All 3 of Hospitality Health Emergency Rooms are offering this life-changing antibody treatment. So, what is BAM?
The 24/7 Hospitality Health Emergency Rooms in Tyler, Galveston, and Longview are all extremely excited to announce that BAM (bamlanivimab) is now offered at each of our locations. BAM is at the forefront of COVID-19 treatments and is not only proven effective, but can significantly decrease your chance of hospitalization.
This service is unlike any other treatment offered because it can 1) reverse the dangerous side effects that COVID-19 can bring and 2) can be received the same day you visit one of our 3 locations. Based on Dr. Kelly’s personal experience treating patients, the medical director at HHER’s Longview location said:
“in at-risk populations, if they get this medication in a timely manner, we have seen a dramatic decrease in the need for future hospitalization by as much as 80%.”
How is BAM effective against COVID-19?
According to the FDA, bamlavinimab was shown in clinical trials to reduce COVID-19-related hospitalization or emergency room visits in patients at high risk for disease progression within 28 days after treatment when compared to placebo. Once the BAM antibodies are given to you, your body will start to fight and neutralize the virus. Your immune system doesn’t create antibodies for COVID-19 until day 10, and at that time, it could be too late. This treatment will bridge that gap and will act as an effective defense against the virus.
Those who are more vulnerable to the virus will benefit greatly from this treatment because it will reverse the side effects that their body would normally experience: blood clots, pneumonia, organ failure, etc. BAM is a single-dose treatment and is given within 10 days of developing symptoms. That makes it not only an effective treatment, but quick to get patients feeling better.
What is BAM?
Bamlanivimab is an antibody that was derived from recovered COVID-19 patients. The drug is a monoclonal antibody treatment that blocks COVID-19 from entering a cell. This is extremely important because once coronavirus enters a cell, it increases the chance of potential hospitalization.
BAM, created by Eli Lilly, was authorized for emergency use by the FDA following clinical trials. The analysis looked at 465 non-hospitalized adults with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms who were considered high-risk and vulnerable. Out of the 465 patients, a placebo was given to 156 individuals. The remaining 309 patients were given one of three different doses of bamlanivimab.
Patients treated with the monoclonal antibody had a reduced risk of being hospitalized or visiting the ER within 28 days after treatment, compared to patients given a placebo.
So, what is a monoclonal antibody exactly?
So, what is a monoclonal antibody exactly? According to the FDA, monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced molecules that act as substitute antibodies that can restore, enhance, or mimic the immune system’s attack on cells.
Harvard Health Publishing describes monoclonal antibodies as “manmade versions of the antibodies that our bodies naturally make to fight invaders, such as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These FDA-approved therapies attack the coronavirus’s spike protein, making it more difficult for the virus to attach to and enter human cells.
Who is qualified to receive BAM?
Anyone who has received a positive test result of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) can receive the treatment if they are considered high-risk or at-risk of hospitalization. The only other factors are that you must be at least 12 years old and you must weigh over 88 pounds. Those who are at-risk usually are individuals with pre-existing medical conditions (obesity, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, immunocompromised, etc.).
If you are experiencing any of the COVID-19 symptoms, schedule your test today. If your results come back positive and you fear future health complications resulting from the coronavirus, please visit one of our emergency rooms located in Tyler, Longview, or Galveston.
If you or someone you love qualifies for and is interested in receiving the BAM treatment, contact Hospitality Health ER today. We are so happy to offer the BAM treatment and are even happier to protect your health and prevent hospitalization.
For more BAM updates, visit our BAM treatment page. For more COVID-19 updates, safety tips, and to learn what Hospitality Health ER is offering, visit our COVID-19 response page. For updates and notifications, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.
