Ivermectin Supply Shortages: A Comprehensive 2026 Overview (USA, UK, Australia)

Ivermectin has long been an important medication for both humans and animals, used for parasitic infections such as strongyloidiasis, onchocerciasis, and scabies. Over the past several years, however, the drug has been at the center of unusual demand patterns, misinformation, pharmacy hesitancy, manufacturing pressures, and shifting global supply chains. These forces have created the perception of widespread shortages — and at times, limited regional access has been very real.

This expanded report takes a closer look at ivermectin availability, with a focus on human medicine across the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, three countries where patients have frequently reported inconsistent access.

Global Snapshot: Is Ivermectin Truly in Supply Shortages?

Despite rumors that ivermectin is disappearing from shelves worldwide, most global manufacturing data suggests something more nuanced:

  • No persistent global shortage of human ivermectin tablets
  • Local and regional shortages do occur, often driven by demand spikes or pharmacy stocking policies
  • Veterinary demand and human medical demand share the same manufacturing pipeline
  • Supply chains remain sensitive to logistics delays, raw-material disruptions, and geopolitical factors
  • Some manufacturers have shifted production toward higher-demand veterinary formulations

In short: Ivermectin is being produced, but access is not evenly distributed, and in some countries, pharmacy policies—not manufacturing failures—are the main reason patients experience difficulty. Many people buy ivermectine online overseas and there is no any supply shortages for generic products from India.

United States: Availability Uneven, Not Absent

A. Is there a national shortage?

In the U.S., ivermectin is not consistently listed on national drug-shortage registries, meaning there is no confirmed long-term national shortage.
However, real-world access can vary dramatically by location.

B. Why Americans report shortages

1. Pharmacy stocking decisions

During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, many chain pharmacies reduced or eliminated their human ivermectin stock due to:

  • Concerns about off-label prescribing
  • Corporate policy restrictions
  • Increased regulatory scrutiny during the pandemic

As a result, a patient might call five pharmacies and hear “we don’t have it,” creating the impression of a shortage — when, in reality, wholesalers still have supply.

2. Distribution delays

Pharmacies relying on weekly resupply may run out temporarily.
Shortages tend to be:

  • Local (one city or region)
  • Short-term (days to weeks)

3. Demand spikes

Unusual local surges — often influenced by media coverage or viral misinformation — have occasionally caused pharmacies to temporarily run out.

C. What this means for U.S. patients

  • Most can obtain human ivermectin by calling multiple pharmacies
  • Pharmacists may require stronger clinical justification
  • Some states have heightened verification procedures
  • Rural pharmacies are more likely to stock it than big-chain urban branches

United Kingdom: Tightly Controlled, Limited Human Use

A. UK availability is limited by design

In the UK, ivermectin has far fewer approved human uses than in the U.S. or Australia.
Historically, ivermectin for humans has been imported on a named-patient basis, meaning:

  • It’s not routinely stocked
  • Pharmacies need special approval or an imported supply
  • Prescriptions are filled through specialized wholesalers

This creates an environment where shortages feel much more pronounced — not because global supply is collapsing, but because the UK’s regulatory framework naturally funnels ivermectin into a narrow distribution channel.

B. Demand patterns

Demand for ivermectin in the UK is generally low due to:

  • Limited approved indications
  • Preference for alternative antiparasitic treatments
  • Strict prescriber guidelines

During the pandemic, the UK also saw:

  • Increased public interest
  • Pharmacists refusing to dispense
  • Import delays caused by global shipping bottlenecks

C. What UK patients experience today

Even in 2025:

  • Many local pharmacies will not carry human ivermectin
  • Doctors may prescribe alternatives first
  • Access typically requires a travel clinic, specialist prescriber, or imported pharmacy service

In other words: the UK doesn’t have a shortage so much as a low-volume, tightly regulated supply system.

Australia: High Demand, Stable Supply — With Occasional Stockouts

Australia presents a unique case because ivermectin is commonly prescribed there for:

  • Scabies
  • Strongyloidiasis
  • Other parasitic conditions, particularly in remote communities
  • Public health programs in Northern or Indigenous populations

This means Australia actually has higher legitimate human demand than many Western nations.

A. Are there shortages?

Australia has seen intermittent regional supply shortages, especially in:

  • Rural clinics
  • Remote communities
  • Areas relying on a single weekly supplier

These shortages tend to be distribution-based, not due to collapsed manufacturing.

B. Why shortages occur

1. High clinical demand

Australia uses ivermectin more routinely than the U.S. or UK.

2. Import and supply-chain timing

Because Australia is geographically remote, delays in shipping can create gaps even when global supply is stable.

3. Public health campaigns

Periodic community-wide scabies treatment campaigns can temporarily exhaust regional inventories.

C. What Australian patients see

Most urban pharmacies (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane) can obtain ivermectin within 24–48 hours, but:

  • Walk-in stock is inconsistent
  • Remote areas may see days or weeks without supply
  • Prescribers often order additional stock before clinic campaigns

Why Ivermectin Supply Remains Sensitive Everywhere

Even when not in official shortage, several factors keep ivermectin on the “fragile” end of global supply:

✔ Dual-use product

Human and veterinary markets rely on the same ingredients and factories.

✔ Limited number of major manufacturers

If one factory pauses for inspection or quality issues, the impact is felt globally.

✔ Supply-chain vulnerability

Global shipping, material sourcing, and pharmaceutical regulations all intersect.

✔ Past demand surges

The pandemic created unusual, unpredictable fluctuations that supply chains are still normalizing.

✔ Pharmacy policies

Restrictions on dispensing can mimic a shortage even when wholesale stock is available.

Practical Advice for Patients in Each Region

USA

  • Call multiple pharmacies; independent pharmacies often have better availability
  • Ask if the pharmacist can order it overnight
  • Check with prescribers for alternative antiparasitic treatments if urgent

UK

  • Expect that ivermectin may require importation
  • A GP may refer you to a specialist or travel clinic
  • Plan ahead — do not expect same-day pickup

Australia

  • Urban areas: expect rapid ordering, even if not stocked
  • Rural areas: plan for variable availability
  • Community health programs sometimes reserve stock for remote populations

Conclusion: Is Ivermectin in Shortage?

Globally: No — but access is inconsistent.
Nationally: Depends heavily on pharmacy policies and distribution, not manufacturing.
Regionally: Temporary stockouts still occur, especially in remote or high-demand areas.

Across the USA, UK, and Australia, human ivermectin remains available, but the experience of trying to obtain it is often shaped more by local systems than by global production.