COVID kit

The COVID-19 kit, often referred to as early treatment, is a term used to describe the denialist approach promoted by the Brazilian government led by Jair Bolsonaro and his supporters regarding the use of medications with no proven efficacy in treating COVID-19. This approach includes advocating for the use of drugs such as chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, azithromycin, bromhexine, nitazoxanide, anticoagulants, and zinc supplements. At the start of the pandemic, specifically in March 2020, chloroquine emerged as a possible treatment for the disease based on two studies of questionable quality. Notably, Donald Trump, United States President at the time, endorsed one of these studies, challenging the recommendations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which led to the politicization of the issue. In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro quickly adopted this stance. In the following months, the Brazilian government took steps to promote chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine as treatments for COVID-19. This included ordering production, coordinating distribution, and spending approximately 90 million reais on acquiring these drugs. Additionally, the Ministry of Health, under the leadership of Eduardo Pazuello, expanded the use of these substances to treat mild cases of the disease. The COVID kit created a false sense of security among the population, suggesting that life could return to normal without the need for social distancing measures. However, this approach led to an increase in infections, hospitalizations, and deaths. Furthermore, the widespread use of these medications, along with their potential side effects, caused significant harm to the kidneys and livers of users. This approach was widely criticized by health organizations and experts due to the lack of scientific evidence and the potential dangers associated with its use. Nevertheless, it became the subject of lawsuits and investigations related to possible favoritism involving public and private agents seeking financial gains.