Ask the Lab Scientist Question:
Has anyone tested to see of CLL patients who catch COVID before being vaccinated and get antibodies treatment, who then get vaccinated, should be given antibodies treatment regularly along with boosters? Would that keep their antibodies level up? If so, would this be a potential way to give CLL patients ongoing protection?
My sister who had CLL caught COVID last year despite masking (we believe at the dentist). She had received immunotherapy that worked and was on treatment for Pemphagoid that she stopped immediately. She luckily received monoclonal antibodies treatment. Her case stayed moderate, never requiring hospitalization. Three-months later she had the Pfizer vaccines. She just had the booster.
Answer: We are not aware of any studies or data surrounding your exact question. As you know, we are all learning as we go with COVID-19. It looks like more and more options for COVID-19 monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies are on the horizon for CLL patients. We are very excited about the results of one particular long-acting therapy that was just in the news last week. We should all be hearing more about this option becoming available in the upcoming months should the FDA provide them with emergency use authorization. You can read about that here.
