CHARLOTTE, N.C. — StarMed Healthcare, one of the largest COVID-19 testing and vaccination providers in the Charlotte area, announced it will offer a new drug to help people with weakened immune systems from getting infected with the virus.
The new drug, Evusheld, is administered to patients before infection. StarMed claimed in a press release that the drug can reduce someone's chances of getting COVID-19 by up to 83% and reduce deaths by up to 50%.
Evusheld isn't available to everyone. To be eligible for the new monoclonal antibody drug, a person must meet the following criteria:
- You can't have COVID-19 or have been recently exposed
- You must have a health condition that prevents your body from developing a strong immune response to vaccination
- You can't be vaccinated because of severe allergic reactions
- Must be at least 12 years old and weigh at least 88 pounds
StarMed will offer Evusheld treatment as its monoclonal treatment centers in Charlotte, Gastonia, Fayetteville, Jacksonville and New Bern. The drug is administered via two injections with the second dose immediately following the first.
StarMed announced Monday that some of its testing locations will be closed Monday due to severe weather that moved through the Charlotte area. Other clinics were operating on a two-hour delay due to the weather.
WCNC Charlotte is part of seven major media companies and other local institutions reporting on and engaging the community around the problems and solutions as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a project of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, which is supported by the Local Media Project, an initiative launched by the Solutions Journalism Network with support from the Knight Foundation to strengthen and reinvigorate local media ecosystems. See all of our reporting at charlottejournalism.org.
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