Opening of a COVID-19 treatment clinic at Butte hospital | Montana News

By AMY BETH HANSON, Associated Press

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) – The state has helped open a monoclonal antibody infusion clinic at St. James Health in Butte as part of an effort to reduce the severity of COVID-19 cases and free up beds of hospitals, Governor Greg Gianforte said Thursday.

The clinic is run by a private contractor and can treat up to 12 patients per day. While monoclonal antibody treatment is available in 41 counties, this clinic saves St. James from having to staff for treatment and allows them to be available for more days.

“Without a doubt, this new clinic here in St. James will save more lives,” said Gianforte.

Monoclonal antibodies have been approved for emergency use as a treatment for COVID-19 for people out of hospital within the first 10 days of symptom onset. They are also permitted as a preventative measure for people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, are at high risk for severe symptoms, and are not fully vaccinated.

They work by mimicking an immune system response to the coronavirus.

The new clinic in Butte is a pilot program and a model for clinics that can be set up in other communities, Gianforte said.

“While we know that monoclonal antibodies are a proven method of life-saving treatment, vaccines offer a proven method of life-saving prevention,” said Gianforte.

Montana is the second-largest state in the country in terms of the rate of new COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, according to data from Johns Hopkins.

As of Thursday, just over 500,000 Montanais were fully immunized, or 54% of the eligible population.

Gianforte has said he would like to see the vaccination rate increase, but creating a mandate would likely increase the reluctance of those not yet vaccinated. He encouraged people to talk to their healthcare provider and get a safe and effective vaccine.

Montana interviewed unvaccinated residents in an attempt to identify a message – and a messenger – to boost the state’s vaccination rate, said Adam Meier, director of the state’s health department.

The state is also ready to accept vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 as soon as they are approved and available, possibly early next month, said Maggie Cook-Shimanek, the acting medical officer of health.

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