DOH urges ivermectin recipients to report any adverse effects
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Saturday called on individuals who received ivermectin pills during a distribution event in Quezon City to report to the agency any adverse effects that they may experience due to the drug.
Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Mike Defensor and Deputy Speaker Rodante Marcoleta distributed ivermectin capsules to Quezon City residents on Thursday despite that the antiparasitic drug has yet to secure approval for human use from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), either as treatment for COVID-19 or as prophylaxis.
“Nagbigay abiso na po, and the Secretary encourages all those who received the ivermectin capsules, kung maaari, magreport lang po sa DOH para lang po malaman namin kung sakaling meron po silang ibang mararamdaman and if they need anything, handa po ang DOH tumulong,” DOH spokesperson Ma. Rosario Vergeire said in a televised briefing.
(We have given advice and the Secretary encourages all those who received the ivermectin capsules to report to the DOH and let us know in case they feel any side effects and if they need anything, the DOH is ready to help.)
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said the FDA should investigate the prescriptions provided to recipients of ivermectin. He stressed prescriptions should contain complete details of the issuing physician or medical practitioner.
While ivermectin has yet to receive approval, FDA however issued compassionate special permits to five hospitals.
