A new treatment for people exposed to the coronavirus, but not yet vaccinated, is being tested in England.
The tests at the University College London Hospitals (UCLH) NHS Trust are testing whether those recently exposed to the coronavirus could receive any measure of protection by direct injections of antibodies, according to the BBC.
“We know that this combination of antibodies can neutralize the virus, so we hope to find that giving this treatment by injection can lead to immediate protection against the development of COVID-19 in people who have been exposed – when it would be too late to offer a vaccine,” UCLH virologist Dr. Catherine Houlihan told the news service.
It may take weeks for vaccines to offer full immunity to the virus, as the body accumulates the necessary antibodies. The goal of post-exposure treatment is to provide an alternative – and more immediate – method of protection for those who cannot receive the vaccine.
The antibodies can provide protection against the coronavirus for up to a year, say the researchers who add that they do not seek to offer the treatment as an alternative for those who may receive the vaccine.
Testing has only begun in London, with the first results expected this spring.