Jimmy Kimmel, host of the nightly talk show, faces some criticism because he suggests hospitals should refuse to treat patients who have taken an antiparasitic drug to treat COVID-19. The star of “Jimmy Kimmel! Live” made the joke during the show’s fall premiere on Tuesday.
In his opening monologue, Kimmel referred to a statement by Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in which he said hospitals have begun to run out of beds. intensive care unit and who will soon be forced to make “difficult decisions”.
“That option doesn’t seem so hard to me,” Kimmel said. “A vaccinated person who has a heart attack? Yes, come in. We’ll take care of you. An unvaccinated boy who swallowed a horse? Rest in peace, hissing.”
It refers to ivermectin, a drug that some people take to treat or prevent COVID-19. The antiparasitic drug is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use related to COVID-19, and its status and federal health officials have repeatedly warned that the drug should not be used for treatment. But misinformation has caused its use to skyrocket.
The United States has seen a 24-fold increase in the number of ivermectin prescriptions since the start of the pandemic, with more than 88,000 prescriptions reported the week of Aug. 13, according to CDC data. Meanwhile, others ingest cattle-grade ivermectin, which can cause overdoses in humans. In August, Mississippi health officials calls to state poison control centers have increased and at least 70% of calls are related to ivermectin intake.
Kimmel called those who have opted for self-medication with ivermectin “pan-dimwits.”
“Poison control centers across the country have seen an increase in calls from people taking livestock medications to fight the coronavirus, but they won’t take the vaccine, which is crazy,” he said. “It’s like you’re a vegan and you say,‘ No, I don’t want a burger; instead, give me this can of Alpo “.
His jokes were not well received by everyone. Senator Ted Cruz he tweeted in response to Kimmel’s comments: “Sick. He will leave angry at anyone who disagrees with him about the vaccines:” Rest in peace, hiss. “IT’S A REAL APPOINTMENT. who make different decisions. “
The medical community and the federal government maintain the best way to prevent COVID-19 infection and lessen the possible symptoms of the virus is to receive one of three FDA-authorized COVID-19 vaccines: Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, and Pfizer.
“If a pharmaceutical company says,‘ Don’t take the medicine we sell, ’you should probably listen to them,” Kimmel said. “Or you can just go with a TikTok posted by a dishonored vet.”