Vaccination is the only way

Due to the popularity of community pantries, the DILG prohibited the display of politicians' posters or any kind of endorsement of politicians. We all know how many politicians just love to see their names and faces plastered all over the city, especially on projects that supposedly improve the lives of Filipinos. The community pantries, especially the one located at Maginhawa St. in Quezon City, provide a great opportunity for a politician to ride on its popularity wave even if he or she had nothing to do with it.

But why hasn't the DILG cited Rep. Defensor and Marcoleta for distributing free Ivermectin in Quezon City? The whole idea of giving away a drug that provides no hard evidence of its value against COVID-19 especially by a politician is just ridiculous. We know who these lawmakers are, don't we? They're two-thirds of the trio that brought down ABS-CBN sans evidence of wrongdoing as attested to by officials of this administration. Now they're giving away free medicine? Do they feel that untouchable?

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has come out with a reminder to doctors "not to prescribe Ivermectin as a supposed COVID-19 treatment outside of hospitals given compassionate use permits by the Food and Drug Administration." These five hospitals issued compassionate use have not been named. The FDA has also stated "that manufacturer and dispensing of unregistered drugs would be prosecuted." So what now, FDA? More announcements and warnings but not enough action like regarding those vaccines used on the Presidential Security Group? All bark and no bite?

There are even reports of prescriptions presented by those availing of the free drugs that are without the proper information such as the names and license number of the doctor who supposedly prescribed them. And yet these lawmakers dispensed the drug, even having recipients sign a waiver. Perhaps to protect them in the event of severe side effects which the PMA also issued a warning. The DOJ has said this whole thing was "on its face a violation of the law" but then shifts back to not being able to do anything about it. Surprise, surprise. If these were opposition lawmakers handing out free drugs I would wager the authorities would be waiting even before they arrived.

To date, there is no miracle drug against COVID-19. Whatever may work on an individual does not translate to everyone else. That is why clinical trials are made to test all the variables and come up with a result that is scientifically backed. There is no argument we all want to return to our normal lives. The emergence of drugs like Ivermectin supposedly providing prophylaxis or even a cure sans hard evidence shows a hint of desperation. Vaccination of the population is the only way to stop the spread. This is what the government must achieve in the fastest time possible. The ominous announcement by the DOH of herd immunity being achieved in 2022 if vaccines are delayed is disconcerting.