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FDA Warns Against Using Ivermectin for COVID-19 Treatment

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As the full US authorisation of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine drew near, the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took a firm stance against the use of ivermectin, a medicine used to deworm livestock, for COVID-19 treatment. The agency's simple yet emphatic message to Americans was: "You are not a horse, you are not a cow. Seriously, y'all, stop it." The warning comes amid a surge in misinformation about ivermectin's effectiveness against COVID-19, spread through social media and right-wing media outlets.

Key Takeaways:

  • The FDA has not approved ivermectin for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19, despite misinformation about its effectiveness.
  • Ivermectin is approved for use in humans for the treatment of certain internal and external parasites, but not for COVID-19.
  • Taking ivermectin for COVID-19 can cause serious harm, including side effects such as skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, and neurologic adverse events.
  • The FDA has stated that any use of ivermectin for COVID-19 prevention or treatment should be avoided.
  • Many US states are struggling to boost vaccination rates and contain the contagious Delta variant, with unvaccinated people accounting for the vast majority of hospitalizations and deaths.
  • Dr. Vivek Murthy, US Surgeon General, has emphasized that the best protection against COVID-19 is the vaccine, and ivermectin is not a recognized treatment.

Statistics:

  • 80% of hospitalizations and deaths in the US involve unvaccinated people (no specific date or source).
  • The FDA has approved ivermectin for use in humans for the treatment of certain internal and external parasites (FDA Fact Sheet).
  • 518,000 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Alabama, a state with the lowest vaccination rate (no specific date or source).
  • 26,000 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the US since January 2020 (no specific date or source).
  • Ivermectin is not approved for human use in the US for COVID-19 prevention or treatment, despite claims made by some social media influencers and politicians.

Sources:

  • Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Fact Sheet: Should I take ivermectin to treat Covid-19?
  • Associated Press, Dec 2020: Doctors tout ivermectin as COVID-19 treatment despite FDA warning
  • CNN, August 2021: US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warns against misinformation on ivermectin and COVID-19
  • Fox News, July 2021: Bret Weinstein tells Tucker Carlson that ivermectin is a "wonder drug" for COVID-19 treatment

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