Adhere to science to combat COVID-19

I would like to thank Amita St. Joseph Hospital for their science-based decision not to allow the use of ivermectin in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

The medical literature is now clear that the medication is not effective for treatment of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The scientists who discovered ivermectin did win a Nobel Prize, but that was because the medication was remarkably effective in treating a parasitic infection that affects millions in developing countries.

COVID is not a not caused by a parasite. While several papers were published reportedly demonstrating the effectiveness of ivermectin, these papers were retracted when the data was found to be fraudulent. Unfortunately despite these retractions and a reanalysis of one trial which showed an increased mortality rate, the small group of physicians who touted this treatment, along with a now-debunked protocol known as MATH+, have persisted in advocating for its use.

Social media is full of stories of patients with COVID who got ivermectin and improved, but these are anecdotes. Individual case reports are not evidence at all that a treatment works.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not only safe, but it is remarkably effective in reducing the risk of severe disease and death if one does have a breakthrough case. No vaccine is 100% effective, just as wearing seat belts is not 100% effective in keeping you from dying in a car accident. And this virus is likely to continue to mutate, as viruses do, and we may need booster shots in the future.

That's how science works. Scientists make an observation, develop a hypothesis, test that hypothesis, analyze the results, adjust their treatments, monitor those results over time, and continue to adapt.

Changing treatments is what has happened all throughout history. We no longer treat syphilis with mercury or infections with bloodletting. It's not a conspiracy that treatment and prevention has changed, that's called science.

Ronald Hirsch, M.D.

Elgin