Ivermectin: City-Wide Study Results for Prophylaxis of COVID

A new peer reviewed article was published in Cureus that evaluated the use of Ivermectin for prophylaxis of COVID 19 in a city-wide study conducted in Itajaí, Brazil. Study results showed that regular use of ivermectin as a prophylactic was associated with significantly reduced COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates. 

Authors reviewed studies suggesting Ivermectin has demonstrated efficacy that not only protect from COVID-19 infection, but also COVID-19-related comorbidities. This potential efficacy in prophylaxis combined with the known safety profile of ivermectin, led to a large, citywide, COVID-19 prevention program, and prospective, observational study in Itajaí, a city in southern Brazil.

Researchers evaluated the impact of regular ivermectin use on subsequent COVID-19 infection and mortality rates. As a city wide program, all patients were offered optional, voluntary prophylactic use of ivermectin during regular medical visits between July 7 and December 2, 2020. Registry data of all patient records from the city of Itajaí between July 7 and December 2, 2020 were reviewed, including those who used ivermectin and did not use ivermectin. 

A statistically significant decrease in mortality rate was observed after this city-wide ivermectin prophylaxis  program began among the entire population of Itajaí. When comparing subjects, the study found a 44% reduction in COVID-19 infection rate in favor of the group that took ivermectin, and non-users of ivermectin were two times more likely to die from COVID-19.

In addition, “due to the well-established, long-term safety profile of ivermectin, with rare adverse effects, the absence of proven therapeutic options to prevent death caused by COVID-19, and lack of effectiveness of vaccines in real-life all-cause mortality analyses to date,” authors recommend consideration of ivermectin as a preventive strategy, particularly for people at a higher risk of serious complications from COVID-19, and those at higher risk of exposure.

Read the full text Cureus article here

Read the Truth Press news article here

Read addition LDA Article on COVID here