.jpg)
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state of Florida has provided nearly 30,000 monoclonal antibody treatments to patients statewide at the 21 state treatment sites. Governor DeSantis was joined by Lieutenant Governor Nuñez; federal, state, and local officials; recovered treatment recipients; and family members of treatment recipients at three stops to discuss the life-saving benefits of the treatment.
“As of this morning, the state of Florida through our 21 different sites has been able to provide nearly 30,000 treatments of monoclonal antibodies all throughout our state,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “If you look at the numbers, admissions for COVID to hospitals are down, visits to the emergency department for COVID-like illness are down, and the COVID-positive hospital census is also down.”
“These monoclonal antibodies are preventing severe illness, they are reducing hospitalization, and quite frankly, they are saving lives,” said Lt. Governor Jeanette Nuñez. “My 82 year old aunt and my 85 year old mother, both fully vaccinated, tested positive for COVID-19. The doctor told me not to wait and to make sure they got this treatment right away. I saw how quickly they recovered and how we were able to stave off significant symptoms and hospitalization. We are proud of the work that our administration has accomplished to ensure Floridians throughout our state have access to this incredible treatment.”
“I want to thank Governor DeSantis once again for aggressively deploying this therapy in Florida,” said Congressman Neil Dunn. “Speaking as a doctor — not a congressman — if you have any symptoms, if you test positive, go get the monoclonal antibody treatment. It’s just that simple: Earlier is much, much better. The reason we have it so available here in Florida is Governor DeSantis.”
“I’m glad that Governor DeSantis gave people access to these treatments,” said Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry. “We can see a correlation in the decline in hospitalizations from the time these treatments became widely available to the public. It is saving lives.”
“I had breakthrough symptoms of COVID and immediately got tested,” said Representative Cord Byrd. “I consulted with my physician and was able to get the monoclonal antibodies and it lessened the severity of my symptoms and kept me out of the hospital. This is not a virus that you’re going to ‘tough out.’ My advice to everyone is as soon as you have signs or symptoms, get tested, talk to your doctor, and get early treatment as quickly as possible.”
“I was on day nine [of symptoms] when I received the Regeneron treatment,” said Toma Dean, a mother of two who received monoclonal antibodies at the Jacksonville site. “I had a 105-degree fever, oxygen levels in the 70s and 80s, had been given fluids at the hospital, and was sent home. I was heading for an ICU bed or high flow oxygen, there was no doubt in my mind. I have two kids; I need to be here for them. I went to the Regeneron site where a photo of me went viral. If you look at that photo and you think you’re half that sick, get up today and go to a Regeneron site. It will save your life.”
“Vaccines are the key,” said Dr. Ulyee Choe, Director of the Florida Department of Health in Pinellas County. “And while we have seen some breakthrough cases, it still remains effective in preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines are readily available in the pharmacies, medical clinics, and health departments locally and we continue to work with our partners — churches, businesses — to really push it out there. The monoclonal antibody therapy is certainly an important tool in the toolbox, shown to decrease hospitalization risk by 70 to 75 percent. I want to thank the Governor for making that access available at our site at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church.”
“Several weeks ago I came down with symptoms that I had heard about that resembled COVID: bad headache, mild fever, and body aches,” said Mike Jaroch, a monoclonal antibody recipient. “The next morning I went to a facility that offered both a test, which showed that I was positive, as well as the Regeneron treatment. When I tested positive, they administered the treatment. I went to bed early and when I woke up on Tuesday morning, all the primary symptoms were completely gone. No headaches, no fever, no body aches, anything. For me, [monoclonal antibody treatment] was quite amazing and a miraculous thing. I appreciate [the Governor] educating and getting this information out because without it, I don’t know what my results would have been.”
“My father, Louis S. Baron, is a World War II veteran who worked on the Doolittle planes and helped train the Tuskegee Airmen,” said Deborah Levine, Mr. Baron’s daughter. “Unfortunately, my dad went to a skilled nursing facility for rehab after he slipped and fell on June 23rd. The Monday before he was set to leave rehab, I got a call telling me that my dad had contracted COVID-19. I was beside myself. I had seen Governor DeSantis’ press conference about Regeneron and after a week of attempting to get my father the treatment, my daughter decided to write a letter to Governor DeSantis. That very night at 8:30pm, Dr. Kenneth Scheppke, the Governor’s emergency medical physician, called and asked what was going on with my dad. He had received my daughter’s letter and said he would bring in a strike team facilitated by the Governor’s office to give my father the infusion at the rehab facility. A miracle! All our prayers had been answered. Not only did my father receive the treatment, but all the residents at the rehab facility who needed it received it. Thank you to our wonderful Governor Ron DeSantis.”
“I tested positive for COVID and one of my friends reached out to see how I was doing,” said Nick Hall, a lieutenant in the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. “He was aware of the Regerneron treatment, which I had never heard of. He said as soon as you start feeling bad you need to get it and you need to get it quick. After a few days, I felt completely run down. My wife urged me to make the phone call, so I did. Friday evening I got the treatment at the hospital in Bonifay. Saturday I already felt better. Sunday I felt like nothing was going on. Monday I made a phone call to work asking to go back. Wednesday I was back at work like nothing had happened. I truly believe that my condition would have worsened had I not gotten the Regeneron. I’m grateful that I had some friends who made me aware of it and I thank the Governor for making everybody aware that it’s available for you.”
“By day four of my COVID infection, I felt like I was knocking on death’s door,” said Amanda Watson, director of an assisted living facility in Bay County. “I was given the monoclonal infusion on a Thursday and by Saturday I felt 100% better. It was a game changer. Since then, I have had several people reach out to me asking, ‘What did you do?’ I recommended it. They’ve had it. And they’ve had great results, as well. There is no doubt that had I not had that infusion, I was heading right on into the hospital, so it was definitely a game changer.”
State of Florida monoclonal antibody sites are located at:
Alachua County
Fellowship Church
16916 Northwest U.S. Highway 441
High Springs, Florida 32643
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Bay County
Bay County Fairgrounds
2230 East 15th Street
Panama City, Florida 32405
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Brevard County
Kiwanis Island Park
951 Kiwanis Island Park Road
Merritt Island, Florida 32952
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Broward County
C.B. Smith Park
900 North Flamingo Road
Pembroke Pines, Florida 33028
Hours: 7 days a week; 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Charlotte County
Tringali Community Center
3460 North Access Road
Englewood, Florida 34224
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Collier County
Old Dollar General
1500 Lake Trafford Road
Immokalee, Florida 34142
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Duval County
Jacksonville Public Library
304 North Main Street
Jacksonville, Florida 32202
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Hillsborough County
Kings Forest Park
8008 East Chelsea Street
Tampa, Florida 33610
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Lee County
Old Bonita Springs Library
26876 Pine Avenue
Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Leon County
Vacant Sears
1500 Apalachee Parkway
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Manatee County
Manatee Memorial Hospital Complex
206 2nd Street East
Bradenton, Florida 34208
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Miami-Dade County
Tropical Park
7900 Southwest 40 Street
Miami, Florida 33155
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Okaloosa County
Northwest Florida Fairgrounds
1958 Lewis Turner Boulevard
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32547
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Orange County
Camping World Stadium
1 Citrus Bowl Place
Orlando, Florida 32805
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Palm Beach County
West Gate Park
3691 Oswego Avenue
West Palm Beach, Florida 33409
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Pasco County
Fasano Center
11611 Denton Avenue
Hudson, Florida 34667
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 a.m.
Pinellas County
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church
409 South Old Coachman Road
Clearwater, Florida 33765
Hours: Monday – Saturday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Polk County
Church at the Mall
1010 East Memorial Boulevard
Lakeland, Florida 33801
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
St. Lucie County
Havert L. Fenn Center
2000 Virginia Avenue
Fort Pierce, Florida 34982
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sumter County
Barnstorm Theater
2720 Brownwood Boulevard
The Villages, Florida 32163
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Volusia County
Ormond Beach Senior Center
351 Andrews Street
Ormond Beach, Florida 32174
Hours: 7 days a week, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
To find locations to receive monoclonal antibody treatments around the entire state, please visit floridahealthcovid19.gov.
###
.jpg)
