Posted on 03/16/2022 5:43:04 PM PDT by definitelynotaliberal
CONCORD, N.H. —
The controversial debate over treating COVID-19 with the drug ivermectin made it to the floor of the New Hampshire House on Wednesday, with the Republican majority voting to make it easier to obtain the drug at pharmacies.
On a 183-159 vote, the House approved legislation allowing pharmacists to make ivermectin available via standing order.
"A standing order is a prescriptive protocol written by a physician or nurse practitioner that allows a pharmacist to dispense a medication without an individual prescription," said state Rep. Leah Cushman, R-Weare.
Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug that gained notoriety as a supposed home treatment for COVID-19 during the pandemic. It has since become a political flashpoint.
State Rep. Jerry Knirk, D-Freedom, who is a doctor, noted that there is no credible evidence that ivermectin is an effective treatment for COVID-19.
"The majority report claims that ivermectin has been shown to be helpful in reducing the severity and duration of COVID-19, but this is not true," he said. "There have been numerous studies that sound compelling, but upon analysis have design flaws."
Advocates for the standing order legislation said any benefits ivermectin might have are being obscured by the political debate over the drug.
"Because of this politicization, doctors are afraid to prescribe and pharmacies are afraid to dispense," Cushman said.
Republicans supporting the bill said ivermectin is already available over the counter in other countries, and they said the legislation will prevent people in New Hampshire from obtaining the wrong kind of formulation of the drug.
"Some people unable to get ivermectin over the counter here have been resorting to going to farm stores and getting it as it is formulated for livestock and not for people," said Rep. Mark Pearson, R-Hampstead.
There are approved treatments for COVID-19 that are available in New Hampshire, such as the antiviral drugs Paxlovid and molnupiravir.
Hah! Love that last line!
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