDING UP IN THE
HOSPITAL.
WE’RE TALKING ABOUT MONOCLONAL
ANTIBODIES INFUSIONS.
RATHER COMPLEX AND EXPENSIVE
TREATMENT THAT REQUIRES YOU TO
BE HOOKED UP TO AN I.V. BAG. MOST OF US HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO
MOST OF US HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO
IDEA WHAT THIS TREATMENT
INVOLVES.
WHO CAN GET IT, OR WHAT IT’S
GOING TO COST OF THE SO TONIGHT
INVESTIGATOR BILL SPENCER BREAKS IT ALL DOWN ANSWERING SOME OF
IT ALL DOWN ANSWERING SOME OF
YOUR BIGGEST QUESTIONS. >> Reporter: AT 65 YEARS OLD,
>> Reporter: AT 65 YEARS OLD,
LANCEON IS A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
WHO SPENT HIS WHOLE CAREER
TRANSFORMING PEOPLE’S YARDS INTO
BEAUTIFUL GREEN LIVING WORKS OF ART.
BUT WHEN HE CONTRACTED COVID-19
LAST MONTH, LANCEON WHO IS NOT
VACCINATED FEARED HIS OWN LIFE WOULD BE CUT SHORT.
WOULD BE CUT SHORT.
>> COVID BIT ME.
IT STUNG ME LIKE A BEE AND I
THOUGHT, OH, MY GOD!
I HAVE GOT TO TAKE CARE OF THIS RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I’VE HEARD
RIGHT AWAY BECAUSE I’VE HEARD
PEOPLE THAT END UP GOING
DOWNHILL REALLY FAST.
>> Reporter: THAT’S WHEN HE
JOINED THE MORE THAN ONE MILLION AMERICANS INCLUDING FORMER
AMERICANS INCLUDING FORMER
PRESIDENT TRUM AND GOVERNOR
GREG ABBOTT TO RECEIVE AN
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES, SHOWN TO
SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE SYMPTOMS AND REDUCE THE RISK OF
AND REDUCE THE RISK OF
HOSPITALIZATION BY 70%.
>> THESE THERAPIES WORK BY
BASICALLY HINDERING THE VIRUS’S ABILITY TO ENTER HUMAN CELLS.
ABILITY TO ENTER HUMAN CELLS.
AND THAT GIVES YOUR IMMUNE
SYSTEM AN ADVANTAGE IN CATCHING
UP TO THE VIRUS.
>> Reporter: AT HOUSTON
METHODIST DOCTORS RECOMMEND BEING VACCINATED TO PREVENT
BEING VACCINATED TO PREVENT
SEVERE ILLNESS, BUT THEY’VE USED
THIS TREATMENT SINCE LAST
NOVEMBER, PROVIDING MORE THAN
12,000 ANTIBODY TREATMENTS AT NO
COST. >> AS OF NOW, THE FEDERAL
>> AS OF NOW, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS PAYING FOR THE
DRUG.
AND SO THERE’S NO DIRECT COST TO
THE PATIENTS. I HAVEN’T HEARD OF ANYBODY BEING
I HAVEN’T HEARD OF ANYBODY BEING
DENIED A VISIT LIKE THIS OR
DENIED COVERAGE.
>> Reporter: BUT NOT EVERYBODY
CAN GET THIS INFUSION TREATMENT. TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST HAVE TESTED
TO QUALIFY, YOU MUST HAVE TESTED
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 AND BE
WITHIN 10 DAYS OF SYMPTOM ONSET.
BE 65 YEARS OF AGE OR COLDER, OR BE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK WITH ANY
BE CONSIDERED HIGH RISK WITH ANY
OF THESE SEVEN CONDITIONS.
OKAY, SO NOW REGISTERED NURSE
BREANNA RODRIGUEZ AND I ARE
GOING TO TAKE YOU THROUGH THE
MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES INFUSION
WORKS. WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU’RE
WHAT’S THE FIRST THING YOU’RE
GOING TO DO TO ME?
>> BILL, I’M GOING TO TAKE YOUR
VITAL SIGNS TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE
HEALTHY ENOUGH TO GET THE
INFUSION.
I’M GOING TO TAKE YOUR BLOOD
PRESSURE.
I’M GOING TO TAKE YOUR TEMPERATURE.
NOW I’M GOING TO TAKE THE
REGENERON, DRAW IT UP, AND PUT
IT INTO YOUR BAG.
THIS IS THE PART WHERE I STICK A
NEEDLE INTO YOUR VEIN AND CONNECT YOU TO YOUR INFUSION FOR
CONNECT YOU TO YOUR INFUSION FOR
20 MINUTES.
>> Reporter: THE REJOANON IS
IN -- REGENERON IS IN THE BIG?
>> YES.
>> Reporter: AND IT JUST DRIPS?
>> FOR 20 MINUTES. >> Reporter: HE SAYS THE
>> Reporter: HE SAYS THE
INFUSION WORKED AMAZINGLY FAST.
>> MY GOSH.
ONE -- ONE TO THAT INFUSION
CENTER. WITHIN 24 HOURS THE NEXT MORNING
WITHIN 24 HOURS THE NEXT MORNING
AROUND 10:00, I FEEL FANTASTIC!
>> IT’S DEFINITELY ONE OF THE
BEST TOOLS WE HAVE RIGHT NOW IN
THE BAG.
AND HOPEFULLY WE’LL HAVE BETTER
TOOLS IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE. >> Reporter: NOW, TO BE
>> Reporter: NOW, TO BE
PERFECTLY CLEAR, I WAS NEVER
ACTUALLY GIVEN THAT MONO
INFUSION, THAT WAS JUST A
DEMONSTRATION.
AGAIN, DOCTORS SAY THE VERY BEST
WAY TO AVOID BECOMING ILL IS TO GET VACCINATED.
GET VACCINATED.
BUT IF YOU NEED IT, THERE ARE
LITERALLY DOZENS OF DIFFERENT
HOSPITALS AND HEALTHCARE
PROVIDERS ALL OVER OUR AREA
OFFERING THESE INFUSIONS.
IF YOU GO TO CLICK2HOUSTON.COM, WE HAVE A SPECIAL INTERACTIVE
WE HAVE A SPECIAL INTERACTIVE
MAP THAT SHOWS A WHOLE LIST OF
THE PLACES WHERE YOU CAN GO TO
GET THE ANTIBODY INFUSIONS.