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PSEUDOSCIENCE

History

The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) is a small U.S. organization of physicians and former journalists formed in March 2020 that has advocated for various alternative treatments for COVID-19, including the anti-parasitic drug Ivermectin. Paul E. Marik and Pierre Kory lead the group.

Funded by / Ownership

Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Donations generate revenue; however, FLCCC does not disclose donations and amounts.

Analysis

In January 2021, the FLCCC presented findings of a study on the use of the anti-parasite drug Ivermectin against COVID-19 to the National Institutes of Health. The NIH ruled there was “insufficient data to recommend either for or against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19” without clinical trials.

A 2021 review of Ivermectin by FLCCC members on the efficacy of Ivermectin, which was provisionally accepted by Frontiers in Pharmacology, was then rejected because of what the publisher called “a series of strong, unsupported claims based on studies with insufficient statistical significance.” The review article included a study from Egypt that was later retracted when concerns about its data and plagiarism were uncovered. According to the World Health Organization, the FDA, and European Medicines Agency, they advise against Ivermectin for COVID-19 outside of clinical trials. Still, the FLCCC has contended that Ivermectin could reduce viral load and accelerate recovery in patients.”

Bias

The organization has also developed its own prevention and early outpatient protocol called I-Mask, which includes many unproven interventions such as Ivermectin, anti-viral mouthwash, nasal iodine spray, vitamin D, aspirin, melatonin, and a wide range of other supplements and even honey. The protocol document states “The I-MASK+ protocol is a bridge to vaccines and a safety net for those who cannot or have not been vaccinated; or are vaccinated and have concerns regarding declining protection against emerging variants. Vaccines have shown efficacy in preventing the most severe outcomes of COVID-19 and are an important part of a multi-modal strategy that must also include early treatment.”

The website also features a disclaimer that reads, “The Ivermectin/Mask+ Protocol has not been adopted as a medical consensus. While clinical experience and research to date are promising, these products have not been proven safe and effective by prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies acceptable to US medical associations and regulatory bodies.” In general, the FLCCC promotes alternative treatments for the prevention and treatment of Covid-19 while downplaying vaccines.

Failed Fact Checks

• Ivermectin reduces the risk of death from COVID-19 – Unsupported
• Now, the current lie perpetuated by the FDA is that this is a dangerous drug made for animals only. – False
• “Mountains of data” show drug ivermectin “basically obliterates” COVID-19 transmission. – False
• Ivermectin can successfully prevent and treat COVID-19. – Misleading
• “IVERMECTIN REDUCED DEATHS BY 74% IN PEER REVIEWED STUDY” – False

Overall, we rate the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance as a strong pseudoscience website based on the promotion of unproven alternative medicines that falsely mislead people to reject the Covid-19 vaccine and several failed fact checks. (D. Van Zandt 10/11/2021) Updated (08/30/2023)

Source: covid19criticalcare.com

Last Updated on August 30, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check

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