Covid19mathblog.com
The big covid news of recent is the study release showing IVM does not work – https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115869
Disclaimer: I did take IVM along with the drugs noted on FLCC protocol when I got covid AFTER a few months from taking a vaccine shot – as most of the suggestions presented minor risk with a potential good reward – https://covid19criticalcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FLCCC-Protocols-%E2%80%93-A-Guide-to-the-Management-of-COVID-19.pdf Whether it directly helped me I don’t know but I wasn’t going to do nothing when I COULD make it better without much risk.
When data is involved a combination of little nudges likely produces the outcome one desires. Why would I say all this – well why wasn’t the IVM tested along with Paxlovid? Why not have both set in the same setting – https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2115869
Perhaps pure coincidences but every nudge was made for Paxlovid. One interesting claim for IVM – its effectiveness requires Zinc. Many point out then thats not IVM but something else – guess what Paxlovid is combo drug – packaged as one – https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/coronavirus-covid-19-update-fda-authorizes-first-oral-antiviral-treatment-covid-19 “Pfizer’s Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir tablets and ritonavir tablets, co-packaged for oral use)”
Perhaps the IVM cheerleaders should have announce IVZ (IVM with Zinc) and then a test would have been done on the connection of each other. The study did not note taking IVM with any other supplements.
Lets go through the nudges – as always LOOK AT AND STUDY THE DEMOGRAPHICS –
IVM Study
Paxlovid Study
NUDGE ALL TO FAVOR THE OUTCOME TO PAXLOVID
Size – smaller in Paxlovid
Age – lower in Paxlovid – in fact the Placebo was higher in Paxlovid whereas IVM was fairly balanced.
Female/Male Ratio (Females overall better outcomes from Covid) – More males in Placebo for Paxlovid
Times of infection – Paxlovid majority under 3 days – IVM majority over 3 days
Dosage 3 days in IVM 5 days in Paxlovid
Conflict of interest – IVM study none – Paxlovid all https://www.nejm.org/doi/suppl/10.1056/NEJMoa2118542/suppl_file/nejmoa2118542_disclosures.pdf
Others are also noting some concerns doing the study in Brazil for IVM – given the availability of IVM perhaps not the best place for the placebo group. Did they exclude this – there was no mentioned of this as this person noted – https://twitter.com/alexandrosM/status/1509400149608448000?t=Mn6_qx1wiaIRh3XT3I8DeQ&s=19
A potential outcome could be both drugs are a complete bust – but the fact remains the IVM study touted as PROOF IVM is useless has holes in it. Everyone should do their own risk/reward – many people still take Vitamin C/D drink tea with honey etc.. for colds – likely reason its minor risk and potentially a good reward – no study needed.
USA confirmations are minor now compared to many countries S. Korea, Germany, France etc…Deaths are still the most. Our fatality rates are very high – perhaps a sign of overclassification?
S. Korea so much confirmation but fatality rates are so low – IS this a real bad flu season? Looks like it has peaked.
Germany has a new surge – fatality rates still very low
Is France going through another cycle?
Australia is going through another cycle
Very hard to be so concerned about Covid in US with confirmations approaching 2020 levels – summer spike coming?
The big leaders in the states are the big three NY, TX and CA for confirmation
Amazing to see that Chattahoochee GA is now at 62% confirmed per capita. Note there is a military base there.
Perhaps optimism – but it looks like this might be the first showing that total deaths are finally below the “normal” line. Have to wait till next week to confirm it is real.
