By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Dr. Scott Pauly with the Hutchinson Clinic wants to be sure that potential COVID-19 patients know that there are really multiple strategies to help battle the virus.
"I would like people to reconsider their immunization status if they haven't chosen to get immunized yet, because that really and truly is the ultimate fix for all of this," Pauly said. "The mask is really just a temporary fix to slow the transmission and avoid overwhelming the ERs and hospitals."
However, if you think you're sick, you should get tested. There is a therapy that works.
"These are monoclonal antibodies, typically administered by IV infusion," Pauly said. "We started using them in the mid-fall last year with early but promising studies. Over the last six to seven months, those studies have grown more robust and have shown us that they're even better than we initially thought. Typically, with a reduction in hospitalization and death in the high-risk cohort of 70% and upwards."
The treatments are so effective that Pauly wishes the CDC would say more about them, but really it comes down to three strategies.
"The vaccines really are the most important thing and I wish everybody would get them," Pauly said. "After that, you use things like masking to help slow the transmission, because this is going to get really, really bad here, really quick. If you do get it and there's a level of, possibly regret for how you got it, put that aside. Get tested as soon as you can. If you're positive, get evaluated for the monoclonal antibodies. If we get to that point, interrupting your condition and illness then to avoid additional progression to hospitalization and death will be our last option."
Pauly wants to continue to spread the message about the antibody infusion so that more places in Kansas can use it effectively, should they have a continued spike in cases.