Medical News Today WHO âstronglyâ against hydroxychloroquine use for COVID-19 prevention Written by Jennifer Huizen on March 4, 2021 â Fact checked by Hilary Guite, FFPH, MRCGP A WHO panel has issued a âstrong recommendationâ against the use of hydroxychloroquine for the prevention of COVID-19. GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images Laboratory-based studies and non-randomized preliminary studies in humans initially led researchers and public health officials to support the use of hydroxychloroquine as a potential preventive treatment for COVID-19. However, as researchers gathered more evidence, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) eventually revoked their emergency use authorization for treating COVID-19. Now, based on the findings of a new analysis, an international panel of experts strongly advises against the use of hydroxychloroquine to prevent COVID-19.