The Regeneron monoclonal antibody treatment site at the Downtown Jacksonville Main Library opened Tuesday morning, offering a COVID-19 treatment option with no doctor referral needed. Monoclonal antibodies are a treatment authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for use in adult and pediatric patients (12 and older).
According to the Florida Department of Health, two groups of people are eligible for the treatment:
- Those with a positive COVID test
- High-risk people, including but not limited to: People who are exposed to COVID; people 65 years and older; those who are overweight; people who have chronic kidney, cardiac, or lung disease; diabetics, immunocompromised folks; people with sickle cell disease; those with neurodevelopmental issues such as cerebral palsy
Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s office said Monday night in an email to WJCT News that there is a standing order in Florida signed by the State Surgeon General that allows patients to receive this treatment without a prescription or referral if administered by an eligible health care provider.
That means anyone can show up and be evaluated to potentially receive the treatment. The clinic is open 7-days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the library’s Main Conference Center on the bottom floor of the library with an entrance on Main Street.
No appointments are required, but patients can register in advance here. The city said walk-up patients can expect to spend approximately 15 additional minutes registering on site.
Dr. Nick Dodaro is the chief medical officer for Crucial Care and GuideWell Emergency Doctors in Jacksonville. He said Tuesday on First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross[hear his interview here] that Crucial Care has administered about 500 infusions that artificially create antibodies.
“You put the antibodies in your bloodstream to help combat and fight off the virus in your blood. So they’ve created this medication that helps to act in the same way that your body can or should act in fighting off the virus," he said on the show.
There is no copay for the treatment. Insurance will be billed for administrative costs, but no one will be turned away due to the inability to pay, according to the state Health Department.
Two hours of free parking are available at:
- Library Parking Garage, only on the First Floor and First Floor Ramp.
- 33 W. Duval St. (Use the garage ramps to exit the garage onto Duval Street)
Some parking meters will also be marked Patient Parking on Duval Street between Ocean Street and Laura Street and on Monroe Street between Laura Street and Main Street.
The antibody treatment site is a partnership between the state and city.
While the clinic is operating, the rest of the library has been closed for building upgrades. Customer holds will be available when the library reopens. For library services, here are the city’s other library locations.
The Main Library’s reopening date wasn’t immediately announced.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
