Brevard COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment site moving from Merritt Island to Rockledge

Dave Berman and Amira Sweilem, Florida Today
·6 min read
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Brevard County's site for COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment will be moving from Merritt Island to Rockledge later this week.

The county said Wednesday would be the last day the facility will operate at Kiwanis Island Park on Merritt Island, where COVID-19 testing also has been available. That facility had been in operation since August.

The monoclonal antibody treatment involves getting four injections, two in the abdomen and one in each arm.
The monoclonal antibody treatment involves getting four injections, two in the abdomen and one in each arm.

The treatment and COVID-19 testing operation will reopen at 9 a.m. Friday at its new location, under an outdoor tented area at the Rockledge City Center at 920 Barton Blvd.

Separately, the county will be holding a series of special COVID-19 vaccination outreach events at local libraries in December and January, with a goal of increasing vaccination rates among children.

More: Brevard County has some of the lowest COVID-19 related death rates in months

More: Officials say Space Coast ready for a new surge in COVID-19 testing demand

Brevard County Communications Director Don Walker said the move of the monoclonal antibody treatment site is being make to allow the county's Kiwanis Island Park to return to normal operations, including the indoor facilities that were used for the treatments.

There have been 8,553 people who received the monoclonal antibody treatments at the Merritt Island site from Aug. 17 through Dec. 6.

During November, an average of 23 people a day received the treatment.

The treatment counts were higher during the spike in COVID-19 cases in August and September.

Monoclonal antibodies help the immune system recognize and respond effectively to the coronavirus. According to treatment guidelines, they should be administered as soon as possible after diagnosis.

The treatment includes a series of four shots — one in each arm and two in abdomen.

Monoclonal therapy is for patients diagnosed with COVID-19 or considered high risk if infected and weight at least 88 pounds.

A COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment site has been operating at Kiwanis Island Park on Merritt Island since August. The operation will move to Rockledge on Friday.
A COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment site has been operating at Kiwanis Island Park on Merritt Island since August. The operation will move to Rockledge on Friday.

During a previous county COVID-19 briefing, Brevard County Emergency Management Director John Scott said the antibodies provide a boost to the immune system of individuals who are experiencing mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms — not severe symptoms.

Scott emphasized that this treatment is not a replacement for vaccination, and that individuals still should get vaccinated.

Scott also reminded those seeking treatment to:

  • Eat and hydrate beforehand.

  • Take some form of entertainment, because the total time for registration, treatment and post-treatment observation can take up to two hours.

  • If you are experiencing symptoms, the sooner you go, the more effective the treatment will be.

"The goal of this treatment is to help keep people out of the hospital, to keep your symptoms at a medium to mild range, and really help us decompress our overall hospital system," Scott said. "It is a treatment, primarily for those who are sick with COVID symptoms or believe they have a close exposure to someone who is COVID-positive, and them themselves are either severely vulnerable to COVID or immunocompromised."

Appointments for monoclonal therapy can be made at www.patientportalfl.com. Walk-up patients also are being accepted.

COVID-19 testing is available for all ages.

Testing and monoclonal antibody treatments are available at no cost to patients, although insurance information will be requested.

Hours of operation for the new Rockledge City Center site will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.

The new testing and treatment site is in the southwest corner of the Rockledge City Center parking lot, which is at the intersection of Barton and Fiske boulevards.

There will be no testing or monoclonal treatments at either the Kiwanis Island Park or the Rockledge City Center locations on Thursday, as the site contractor works to move operations from Merritt Island to Rockledge.

A COVID-19 testing site remains in operation in West Melbourne, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the Field of Dreams Park.

COVID-19 vaccinations

Meanwhile, the Florida Department of Health is offering COVID-19 vaccines at three sites:

  • Melbourne clinic, 601 E. University Blvd., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday.

  • Titusville clinic, 611 N. Singleton Ave., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on Friday.

  • Viera clinic, 2555 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Those ages 5-11 can get vaccinated only from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Additionally, Brevard County Emergency Management, in partnership with Brevard County Libraries, the Department of Health-Brevard and Health Heroes, will hold a series of COVID-19 vaccination outreach events throughout the county for children ages 5 and older.

While targeted specifically to increase vaccine access for children, vaccines also will be made available for adults seeking a first dose or second dose and boosters.

The two-dose Pfizer vaccine — which has been approved both for children ages 5 to 17 and for adults 18 and older — will be available. Also available will be the two-dose Moderna vaccine and the one-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine for adults.

Parents or guardians must accompany a child getting vaccinated.

Here is where vaccinations can be obtained:

  • Palm Bay Library, 1520 Port Malabar Blvd. NE, Palm Bay: First dose available Wednesday, Dec. 15, noon to 7:30 p.m.; second dose available Wednesday, Jan. 12, noon to 7:30 p.m.

  • Franklin T. DeGroodt Public Library, 6475 Minton Road, Palm Bay: First dose available Thursday, Dec. 16, noon to 7:30 p.m.; second dose available Thursday, Jan. 13, noon to 7:30 p.m.

  • Port St. John Library, 6500 Carole Ave., Port St. John: First dose available Friday, Dec. 17, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; second dose available Friday, Jan. 14, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

  • Eau Gallie Library, 1521 Pineapple Ave., Melbourne: First dose available Monday, Dec. 20, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; second dose available Thursday, Jan. 20, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

COVID-19 vaccines also are available at pharmacies at various local CVS, Publix, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, Walmart and Winn-Dixie stores, as well as some urgent-care centers and physician offices.

Go to www.Vaccines.gov to find the available sites. Some sites require reservations, while others allow walk-ins.

Latest data

According to the latest Florida Department of Health data, there were 262 COVID-19 cases reported in Brevard County during the week of Nov. 26 through Dec. 2.

Case counts have decreased significantly from their peaks over the summer.

In all, there have been 81,839 reported cases in Brevard since the pandemic began, representing 13.4% of the county's population.

In Brevard, 384,548 people have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or 62.9% of the population.

Statewide, there have been 3,697,523 COVID-19 cases; 61,701 COVID-19-related deaths; and 14,418,089 people vaccinated.

Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Today: COVID-19 monoclonal treatment site moving from Merritt Island to Rockledge