Coconino News

Arizona State Senator Janae Shamp has spoken out against the treatment of medical professionals who attempted to prescribe Ivermectin as an early intervention during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Shamp's criticism comes nearly two months after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) allegedly recognized Ivermectin as a potential treatment for COVID-19.

"Early treatment is key to any illness," Shamp stated. "During the pandemic, anyone trying to help people receive early interventions were censored, attacked, and threatened with loss of their license. That can NEVER happen again."

In 2021, a significant number of COVID-19 patients in the United States, particularly those who chose not to get vaccinated, sought prescriptions for Ivermectin out of desperation. This was driven by international reports of the drug's effectiveness and personal testimonials from individuals who had been permitted to use it. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) maintained that Ivermectin did not provide genuine benefits and urged doctors to refrain from prescribing it, citing insufficient scientific evidence for its approval. The FDA instead encouraged vaccination as the primary method of protection against COVID-19.

Despite the FDA's stance, there has been some acknowledgment of doctors' authority to prescribe Ivermectin to treat COVID-19. In August, Ashley Cheung Honold, an attorney from the Department of Justice representing the FDA, stated that the agency recognized doctors' authority to prescribe the drug. However, the FDA maintains that Ivermectin has not been officially approved, and their website continues to discourage its use.

Dr. Peter McCullough, a cardiologist and advocate of Ivermectin's potential in treating COVID-19, has stated that the drug is safe and effective as part of the McCullough Protocol since 2020. He believes that it should have been given to all high-risk patients on Day 1, from home through hospitalization.

The debate surrounding Ivermectin and its use in treating COVID-19 has been contentious. Some individuals, such as Rogan O'Handley, Ambassador for Turning Point USA, believe that the FDA's acknowledgment of Ivermectin's potential comes too late and that the focus on vaccines was driven by profit. O'Handley stated, "A LOT of people owe Joe Rogan and others a huge apology. But let’s be real about why this is happening *3 years* later - most of the money has already been made on the vaccines. Most COVID policies were never about your health. It was about driving up fear to boost Big Pharma vaccine profits."

As the discussion continues, the role of Ivermectin in treating COVID-19 remains a topic of debate among medical professionals, policymakers, and the public.