In a recent revelation, the Mayo Clinic has adjusted its stance on hydroxychloroquine, a drug that has been at the center of debates regarding its efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19. The clinic now acknowledges that hydroxychloroquine may play a role in managing the virus, specifically in certain hospitalized patients.
This shift in perspective has reignited discussions surrounding the drug’s potential impact on the course of the pandemic. The change in the Mayo Clinic’s position came to light when former President Trump assistant Peter Navarro shared a link to the clinic’s web page containing its updated information.
At the White House, I had a million tablets of hydroxy that could have saved thousands of lives but @cnn crusaded against it to beat @realDonaldTrump . Negligent homicide at a minimum. @fda was also implicated in hydroxy suppression. https://t.co/P1Iif39FZ5
— Peter Navarro (@RealPNavarro) September 24, 2023
According to the clinic’s website, hydroxychloroquine “may also be used to treat coronavirus (COVID-19) in certain hospitalized patients.” That being said, the Mayo Clinic’s endorsement of hydroxychloroquine comes with a multitude of warnings and cautions, which are not included here.
The controversy surrounding hydroxychloroquine’s effectiveness against COVID-19 has been ongoing since the early days of the pandemic. While evidence existed that suggested its clear benefits, there was a prevailing negative narrative that the drug was ineffective or even dangerous.
In many regions, including the United States and the United Kingdom, it was removed from pharmacy shelves and discouraged as a potential remedy. One argument against acknowledging hydroxychloroquine’s effectiveness was the concern that doing so might undermine the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) of vaccines.
One individual sharing their personal experience with COVID-19 highlighted the drug’s potential benefits. They recounted their bout with the virus in early 2020 and the subsequent prescription of hydroxychloroquine by a doctor in France.
According to this account, the drug yielded positive results not only for them but also for numerous patients in Paris, along with countless others across different countries.
The suppression of information or discussion regarding hydroxychloroquine’s potential as a COVID-19 treatment was a missed opportunity to potentially save lives and reduce hospitalizations. The argument goes that if the drug had been recognized as effective, it might have significantly impacted the course of the pandemic.
