COVID-19: EFFICACY OF PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS WITH IVERMECTIN IN EXPOSED PERSONS

Abstract

COVID-19: EFFICACY OF PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS WITH IVERMECTIN IN EXPOSED PERSONS
Aguirre-Chang, Gustavo and Trujillo F., Aurora. ResearchGate. October 22, 2020.

SUMMARY.
The use of Ivermectin as massive prophylaxis has been a policy of the World Health Organization (WHO) for decades and its application in several countries allowed the eradication of the serious disease Onchocerciasis that causes the so-called “river blindness”. In merit of the great benefits obtained in these Programs, is that the creators of Ivermectin were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2015.
Its massive prophylactic use has also been indicated for intestinal parasites and ectoparasites such as scabies.
In March 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a very wide experience in the use of Ivermectin in humans, and its use being safe, even at doses above the regular ones, it is necessary in the short term to start tests to extend its use in massive programs that include the COVID-19 disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Participants enrolled between April 7 and July 31, 2020. 2 groups were established:
Group 1: People who go to places of high risk of exposure. In this group 88 people were enrolled, and 3 subgroups were established with frequencies in the Ivermectin dose of: every 7 days, every 14 days and every 30 days
Group 2: People who do not go to places of high risk of exposure. 41 people were enrolled, and 2 subgroups were established with frequencies of: every 14 days and every 30 days
Hospitals, Health Centers, Markets and the like, Fairs, Land Terminals, Airports and other places with a high influx of people, in a town where there is community transmission of the infection by the SARS CoV-2 were considered as places of high risk of exposure.
In all participants, the standard Ivermectin dose of 0.2 mg. per kilo of weight per day (or 0.091 mg. per pound of weight) was established.
For the frequencies of every 14 and 30 days of both groups, the month that the prophylaxis began, it was indicated to take a second dose at 7 days, and then continue with the frequencies every 14 and 30 days counting from the date of the first dose.
For both groups, it was indicated that they maintain all other Preventive Measures, such as the use of a mask, social distancing, frequent hand washing, among others.

RESULTS:
After the exclusions made, there were 129 participants who complied with the established Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrPE) regimens with Ivermectin, who were followed up until October 21, 2020.
In Group 1: People who go to places of high risk of exposure. Of the 20 participants who complied with the schedule of one dose of Ivermectin every 7 days, none developed COVID-19 disease, thus being prophylactic efficacy in this subgroup of 100%. Of the 47 people who received a dose every 14 days, one had symptoms and tested positive for SARS CoV-2, with prophylactic efficacy in this subgroup being 98%. Of the 21 people who received a dose of Ivermectin every 30 days, 2 had symptoms and were positive for SARS CoV-2 infection, thus the prophylactic efficacy in this subgroup was 90%.
In Group 2: People who do not go to places of high risk of exposure, of the 21 participants who complied with the schedule of one dose of Ivermectin every 14 days, none developed the COVID-19 disease, thus being the prophylactic efficacy of 100% in this subgroup. Of the 20 people who received doses every 30 days, one had symptoms and was positive in their test for SARS CoV-2, with prophylactic efficacy in this subgroup of 95%.

CONCLUSION:
The result of the present study finds a high efficacy of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrPE) with Ivermectin for COVID-19 when it occurs with a frequency of every 7 and every 14 days.
Prophylaxis should be considered as a complementary preventive measure to those already established for COVID-19, being necessary to carry out more studies with a significant number of participants on the benefits of the prophylactic use of ivermectin.

Full text

COVID-19: EFFICACY OF PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS WITH
IVERMECTIN IN EXPOSED PERSONS
Aguirre-Chang, Gustavo and Trujillo F., Aurora. ResearchGate. October 22,
2020.
SUMMARY
The use of Ivermectin as massive prophylaxis has been a policy of the World Health
Organization (WHO) for decades and its application in several countries allowed the
eradication of the serious disease Onchocerciasis that causes the so-called “river blindness”.
In merit of the great benefits obtained in these Programs, is that the creators of Ivermectin
were awarded the Nobel Prize in 2015.
Its massive prophylactic use has also been indicated for intestinal parasites and ectoparasites
such as scabies.
In March 2020, the WHO declared the COVID-19 pandemic. Having a very wide experience
in the use of Ivermectin in humans, and its use being safe, even at doses above the regular
ones, it is necessary in the short term to start tests to extend its use in massive programs that
include the COVID-19 disease.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Participants enrolled between April 7 and July 31, 2020. 2 groups were established:
Group 1: People who go to places of high risk of exposure. In this group 88 people were
enrolled, and 3 subgroups were established with frequencies in the Ivermectin dose of: every
7 days, every 14 days and every 30 days
Group 2: People who do not go to places of high risk of exposure. 41 people were enrolled,
and 2 subgroups were established with frequencies of: every 14 days and every 30 days
Hospitals, Health Centers, Markets and the like, Fairs, Land Terminals, Airports and other
places with a high influx of people, in a town where there is community transmission of the
infection by the SARS CoV-2 were considered as places of high risk of exposure.
In all participants, the standard Ivermectin dose of 0.2 mg. per kilo of weight per day (or 0.091
mg. per pound of weight) was established.
For the frequencies of every 14 and 30 days of both groups, the month that the prophylaxis
began, it was indicated to take a second dose at 7 days, and then continue with the
frequencies every 14 and 30 days counting from the date of the first dose.
For both groups, it was indicated that they maintain all other Preventive Measures, such as
the use of a mask, social distancing, frequent hand washing, among others.
RESULTS:
After the exclusions made, there were 129 participants who complied with the established
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrPE) regimens with Ivermectin, who were followed up until
October 21, 2020.
In Group 1: People who go to places of high risk of exposure. Of the 20 participants who
complied with the schedule of one dose of Ivermectin every 7 days, none developed COVID-
19 disease, thus being prophylactic efficacy in this subgroup of 100%. Of the 47 people who
received a dose every 14 days, one had symptoms and tested positive for SARS CoV-2, with
prophylactic efficacy in this subgroup being 98%. Of the 21 people who received a dose of

COVID-19: Efficacy of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis with Ivermectin. Aguirre Chang, Gustavo y Trujillo, Aurora
2
Ivermectin every 30 days, 2 had symptoms and were positive for SARS CoV-2 infection, thus
the prophylactic efficacy in this subgroup was 90%.
In Group 2: People who do not go to places of high risk of exposure, of the 21 participants
who complied with the schedule of one dose of Ivermectin every 14 days, none developed
the COVID-19 disease, thus being the prophylactic efficacy of 100% in this subgroup. Of the
20 people who received doses every 30 days, one had symptoms and was positive in their
test for SARS CoV-2, with prophylactic efficacy in this subgroup of 95%.
CONCLUSION:
The result of the present study finds a high efficacy of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrPE) with
Ivermectin for COVID-19 when it occurs with a frequency of every 7 and every 14 days.
Prophylaxis should be considered as a complementary preventive measure to those already
established for COVID-19, being necessary to carry out more studies with a significant
number of participants on the benefits of the prophylactic use of ivermectin.
Key Words: COVID-19, SARS CoV-2, Prophylaxis, Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis, Ivermectin.
People who go to places of
high risk of exposure**
People who do Not go to places
of high risk of exposure**
Every 7 days 100% -
Every 14 days 98% 100%
Every 30 days 90% 95%
FREQUENCY OF DOSES (the
month that the prophylaxis
began, a 2nd dose was
indicated at 7 days)
% PROPHYLACTIC EFFICACY AGAINST SARS COV-2
*0.2mg/kg. or 0.91mg./pound x weight per dose. The results shown are keeping the other preventive measures.
**Hospitals, Health Centers, Markets, Fairs, Terrestrial and air terminals and other places of great affluence.
Source: Aguirre-Chang G., T rujillo A. COVID-19: Efficacy of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis with Ivermectin in
Exposed Persons. ReseachGate. October 22, 2020.
Table. EFFICACY OF PRE-EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS WITH IVERMECTIN ACCORDING TO THE
FREQUENCY OF DOSES*