JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The site is moving to the Jacksonville Public Library downtown and will be able to treat triple the number of patients it usually does.
The city says the Regeneron site at the library will be open to people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and for those who have been exposed and are at a high risk of getting really sick or hospitalized.
Action News Jax’s Dani Bozzini spoke with a local father who received the treatment a week and a half ago.
Daniel VanTice explains, “It helped me tremendously.”
RELATED STORY: Everything you need to know about new COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment in Jacksonville
VanTice is feeling normal again, but three weeks ago, it was a different story.
“I have no doubt in my mind that if I hadn’t been vaccinated, I would’ve been in the hospital. I mean I was getting that close.”
He had almost all the symptoms associated with Covid-19 — loss of smell and taste, fatigue, fever, and body aches.
He says the scariest symptoms came about six to seven days after testing positive.
“I was taking deep breaths. I couldn’t catch my breath and that’s when I spoke to my doctor and he said I need to call Mayo and see if I qualify for the monoclonal antibody treatment.”
He was able to get the treatment the very next day. VanTice received it through an IV.
VanTice explains, “I was nervous because you just don’t know but really it was painless. Just chill out and let it do its work.”
He explains that 48 hours after the treatment, “I didn’t have any issues of having to take a deep breath or running out of breath. I had about 90% of my taste and smell back. The fatigue, I wasn’t having any issues.”
This is why he hopes others will consider going for the treatment.
“If you qualify for it and you can get it, go for it…I mean it really helped me tremendously. It was a pretty quick turnaround.”
According to a tweet from Gov. DeSantis, the Jax Library site will be able to handle more than 300 appointments each day.
The site will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 7 days a week.
Location:
Jacksonville Main Public Library Conference Center
Please enter through the Main Street Entrance
304 North Main Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Hours of Operation:
Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Parking:
Two hours of free parking will be available at the following locations
-Library Parking Garage
Only First Floor and First Floor Ramp
-33 West Duval Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Please use the garage ramps to exit the garage onto Duval Street
-You may also use any Parking Meter parking spot marked Patient Parking located on:
Duval Street between Ocean Street and Laura Street
Monroe Street between Laura Street and Main Street
***The Main Library will be closed starting Tuesday, August 17 for building upgrades. Customer holds will be available when the library reopens. For Library services, please visit other Library locations (www.jaxpubliclibrary.org/locations).
RELATED: New COVID-19 monoclonal antibody treatment units deployed in Jacksonville, long-term site opens
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