The best tool residents have against COVID-19 is vaccination, but another tool to help fight serious COVID-19 illness is monoclonal antibodies, according to health officials.

Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that can help your body fight off COVID-19 and reduce the risk of severe disease and hospitalization – if administered to high-risk patients soon after diagnosis. These antibodies mimic the immune system’s ability to fight off harmful viruses like SARS-CoV-2, and they attack the virus and reduce its ability to spread through your body. If you test positive for COVID-19 and would like to receive a monoclonal antibody (mAb) infusion, you are urged to discuss a medical evaluation and/or referral with your healthcare provider.

Who is eligible?
1) Individuals who have tested positive for COVID-19– mAb infusion should be administered within 10 days of symptom onset or positive COVID-19 test, whichever came first.
2) Vulnerable individuals over the age of 12 who have had a significant exposure to COVID-19, but may not yet test positive themselves.

You can check out a map of mAb sites across the state at Health.Mo.Gov. At state-operated sites, there is no cost as all costs are paid by the state.