B.C. experts call for more to be done to counter COVID-19 misinformation about vaccines, ivermectin
Two Vancouver medical experts are calling for more to be done to counter the spread of COVID-19 misinformation, after a fresh warning was issued about taking ivermectin.
Interior Health shared an image of a flyer seen around Kelowna advertising the sale of the drug, along with illustrations of the virus that causes COVID-19.
Commonly described as a "horse de-wormer," ivermectin has also been approved for treatment of parasitic worm infections in humans in Canada.
Dr. Brian Conway, medical director of the Vancouver Infectious Disease Centre said it’s not an effective or approved treatment for COVID-19 and there have been severe consequences for people who have taken the drug.
“Side effects include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, coma, seizures, people have been hospitalized,” Dr. Conway said. “This drug was never developed as an antiviral.”
A doctor who is alleged to have spread misinformation about ivermectin and COVID-19 vaccines is also set to face a disciplinary hearing by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia.
That move is welcomed by Dr. Susan Kuo, a Richmond family practitioner and a clinical assistant professor at UBC.
“I think the college needs to pursue this,” Dr. Kuo said. “I think it’s important that people are not misled to think that this medication works and I think the college has a duty to pursue people that are trying to say it works.”
Dr. Conway, however, also raised concerns about the lack of awareness of proven, effective COVID-19 treatments that have been authorized by Health Canada and are available in B.C.
“I think we’ve not done a good enough job of making clear that there are preventive measures,” he said. “There are treatments that are proven, that are widely available and people should take advantage of these proven options and not resort to ivermectin.”
Dr. Kuo believes there are also unnecessary challenges in the approved anti-viral treatments. For example, Dr. Kuo said she has seen strong results in prescribing Paxlovid to her patients, but there are restrictions on who can get the drug.
“I feel as a family doctor that my hands are very tied and I wish I could use this on more people because I know this helps,” Dr. Kuo said.
More information on approved treatments for COVID-19 is available online from the BC Centre for Disease Control.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
DEVELOPING Hamas accepts Gaza ceasefire proposal from Egypt and Qatar
Hamas said it has accepted a ceasefire deal proposed by Egypt and Qatar, which seeks to halt the seven-month war with Israel in Gaza, prompting Israel to say it would send a delegation to negotiate – though it warned the proposal remained far from the 'necessary requirements.'
An American soldier was arrested in Russia and accused of stealing, U.S. officials say
An American soldier has been arrested in Russia and accused of stealing, according to U.S. officials. The soldier was stationed in South Korea and was in the process of returning home to the United States, but travelled to Russia.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Competition Bureau launches inquiry into Lululemon over 'greenwashing' allegations
Canada's Competition Bureau has launched an inquiry into Vancouver-based Lululemon following a complaint from members of an environmental group.
NDP calls out Conservatives for effort to quash pharmacare legislation
The federal New Democrats are calling out Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre and his party for trying to block the bill that could pave the way for millions of Canadians to access birth control and diabetes coverage.
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Democratic Institutions Minister Dominic LeBlanc tabled legislation in the House of Commons on Monday proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada. Bill C-70 proposes to enact a new 'Foreign Influence Transparency and Accountability Act.'