FDA is fed up
The dangerous promotion of ivermectin, a drug that is used to control parasitic worms in animals as well as humans to prevent or treat COVID, has clearly upset the nation's pharmaceutical regulator. The agency tweeted this Saturday:
"You are not horse. You are not a cow. Seriously. Stop it!"
Mississippi is one example of a state where some people have ingested ivermectin. This has led to a worrying rise in poison control calls. According to the Mississippi State Department of Health, "at least 70% of recent calls were related to the ingestion of livestock or animal formulas of ivermectin bought at livestock supply centres."
As with all diseases, prevention is better than treatment. Further, continual disease outbreaks can lead to a flood of sickened people, which overworked and exhausted doctors and nurses, sometimes leading to trauma. The FDA has rigorously inspected the safety of highly effective vaccines in the United States. They protect more than 95 percent of patients from serious illness, and in some cases even 99 percent of those who need hospitalization.
"Vaccinations will protect against the Delta variant in vaccinated people, especially for severe illnesses, hospitalizations and death."
Mashable was told this week by Dr. Thomas Russo at the University of Buffalo. He said that vaccines would be effective in protecting against the Delta variant.
The FDA has stated online that ivermectin was not approved by the FDA for human use to treat or prevent COVID-19. It is especially dangerous to inject doses that are meant for large animals like horses or cows into human bodies. The agency stated that large amounts of the drug can be dangerous and cause serious harm.
Online and offline, disinformation reigns supreme. Be careful. Be aware. Experts who study vaccines and viruses are better than feedstore recommendations. You want to prevent serious infections, not treat them with unapproved or unauthorized medicines.
Vaccines in the United States have had and continue to have excellent safety records (along with eliminating diseases like crippling poliomyelitis in the country).
Dr. Russo stated, "You should have an action plan to get vaccinated as quickly as possible."
