San Diegans now has an additional option to access a treatment that significantly reduces the symptoms of COVID-19 patients, with the opening of a monoclonal antibody treatment center (MARC) in Chula Vista.
The treatment is available free of charge, regardless of health insurance or immigration status, and a doctor’s referral is not required. San Diego County and San Ysidro Health Worked with Federal, State, and Community Partners to open the new facility in the former Chula Vista Fire Station # 5. This is the second MARC facility in the country.
The FDA has approved the use of combination monoclonal antibody therapies for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 in adults and children. Monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-produced proteins that mimic the immune system’s ability to fight viruses. The combination therapy has been shown to significantly reduce hospital visits and deaths in COVID-19 positive patients if administered within ten days after the onset of symptoms. It can also help people get back to work and return to their lives without the lingering symptoms of COVID-19.
In early February, the MARC of the Medical Center in the Palomar Center became the first in the province to be dedicated to this treatment model. The intravenous treatment lasts less than an hour and is for people who are at high risk for serious complications of COVID-19. Patients or providers can call (619) 685-2500 to schedule an appointment at one of the premises. The MARC at San Ysidro Health is open seven days a week from 08:00 to 17:00.