In the battle against COVID-19, La Clinica sprang into action to provide triage and testing to identify cases and to protect the community with vaccine. It was also one of the first in the county to provide injections of monoclonal antibodies—virus-fighting proteins created in a lab to thwart the coronavirus—for high-risk patients.
Some research shows the treatment can reduce the chance a patient at risk of serious illness will need hospitalization by 70% or more, offering patients and providers alike new hope.
Elfega Melendez was among the first of nearly four dozen patients La Clinica has treated since late summer with monoclonal antibodies.
Since the beginning of the pandemic Elfega, now 69, and her family worried that COVID-19 could be devastating for her. A variety of health conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis, and digestive problems make her vulnerable to serious complications.
After spending four months in Mexico this year hoping to avoid the virus and getting her first dose of vaccine, she attended a family gathering to celebrate her return to the Rogue Valley. Most of the people at the party were vaccinated or had recovered from COVID-19. One person was feeling sick but didn’t think it was anything serious.
Within days, Elfega was sick, too. Martina Melendez, who assists her mother with interpreting, reading, and writing as Elfega speaks only Spanish, took her mom to La Clinica’s Acute Care Clinic. A test showed Elfega had COVID-19 and she was offered monoclonal antibodies, getting four injections of the treatment.
“This is a useful tool to keep people out of hospitals,” said family nurse practitioner Heather Friend, medical director at the clinic.
Throughout much of the pandemic, she sent most newly diagnosed COVID patients home with quarantine instructions, connections to support like help with grocery shopping if needed, and a list of serious symptoms to watch for.
“I’ve had to say ‘I hope you don’t get much sicker,’ but medicine didn’t have much to offer,” Friend said.
Providing monoclonal antibodies made a quick and dramatic difference for Elfega.
“The next day she had no symptoms,” Martina said.
The coughing, body aches, and fever were all gone, and she was able to recover fully at home.
“My mom is fine now,” Martina said. “We are really thankful for La Clinica and this treatment.”