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
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
Twins from Toronto were Canada's top two female finishers at this year's Boston Marathon
When identical twin sisters Kim and Michelle Krezonoski were invited to compete against some of the world’s most elite female runners at last week’s Boston Marathon, they were in disbelief.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Senate expenses climbed to $7.2 million in 2023, up nearly 30%
Senators in Canada claimed $7.2 million in expenses in 2023, a nearly 30 per cent increase over the previous year.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Accused of burglary at stepmother's home, U.S. senator says she wanted her father's ashes: charges
A Minnesota state senator and former broadcast meteorologist told police that she broke into her stepmother's home because her stepmother refused to give her items of sentimental value from her late father, including his ashes, according to burglary charges filed Tuesday.
Australian police arrest 7 alleged teen extremists linked to stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church
Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday, as a judge extended a ban on social media platform X sharing video of a knife attack on a bishop that started the criminal investigation.