In article <XnsAB7F517E7B835FDbz@178.63.61.145>
Stand For The Anthem <standup@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Some Mennonites

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) � A local lawmaker has co-sponsored a
bill that would allow ivermectin to be sold over the counter in
Tennessee without a prescription. On Wednesday, the bill co-
sponsored by Sen. Rusty Crowe (R-Johnson City) was passed by the
state Senate.

Senate Bill 2188 was introduced by Sen. Frank Niceley (R-
Strawberry Plains) on Jan. 31. Crowe became one of the bill�s co-
sponsors as it made its way past committees in the Senate. It
passed in the Senate with a vote of 23-6.

The bill would authorize �ivermectin suitable for human use� to
be sold or bought as an over-the-counter medication in Tennessee
without a prescription. Pharmacists and other licensed
healthcare providers would not be required to provide a
consultation prior to the sale either.

�Sales will be pursuant to each pharmacist�s physician
collaborative agreement, and to procedures that will be
developed by the Tennessee Board of Pharmacy,� a release from
the Senate Republican Caucus states in reference to the bill�s
passage in the Senate.

The release states that under the bill, any pharmacist or
prescriber who acts in good faith would be immune to
disciplinary actions or civil liability related to the sale of
ivermectin.

�Ivermectin is one of the many therapeutic options like
vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and anti-virals that have
proven to be effective in the treatment of COVID-19,� Crowe
stated in the release. �This bill will provide for a safe and
effective way for patients to quickly access ivermectin over the
counter and under the supervision of their pharmacists and the
physician with whom the pharmacists have their collaborative
agreement.�

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has advised against using
ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19. According to the FDA,
ivermectin tablets have been approved �at very specific doses�
for the treatment of some parasitic worms, as well as a topical
formula for lice and certain skin conditions. However, the FDA
reports that data does not suggest ivermectin is effective
against COVID-19, with trials related to using it as a treatment
remain ongoing.

The FDA has warned that taking large doses of ivermectin is, in
fact, dangerous. Further, the FDA warns anyone from taking
medication intended for animals as the products differ.

In a March 30 article, ABC News reported on a study published by
the New England Journal of Medicine. That study found that
ivermectin did not reduce the risk of being hospitalized with
COVID-19.

The study was based on 1,300 patients, some of whom were given
ivermectin and others a placebo. Ultimately, the study concluded
that there was no difference in hospitalization risk found
between the two groups.

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In the release from the Senate Republican Caucus, both Crowe and
Niceley stated that ivermectin is effective.

�Ivermectin is cheap, safe, and effective,� Niceley said. �This
bill lets the pharmacist prescribe the correct dose for a
patient�s condition, and takes into consideration the patient�s
preexisting conditions and the medications they are currently
taking. I sincerely hope that this bill can be helpful to the
people that we all represent.�

The House version of the bill has been placed on the regular
calendar for consideration on Thursday.