3 minute read
JESSICA KING Q&A
Monoclonal infusion, doorstep delivered
PROVIDED University studies journalism junior Jessica King said while receiving a monoclonal infusion in her apartment, medical staff were fully equipped in medical suits, masks and faceshields.
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By Lindsey Golden
Coronavirus treatment rolled up to Texas A&M student Jessica King’s door three days after she received a positive COVID-19 test. The mobile infusion center is available for A&M students, faculty and staff who test positive and have a referral from a doctor to receive monoclonal infusion. The monoclonal antibodies are laboratory-made proteins that mimic the body’s own immune system’s ability to fight off harmful antigens, including the coronavirus, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website.
To receive the treatment through A&M, an individual must be symptomatic, but have mild symptoms, not be hospitalized, not require oxygen therapy and have not had the coronavirus for more than 10 days after symptoms develop. King was in isolation when interviewed but has since ended her quarantine.
Q: How did you react when your test came back positive?
A: I honestly wasn’t surprised because I had been showing symptoms a couple hours before. But on the other hand, I was taken aback because I felt like I had been very cautious and I had been doing all things, washing my hands, making sure I wasn’t touching my face and all that other stuff. This was my first time getting COVID, so I had gone this long without getting COVID. I knew it was bound to happen eventually, so I guess I was more bummed out than shocked.
Q: Are you getting support?
A: It’s not been hard to get support. Everyone that I’ve contacted [such as] my apartment complex and my friends [are] helping out, everyone’s been very supportive and cooperative.
Q: Was it hard to isolate?
A: No, not really, because both my roommate and I have [the virus], so it has been easy to navigate sharing the common areas and stuff.
Q: Have your professors been helpful?
A: Yes, every one of my professors has reached out to me to try to make it as easy as possible these next couple of weeks. A lot of my classes, as far as the coursework goes, [have] been published online since the beginning of the semester, so it wasn’t really a hard transition at all, and I think it’s going very smoothly.
Q: Did you tell anyone you had COVID?
A: I just told my family at first, then my roommate, and then I needed several things, so I texted my friends. But I’m not super concerned about keeping it private because I feel like everyone’s going to get COVID at one point or another, so it is not something to be ashamed about.
Q: What was getting the monoclonal infusion like?
A: It was actually a very quick and smooth process, and they came to my apartment, which was nice. They hooked me up to an IV, took my vitals really fast and the infusion only lasted about 20 minutes. They then took my vitals again, took the IV out and stayed at my apartment for about an hour just to check my vitals periodically, probably every 15 minutes or so to make sure I was still stable before they left. But the nursing assistant was very kind and cooperative. It was a very smooth process, and I would personally recommend it because I am feeling a whole lot better since I got it.
A: I would say that, with my symptoms and everything I was feeling, about a six or seven. My symptoms were pretty mild to begin with, but I was still feeling groggy, and I wasn’t feeling 100 percent.
A: Afterward, I was probably down to like about a four, and the day after, I was almost down to a two. I barely had any symptoms. The only thing I’ve been feeling ... for the past couple of days is that I’m stuffy, but as far as energy levels and everything goes, I felt back to normal.
Q: Are you vaccinated?
A: No.
Q: Do you plan on getting vaccinated?
A: I’m not sure right now.
Q: Has getting COVID made you think more about it in any way?
A: It has, but I don’t feel super rushed to make a decision right now.
