Quick overview for those not following the Ivermectin story:
Many small studies into Ivermectin have been done around the world (sample sizes ~12 - ~800)
The agencies (WHO, NIH, EMA etc) claim that these studies are insufficient to demonstrate Ivermectin's effectiveness - due to size and quality.
The FLCCC, BIRD-Group and others have been pointing to the meta-analysis of these numerous studies (now about 60) to show that the threshold for proving ivermectin's effectiveness has been reached. Claims have been made directly by Kory et all, and implied by Tess Lawrie, that the WHO's assessment of what to include in meta-analysis has been non-transparent and doesn't match independant assessment of study bias and quality ( https://bird-group.org/flccc-alliance-statement-on-the-irregular-actions-of-public-health-agencies-and-the-widespread-disinformation-campaign-against-ivermectin/)
The implication has been that the independant meta-analysis of these independant researchers is more transparent and of a higher quality than that of the WHO. (https://journals.lww.com/americantherapeutics/Abstract/9000/Ivermectin_for_Prevention_and_Treatment_of.98040.aspx)
However, Bryant, Kory and Hill all included the Elgazzar study in their meta-analyses, also critiquing the WHO and Roman et al who - whilst their respective meta-analyses had various other issues - did exclude the Elgazzar study.
(FLCCC/BIRD critique of Roman: https://covid19criticalcare.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/RomanRebuttal_v7_EF_letterhead_ML-1.pdf)
The FLCCC and BIRD-group have put out a statement that the retraction of the Elgazzar study does not significantly impact the overall conclusion of the meta-analysis into Ivermectin - although I haven't seen revised calculations for this yet - probably not yet completed ready for publishing as this all happened only a few days ago.
The problem as I see it is this:
The fact that Bryant and Hill and Kory included the Elgazzar study whilst the WHO did not undermines the idea that the WHO was somehow disingenuous in its process for deciding which studies to include and exclude. I don't think the efficacy of Ivermectin has in any way been weakened by the retraction of the study - not unless they are all fraudulent and all the front-line doctors have imagined the benefit the drug has provided. But I do think the merit of the meta-analyses and the creditability of their authors have been weakened...
What do others think? I'm going to have to go and be upfront about this on Fascist book, otherwise I'm a hypocrite, so I want to get as full an understanding as I can...
I think we'll never really know the answer, since all attempts to legitimize these medications have been stymied.
It's hard not to be skeptical that any retractions that counter the narrative or official designation of a medical theory are, at best, politically and monetarily-driven.
What can we do? It's not like most us Frens are laboratory researchers with access to vast amounts of capital and ability to test these things. Well, some small fragment of our userbase might be, but still, my point stands. It's hard not to feel helpless here.
Thought this might be of interest: https://odysee.com/@BretWeinstein:f/TessLawrie:0
I agree - the lack of genuine reporting into so many issues surrounding Covid has created an atmosphere of profound mistrust, and now it is difficult to view any development without suspicion...
I am expecting to see more data come out about this in the next couple of days, and will continue to read as thoroughly as I can into it, to see if I can spot obvious signs of misinformation.
I'm so suspicious these days that I have even considered that the Elgazzar study was deliberately inserted into the field with the express intention of later retracting it to discredit Ivermectin.... now that really is a conspiracy theory! It's the difficulty of having to take everything on hearsay when we don't ever personally know the individuals in question and we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that people are incentivised to lie and manipulate the situation...
Thought it was also worth linking this here: https://greatawakening.win/p/12jJs5KS6V/the-mechanims-are-all-slowly-bei/
This is really not a game...
Easy to feel overwhelmed, but God is not mocked and his strength is sufficient..
https://odysee.com/@BretWeinstein:f/TessLawrie:0