Since being implemented on Oct. 25, the uptake for Monoclonal Antibody therapy has been underwhelming, according to Saskatchewan Health Authority numbers. 

The SHA estimated that it would be performing five to seven treatments per day. However, the reality is that there have been under 10 treatments in the past week. 

Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone noted that Saskatchewan was looking at 500 new cases per day when this was implemented and those numbers have since dropped. 

“Despite best efforts, you know, it's kind of like having 4,000 a day testing capacity. We can have that capacity, but people don't access it, it's indicated as a failure of the system or the SHA where we built this capacitive and people aren't using it,” Livingstone explained. 

Another reason for the low numbers is the criteria in order to be eligible. 

Monoclonal Antibody therapy is only available for COVID-19 patients who have not been vaccinated and certain immunocompromised COVID-19 patients regardless of vaccination status that have been symptomatic within five days and are 55 years or older or 18 years and older with specific high-risk co-morbidity. 

“There's a narrow therapeutic window for pre-hospital monoclonals. But we already know that many people by the time they realize they’re unwell and are tested for COVID, they are already in the ER,” said Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab. 

Patients must have a referral in order to receive Monoclonal Antibody treatments and cannot be self-referred. 

Currently, they are only available at existing SHA testing and treatment sites in Regina and Saskatoon. However, the SHA is looking to expand sites into other communities in the future.