The Salvadoran government continues to deliver this medicine to people infected with the new coronavirus, and also continues to request plasma from people who have recovered from the disease.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is responsible for endorsing drug use in that country, announced in mid-December that a drug called Ivermectin should not be used to prevent or treat COVID. -19; however, this medicine has been delivered for months by the Government of El Salvador to people who have contracted the disease.
“Although there are approved uses for ivermectin in humans and animals, it is not approved for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19. You should not take any medication to treat or prevent COVID-19 unless you ‘have been prescribed by your healthcare provider and purchased from a legitimate source,’ the FDA states.
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Internal medicine specialist Mariano Chávez Andino, who has been closely involved in treating patients with Sars-Cov-2, has also stated that ivermectin “does not work” for this disease, according to his experience. clinic.
The FDA further reported that “additional testing is needed to determine whether Ivermectin may be appropriate to prevent or treat coronavirus or COVID-19,” and added that “ivermectin tablets are 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, only by prescription, for the treatment of external parasites such as lice and skin conditions such as rosacea “.
The ivermectin delivered by the Government in its packs 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 this Monday, in a radio interview on Punt 105.3 FM, that the use of convalescent plasma has also not worked for patients to overcome COVID-19, as many doctors and the general population believed .
In fact, the Government itself is constantly asking, through its social networks, for recovered people to come to give. It even has the Plasmatel program, where you can call 195 to schedule a visit.
“If you got sick of # COVID19 less than 2 months ago and you’ve already recovered, you can save a lot of lives with your plasma donation!” Government communication says on social media.
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But Chávez Andino was forceful: “Convalescent plasma does not work. It has become a customary therapy and we are one of the last countries to continue using it. Put on your mask, it does work,” he said.
dark panorama
Mariano Chávez Andino agreed with other medical specialists who have warned that the population has lowered its guard with regard to prevention protocols, and this has led to a resurgence of infections. “We’re seeing a rough, gloomy picture in front of COVID-19. It’s not to scare people, but on a scale of 1 to 10, we could be on an alert level 9 right now.” , he warned.
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Many Salvadorans who already had the virus believe they are already immunized, warned Chávez Andino, but “we must not trust ourselves, people believe that because he already gave COVID-19 he will not give it again. statistics show that people who gave it lightly, and give it back, can be more aggressive, in the second infection they end up dead. ” He also explained that “viral remains can remain in the nostrils for up to three months. But we have had cases of reinfections, they are rare cases, but if you gave it mildly and give it back, COVID-19 can be more aggressive “.
The specialist insisted that “people have relaxed and say: ‘is that in March I will be vaccinated’, and no, that’s why there is a long time. The vaccine against COVID19 is the solution in the medium and long term term; ours must be prevention “.
Finally, the doctor called on the health authorities and municipalities to take action “on places where there are crowds; ban parties, rallies in malls for example. The solution is not to be closed. We can continue in the activities always using the mask “.