The state House Health Committee — led by Rep. Kathy Rapp — held a hearing to explore COVID-19 treatment options last week.

Rapp said many constituents have asked what they can do beyond being vaccinated.

The message from the beginning has been masking, social distancing and hand washing.

“What are steps can we take?” she asked. “That is the purpose of our meeting today.”

“We have the right to medical freedom,” Rapp stressed, noting that she is not an anti-vaxxer.

She called on the state to release information with COVID-19 case counts indicating how many are vaccinated and unvaccinated.

“(I) think that’s a vital and just piece of information that we deserve,” she said. “It doesn’ take a rocket scientist to know big pharma is making big bucks right now….We have a right as citizens of this great state and nation to know if there are differing opinions than what big government wants to share with us.”

Looking at potential supplements, the most controversial — ivermectin — came up early on in the nearly three-hour hearing.

According to the FDA, the medication is approved to great or prevent parasites in animals and also approved for humans in “very specific doses to treat some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea.

“However, the FDA has received multiple reports of patients who have required medical attention, including hospitalization, after self-medicating with ivermectin intended for livestock.”

“People have a tendency to do their own research on social media or whatever,” Rapp said. “Many of my constituents are indeed using supplements,” specifically identifying vitamins C, D3, zinc as well as ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine.

“I believe that people have a right to do that,” she said, asking why state health officials are opposed to promoting such use.

“Our citizens across the nation (are) taking supplements to build up their immune systems,” Rapp said. “This is really what citizens are trying to do. I think that’s where our citizens are coming from.”

Dr. Denise Johnson, the state’s physician general, said people can take supplements and have the “individual responsibility to build up their health.”

She cautioned, though, that “supplements are not an alternative to the treatments that we have” and that there is “not the level of evidence to show” that the supplements identified can prevent or treat COVID-19.

“People are free to pursue those,” she sadded, “but need to be fully informed in terms of what the benefit would be.”

Rapp responded by stating that many citizens don’t believe that the CDC and Department of Health are fully informing them.

The hearing, held on Monday, included a total of six panelists including doctors representing multiple entity organizations as well as a medical wellness consultant.