Covid-19: LASG approves clinical trial of Ivermectin drug

 Covid-19: LASG approves clinical trial of Ivermectin drug

 

By Modupe Shodeinde

Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, on Monday, has given the go-ahead for the clinical trial of the Ivermectin drug for the prevention and treatment of covid-19 infection in the state.

The Governor made this known in a statement highlighting the update on the management of COVID-19 in the state on Sunday.

He said, “The State Government is aware of numerous international claims that the broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent/medication Ivermectin has shown some efficacy in acting as a sustained prophylaxis in containing/inhibiting the causative virus in SARS CoV-2.

“While this medication has not yet been approved for the broad treatment of the Coronavirus disease, the State Government has however taken the bold step of ensuring we have adequate stocks of Ivermectin, which will be initially deployed in a short clinical trial to ascertain its efficiency in our population to prevent and treat COVID-19 infection.”

The governor said that the state government was finalising its own vaccine strategy while, at the same time, keeping an eye on ongoing vaccine research, development and clinical trials.

“The government is also in constant engagement with all the relevant stakeholders in that space, in the public and private sectors.

“As the vaccines become available in Lagos State, they will be prioritised to the people who need them the most, such as the frontline health workers, people with co-morbidities (medically vulnerable), the elderly (aged 65 and above as well as other essential workers.)

Read More  70 percent doctors are infected with covid-19, NARD raises alarm

“While aligning with the national strategy for deployment of the vaccines, in these early days, Lagos State will also continue to scale up the capacity to flatten the infection curve and minimise the fatality rate, through testing and treatment.’’

He added that, “The state will follow up on possible post-vaccination adverse event; the monitoring strategy will be diligently followed in line with protocols of pharmaceutical public safety.”

lagosstreetjournal

Related post