False: Vitamin D, zinc, ivermectin, and hydroxychloroquine can cure hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

By: Pallavi Sethi
January 19 2022

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Scientific evidence does not suggest that vitamin D, zinc, ivermectin, and hydroxychloroquine are beneficial in treating COVID-19.A post by a verified Instagram user alleges that vitamin D, zinc, ivermectin, and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) can cure COVID-19. However, current scientific evidence does not support this. There is no real-world data that shows the effectiveness of these medicines in treating the deadly virus. Sean Ward, a British actor who often supports and promotes anti-vaccine narratives, has posted a false claim about treating COVID-19. The post, which has received over 5,000 likes and 100 comments, states that if a person hospitalized with COVID-19 has not received "some combination" of "Vitamin D, Zinc, IVM, HCQ, steroids, Azithromycin, and blood thinners," then the person dies not due to COVID-19, but from malpractice. There is no scientific evidence to support this unfounded claim. Since the pandemic began, there has been widespread misinformation about medicines such as vitamin D and HCQ. Plenty of studies have proved that none of the listed medicines in Ward's post have been beneficial in treating COVID-19. For instance, a study in The Lancet found that azithromycin did not cure hospitalized patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Similarly, in July 2021, Factcheck.org reported that randomized controlled trials did not find HCQ effective in treating hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Even though there was previously a lot of chatter around vitamin D's potential to cure COVID-19, this was ultimately not proven. According to USA Today, public health organizations and experts state that there is "little evidence" to support zinc and vitamin D as COVID-19 cures. In fact, the World Health Organization has also warned against using vitamin and mineral supplements to treat COVID-19. We know that COVID-19 is a dangerous virus that requires medical expertise in case of a severe case. Therefore, it is irresponsible to share medical misinformation, especially related to treating COVID-19.