CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois is getting the largest initial shipment of a newly approved COVID-19 antibody therapy drug, and it’s not for a very good reason.
The federal government this week approved the use of an Eli Lilly antibody therapy drug, and shipments are going to states based their case counts and hospitalizations.
Illinois, which reported 12,657 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday and 145 additional deaths, is getting eight percent of the 79,350 total vials - or 6,400 vials, according to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Texas is getting the next-largest shipment, with 5,780 vials.
According to Crain's Chicago Business, the FDA granted emergency-use authorization Monday to Eli Lilly’s bamlanivimab. The federal government has purchased 300,000 doses of the intravenous drug for $375 million. Under the agreement, the government has the option to purchase up to an additional 650,000 vials through June 30, 2021.
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The drug is is being used for the treatment of mild to moderate COVID-19 patients who are at risk for severe symptoms.
Additionally on Wednesday, state health officials asked people to stay home as much as possible for the next three weeks to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
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Meanwhile on the vaccine front, Indiana health officials said the state could get its first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine this month.
The state is "actively preparing" to first receive doses from Pfizer, which could submit for emergency use authorization by the third week of November, said Indiana State Department of Health Chief Medical Office Dr. Lindsay Weaver.
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The state was asked to identify five pilot sites that could properly store doses. Weaver said the first five sites to receive doses would include: Community Hospital in Munster, Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville, Deaconess in Evansville, Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, and Parkview Health in Ft. Wayne.
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Indiana will not start vaccinating until officials receive the emergency use authorization and reviews from two advisory committees on safety and effectiveness. Vaccines will first be offered to high risk populations and health care workers.
Weaver said a widely available vaccine is "still months away."