A facility in High Springs is among the many monoclonal antibody treatment sites that are closing across the state after just a few months of being open. The Fellowship Church in High Springs hosted the clinic starting last August, but the site is closing on Friday in line with a state order.
Decreased demand based on a drop in the county’s COVID positivity rate and hospitalizations are why the monoclonal antibody treatment center is closing, according to Paul Myers, the administrator for the Alachua County Health Department.
The treatment proved to be highly effective in curtailing hospitalizations in Alachua County, Myers said.
“When we first started this we had over 450 people in local hospitals and that was on August 24th,” Myers said. “As of this week, we have less than 20.”
While the free, state-run location will no longer provide monoclonal antibody infusions starting Friday, four other options for receiving the treatment will be available for Alachua County residents.
Three locations in Gainesville are the UF Health Shands Hospital on Archer Road, North Florida Regional Medical Center on Newberry Road and Infectious Disease and Travel Medicine on NW 43rd Street. The fourth option, Myers said, ensures that residents who are housebound or in rural areas have access to the treatment as well. Gainesville Fire Rescue will be providing a mobile treatment option for those who cannot make it into the city.