Kapamilya star Enzo Pineda can’t help but share how proud he is about his dad’s move to let authorities approve the use of Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID19.
In a tweet, Enzo said he’s proud of his dad Partylist Congressman Enrico Pineda, who initiated the move for the approval of Ivermectin as drugs against COVID-19.
https://twitter.com/Enzo_Pineda/status/1377947109308129288
Ivermectin gained some grounds on social media after several individuals claimed that it helped them against their fight with COVID-19.
Netizens tweeted the hashtag #IvermecticWorks who believed that the anti-viral drug is the solution for the COVID-19 virus.
However, several Netizens also took to social media to remind Pineda of the danger that may cause by his tweet by advocating for the use of the controversial drug.
In a tweet, PBB Connect alumnus Justin Dizon cautioned Enzo for his blanket endorsement of Ivermectin, saying there’s still insufficient information about the drug’s efficacy against COVID.
Please do not issue statements like these if your information are insufficient and incorrect.
Ang laki ng platform mo at ang dami mong followers so you have to be responsible.
Just because your dad and your peers believe in Ivermectin, doesn’t mean that it’s safe and effective.
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) April 2, 2021
Dizon quickly stated that he has no intention to fight against Enzo. He’s just reminding him of the platform–how huge it is, and that FDA has yet to approve Ivermectiv for human use.
Enzo, hindi ako nakikipag-away ha. I am just reminding you.
Also, FDA mismo ang nagsabi na WALANG NAKAREHISTRO SA KANILA NA IVERMECTIN FOR HUMAN USE. Kaya technically speaking, illegal yang ginagawa niyo.
Think twice or thrice before you promote a drug, lalo na ngayon.
— Justin Dizon (@iamjustindizon) April 2, 2021
Netizen Jerico Gutierrez also shared the same sentiment asking Enzo to use his influence in a better and stop promoting the use of Ivermectin.
Please use your influence in a better way. Do not promote the use of Ivermectin, please.
— JX (@itisthehormones) April 2, 2021
Gutierrez also added a photo tweet of the FDA and other medical societies on March 17, a statement about Ivermectin’s use for COVID-19 treatment. It says that they do not recommend its use for the treatment of COVID because there has been no significant positive outcome yet from their control trials.
Please read this, kindly share this to your father and friends. pic.twitter.com/CBpq6LnObP
— JX (@itisthehormones) April 2, 2021
A Netizen doctor, @jgbaritmd also asked Enzo to take down the post saying testimonials of people who allegedly were cured by Ivermectin doesn’t automatically translate to efficacy.
Please take this down. Testimonials do not automatically translate to efficacy. As far as data is concerned, ivermectin is not yet recommended as a treatment for COVID-19. Good idea to bring ivermectin for humans to the PH for it has other uses, but do not promote it for COVID-19
— J Barit, MD (@jgbaritmd) April 2, 2021
Meanwhile, even Ivermectin’s manufacturer Merck believed there is still no conclusive evidence yet that the drug works against COVID-19.
“Company scientists continue to carefully examine the findings of all available and emerging studies of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 for evidence of efficacy and safety. It is important to note that, to-date, our analysis has identified:
- No scientific basis for a potential therapeutic effect against COVID-19 from pre-clinical studies;
- No meaningful evidence for clinical activity or clinical efficacy in patients with COVID-19 disease, and;
- A concerning lack of safety data in the majority of studies.
We do not believe that the data available support the safety and efficacy of ivermectin beyond the doses and populations indicated in the regulatory agency-approved prescribing information,” said Merck in their February 4, 2021, official statement.