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DENVER, CO – Democrats on the House Health and Insurance Committee today defeated a dangerous and misguided bill sponsored by Representative Stephanie Luck that recklessly promotes the use of ineffective and unapproved drugs like hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19.
“Other than for a few specific reasons, Ivermectin is meant for animals, and I would know since I’m a veterinarian,” said Rep. Karen McCormick, D-Longmont. “GOP politicians urged on by former President Trump have spread dangerous misinformation about unproven COVID treatments and encouraged the use of these drugs, leading to many overdoses. At the same time, they sowed doubt about COVID vaccines, which are proven to be highly effective and which save lives. Their rhetoric based on unscientific claims and misinformation has endangered people’s lives, and I hope this is the last year we see this misguided bill.”
HB22-1015 promotes the practice of prescribing hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin off-label for the treatment or prevention of COVID-19. The World Health Organization has warned against using hydroxychloroquine to treat COVID-19, and the FDA has been vocal about the dangers of using ivermectin, especially veterinary ivermectin, which is intended for livestock. The use of these drugs can cause adverse effects in patients, and they have been proven to be ineffective in treating COVID-19.
In the fall of 2021, poison control centers reported seeing a surge in ivermectin overdose calls linked to COVID misinformation. People have been hospitalized after taking ivermectin, even after receiving a prescription. The bill would waive liability for doctors whose patients experience adverse health impacts as a result of being prescribed Ivermectin off label.
The bill failed on a party line vote of 4 to 7.
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