Reference:
Bryant, A., Lawrie, T. A., Dowswell, T., Fordham, E., Hill, S., Mitchell, S., & Tham, T. (2021). The BIRD recommendation on the use of ivermectin for Covid-19: Proceedings and conclusions of the British Ivermectin Recommendation Development meeting held on the 20th February 2021 in Bath, United Kingdom. Evidence-Based Consultancy Medicine Ltd.
Summary:
The British Ivermectin Recommendation Development (BIRD) panel, convened on 20 February 2021, assessed the efficacy of ivermectin for Covid-19 prevention and treatment amidst the pandemic’s high mortality rates. Despite a lack of universally recommended treatments, ivermectin, an established antiparasitic drug, showed promising results in clinical trials. The panel used a DECIDE evidence-to-decision framework to evaluate the drug’s effects, resources, and feasibility—ultimately recommending ivermectin for Covid-19 patients and at-risk individuals. They emphasised the need for further randomised trials to optimise dosage and treatment combinations, while also suggesting that increasing
awareness and accessibility of ivermectin could significantly reduce
hospitalisation rates and improve health equity. The recommendation aims
to inform policymakers and health professionals in both high- and
low-income countries.