A widely shared video features a nurse criticizing a major health care provider for refusing to prescribe ivermectin for her potentially positive COVID-19 diagnosis. This video adds to a growing list of claims that ivermectin, an antiparasitic drug usually used to treat tropical diseases, has been shown to effectively prevent and treat COVID-19. Some have even linked the recent decrease in COVID-19 cases in India to new health guidelines allowing the use of ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19. Although ivermectin is approved for other purposes, it is not currently approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. Research has yielded mixed results on the drug’s safety and effectiveness, and the FDA advises against its use for COVID-19. There is no evidence to suggest that increased ivermectin use reduced infection rates in India, and other countries with similar ivermectin use guidelines have seen no related reduction in cases.
Recommendation:
Passive Response Read More +
Informational and educational resources are recommended to address existing approved treatments for COVID-19, as well as to refute/debunk widely reported unapproved treatments and cures. As speculation regarding the use of ivermectin for treatment of COVID-19 is widespread, explaining the current state of evidence and official guidance in such materials is recommended. Fact Checking Source(s): politifact.com, fda.gov, healthfeedback.org
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