The Salvadoran government continues to supply this drug to people infected with the new coronavirus, and also continues to demand plasma from people who have recovered from the disease.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which was responsible for approving drug use in that country, published in mid-December that the drug Ivermectin should not be used to prevent or treat COVID-19; However, this medicine has been supplied by the government of El Salvador to people who have contracted the disease for months.
“While there are approved uses for ivermectin in humans and animals, it has not been approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. You should not use any medication to treat or prevent COVID-19 unless it has been prescribed by your healthcare provider and is from a legitimate source, ”states the FDA.
YOU CAN SEE: Back to school depends on the evolution of COVID-19 cases
Internal medicine specialist Mariano Chávez Andino, who has been closely involved in the treatment of patients with Sars-Cov-2, also confirmed that, according to his clinical experience, ivermectin “does not work” for this disease.
The FDA further advised that “additional tests are needed to determine whether Ivermectin may be suitable to prevent or treat coronavirus or COVID-19,” adding that “Ivermectin tablets have been approved for use in humans for the treatment of some. parasitic worms (intestinal strongyloidiasis and onchocerciasis) and topical formulations of ivermectin are approved for human use, by prescription only, for the treatment of external parasites such as lice and skin conditions such as rosacea ”.
The ivermectin the government provides in its packages is 6 milligrams and the patient is instructed to take one tablet orally every 12 hours for three days.
On the other hand, Chávez Andino explained in a radio interview on Punto 105.3 FM this Monday that using restorative plasma has also failed to work for patients to overcome COVID-19, as many doctors and the general population believed.
In fact, the same government is constantly asking, through its social networks, that recovered people come to donate. It even has the Plasmatel Program, where you can call 195 to schedule a visit.
“If you got sick with # COVID19 less than 2 months ago and have already recovered, you can save a lot of lives with your plasma donation!” Said government communication on social networks.
You may be interested: 12 things you should know about COVID-19 vaccination in El Salvador
But Chávez Andino was blunt: “The restorative plasma is useless. It has remained a habit therapy and we are from the last countries to continue using it. Put on the mask, it works, ”he said.
Dark panorama
Mariano Chávez Andino agreed with other medical specialists who have warned that the population is less vigilant about prevention protocols, and this has led to a new outbreak of infections. “We see a rough, bleak outlook for COVID-19. It’s not to scare people, but on a scale of 1 to 10 we could be on a level 9 right now, ”he cautioned.
Covid in El Salvador: Nine Months Without Accurate Data
Many Salvadorans who already had the virus think they have already been immunized, Chávez Andino warned, but “we shouldn’t trust ourselves, people believe that because COVID-19 has already given them, it won’t give them again. Be careful, the statistics show that people who gave them light, and give them again, can be more aggressive, the second infection ends up dead ”. In addition, he explained that “viral debris can stay in the nostrils for up to three months. But we’ve had cases of re-infections, they’re rare cases, but if it was mild and it recurs, COVID-19 can be more aggressive.”
The specialist insisted that “people are relaxed and say, ‘I will be vaccinated in March’, and no, that is going to take a long time. The COVID19 vaccine is the medium and long-term solution; our thing must be prevention ”.
Finally, the doctor called on health authorities and municipalities to take action “in busy places; ban parties, for example concentrations in shopping centers. The solution is not to be locked up. We can continue with the activities while always wearing the mask ”.