Aussie TV Show Apologises For Implying The Queen Is Using Ivermectin To Treat Covid
Channel 9 has had to take the extraordinary step of apologising to numerous parties involved in a report about Queen Elizabeth's battle with Covid-19.
Monday night's A Current Affair detailed the Queen's diagnosis and spoke to Victorian GP and former boss of the Australian Medical Association Dr Mukesh Haikerwal.
Dr Haikerwal spoke about potential drug treatments for Covid-19 and their possible benefits for enderly patients.
The program then cut to some B-roll footage, including an image of the Ivermectin product, Stromectol.
Ivermectin is a drug used for deworming horses.
In Australia, the Stromectol Ivermectin tablets are only approved for humans to use to treat river blindness (onchocerciasis), threadworm of the intestines (intestinal strongyloidiasis) and scabies.
A Current Affair had in fact meant to show footage of a different medication, Sotrovimab, which is approved for use in extreme high-risk Covid-19 patients in some countries.
In January, Australia secured and purchased an additional 45,000 units of Sotrovimab, taking its total to 81,000.
The Government said it could reduce hospitalisation or death by 79% in adults with mild-to-moderate Covid-19 symptoms who are at high risk of progressing to a more severe bout of the disease.
Channel 9 said the shot of Stromectol Ivermectin, rather than Sotrovimab, was a result of 'human error'.
"As a program we've done numerous stories highlighting the concerns around taking Ivermectin as a treatment for Covid-19," Channel 9 said in a statement.
"We did not intend to suggest Dr Mukesh Hawikeral endorsed Stromectol.
"We've apologised to him this morning and he has accepted that apology.
"We do not suggest the Queen is using Ivermectin."
The episode no longer appears to be available for catch-up online.
Vivienne Kelly