The sale of ivermectin, one of the medicines of the so-called Covid Kit that is not effective against the disease, plummeted and returned to the level of March 2020, when the pandemic began.
Just over 839,000 units were sold in the month, according to consultancy Iqvia, which monitors retail pharmaceuticals.
In March 2020, before demand exploded, influenced by the recommendation of President Jair Bolsonaro, approximately 822,000 boxes had been sold. The highest sales volume of the drug in pharmacies was recorded in March 2021, with 15.6 million boxes.
The demand for ivermectin, an anthelmintic for scabies and lice, had been on a downward trajectory since the first half of 2021, but grew again when the ômicron arrived in Brazil, in the last months of the year.
The number of units sold went from 1.5 million in December to almost 5.5 million in January. In February, it reached 1.9 million, says the consultancy.
Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter and Fernanda Brigatti
your subscription can be worth even more
Do you already know the advantages of being a Folha subscriber? In addition to having access to reports and columns, you have exclusive newsletters (find out here). You can also download our free app from the Apple Store or Google Play to receive alerts on the top news of the day. Your subscription helps us to make independent and quality journalism. Thank you!
your subscription is worth a lot
More than 180 reports and analyzes published each day. A team with more than 120 columnists. A professional journalism that supervises the public power, conveys useful and inspiring news, counterpoints the intolerance of social networks and draws a clear line between truth and lie. How much does it cost to help produce this content?
SUBSCRIBE FOR 3 MONTHS FOR BRL 1.90
I have over 8 years of experience in the news industry. I have worked for various news websites and have also written for a few news agencies. I mostly cover healthcare news, but I am also interested in other topics such as politics, business, and entertainment. In my free time, I enjoy writing fiction and spending time with my family and friends.
