On 4 November, the United Kingdom became the first country in the world to approve molnupiravir, an antiviral drug developed by the U.S. pharmaceutical companies Merck & Co and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics, for the treatment of Covid-19. The following day, a nurse for the country’s National Health Service, Nyrah Saleem, posted about it to her 105,000 TikTok followers. 

“The drug will be given twice daily to treat vulnerable patients with the disease,” she said, then explained that the manufacturers have stated that it almost halves the risk of hospitalization or death when given to patients with mild to moderate symptoms. 

Rapidly, Saleem’s video was flooded with angry comments. “New World Order,” read one. “It’s population control. They know some of us don’t want the jabs. Do they want to kill us with pills?”

“So if u don’t want an experimental jab u can take an experimental tablet,” said another.